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NEW YORK – Over two hundred direct-to-consumer pioneers, startup visionaries, and emerging brand leaders gathered at Founders' Innovation Day for inspiring education, insights, and networking.
The event was hosted by retailmediaIQ, publisher of Mass Market Retailers and Chain Drug Review, and ECRM, and offered attendees the tools to unlock brand success. It featured expert-led sessions on retail scalability and actionable growth strategies and showcased products from participating companies.
Attendees gained valuable insights and practical strategies through learnings and guidelines shared by retail executives and an actionable game plan from industry experts designed for emerging and startup brands.
They participated in educational sessions on operations, finance, sales, and the path to purchase and took advantage of networking opportunities to connect with key industry players. The event also offered buyer access, brand exposure, product showcases, and supplier case studies that provided tools to help grow their businesses.
The Founders' Innovation Day featured a diverse lineup of industry leaders and experts. The event opened with a Walmart fireside chat, led by Amber Bynum, Vice President Consumers, Health & Wellness Sourcing at Walmart, followed by a keynote from Pat Mooney, Vice President of HBC & Non-Foods at Wakefern.
Rohit Mathur, CEO of Bridge, discussed securing capital for suppliers, and a fireside chat with Brody Burk, Forager Manager, and Madison Robertson, Category Manager - Grocery at Sprouts Farmers Market, followed. Later, Matt Bunevich, Strategic Advisor, Investor, and Board Member at 7-Eleven, shared insights in another fireside chat.
Before lunch, Eagle Labs offered guidance on finding the proper contract manufacturer. The afternoon session started with a keynote address by Le'Spencer Walker, Director of Accelerators, Activation & Growth at Target.
Natalie Ryan, director of data and insights at The Emerson Group, moderated a panel on launching successfully in retail and on Amazon. She was joined by Gervase Fay, Founder of Health and Her; Mindy McKnight, founder of Hairitage; and Andy Khubani, Founder of Ideavillage.
Teddy Townsend, Director at Sawaya Partners, discussed financial insights, followed by a Fireside Chat with Roberta Townes, Senior Category Merchant in Wellness, Food, and Drink at GNC. The day concluded with a Supplier Panel featuring Brooks Powell, Founder and CEO of Cheers Health, and Craig Dubitsky, Founder and CEO of We Are Happy, LLC, before a final fireside chat with Brian Eason, VP GM & Consumables at CVS Health.
