Agenda + Details:

Learn firsthand about the retail market by visiting Panama City's key housewares retailers:

• View product assortments and pricing to prepare
  competitive analysis and sales plans for working with Panamanian buyers
• Visit retailers including PriceSmart, Do It Center, Dorians, Casas y Cosas

Costs:
HECNA Members: $50.00
Non-HECNA Members: $75.00

The 2008 HECNA Global Forum will feature Management Ventures, COO, Michael Bach, who will lead the Executive Education Session. This full-day educational session will provide strategic business profiles of the following key international retailers:

• Tesco
• Carrefour
  
• Auchan
• Sam's Club
• Costco

Gain strategic insight into these retailers including:

• Business & organizational structures
• Product assortment planning & trends
• Pricing philosophies
• Buying practices
• Vendor expectations
• Best sales practices - where and how to approach

As the largest worldwide market research and retail consulting organization, Management Ventures builds knowledge and shares insights while tracking the strategic and tactical development of more than 800 retailers in over 130 countries.

Panama City: Industry Education + Networking

Panama Market Overview
Gain insight into the Panamanian market from the U.S. Commercial Service, including opportunities and challenges and support programs designed to assist market entry.

PriceSmart
Mr. Eric Torres, Vice President of Operations PriceSmart Panama & Nicaragua, will present an overview of this leading warehouse membership club with 25 locations throughout Central America and the Caribbean. With an increase in sales of more than 26% in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, learn what is important to PriceSmart when working with new suppliers to source products for their stores.

Panama Duty Free Trade Zone
The Zona Libre de Colón is a key distribution center for consumer products in Central and South America. Learn about distribution options from this "merchandise mart" of large and small distributors.

Strategic Problem Solving: Session 1
Designed to find answers and solutions to your global business questions, the Strategic Problem Solving sessions allow participants to discuss key international topics with other non-competitive housewares industry professionals. This is the ideal opportunity to share your knowledge and experience as you find answers to your own challenges. Year after year, members find this a valuable and productive educational session.

Colombian Retail & Sales Opportunities
Discover sales opportunities in Colombia. Mr. Germán Zarama of Fenalco, Colombian Retail Association, will present an overview of the Colombian housewares retail market. Then, Mr. Norman Valdes will profile award-winning retailer Bed Bath & Barrel.

Key Retail Profiles
The Four IHA International Offices will present special reports on key international retailers within Canada, Germany, Central America and the United Kingdom.

Canada:
The HBC Group is a privately held, multi facetted retailer operating 100 The Bay department stores, 400 Zellers mass market discount stores and a growing chain of 80 kitchen and bath specialty stores branded Home Outfitters.

Germany:
Karstadt is the largest chain of multi-brand department stores within Germany with annual sales over €16 billion.

Central America:
Tiendas Carrion is a large, privately held department store
with locations in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua, with recent expansion in these markets.

United Kingdom:
Argos, the UK sales leader for housewares products, has 680 stores in the UK and a strong online and catalog business, with annual sales over GBP 3.8 billion.

Costs:
HECNA Members: $600.00*
Non-HECNA Members: $900.00
* Second person from same company will receive a discount of $50, which applies to each event

Costa Rica Retail Tour + Industry Education + Networking:
September 25 + 26 · San Jose
View Detailed Daily Schedule

Costa Rica Retail Tour
Learn firsthand about the retail market by visiting Costa Rica's key housewares retailers:

• View product assortments and pricing to prepare competitive analysis and sales plans for working with Costa Rican buyers
• Visit retailers including Cemaco, Importadora Monge and Aliss, and Wal-Mart retail brands - Maxi Bodega and Hipermas

Costa Rica Market Overview
Gain insight into the Costa Rican market from the U.S. Commercial Service, including opportunities and challenges and support programs designed to assist market entry.

Wal-Mart Central America
Learn specifics about Wal-Mart Central America directly from Mauricio Mishaan, Director of Global Procurement. A thorough overview of the retailer with an emphasis on the buying process, including how international products are selected and imported will be presented.

Costa Rican Distribution
Mr. Allan Montero, a Costa Rican retailer and distributor, will present an overview of the housewares market and the opportunities that exist for suppliers. Emphasis will be placed on how to enter Costa Rica and the requirements and restrictions that often challenge importers.

Costa Rican Logistics
DHL manages the distribution of several large US- based suppliers in Costa Rica, allowing the suppliers to focus on marketing and sales. DHL Costa Rica will highlight the advantage of using DHL for warehousing and distribution within Central America.

Strategic Problem Solving: Session 2
In a continuation of Strategic Problem Solving, find answers and solutions to your international challenges through networking with industry peers. This session allows you to share knowledge and experience while finding answers to your own global business questions.

Costs:
HECNA Members: $400.00*
Non-HECNA Members: $600.00
* Second person from same company will receive a discount of $50, which applies to each event