ORLANDO, Fla.—In what Medtrade organizers are dubbing the Innovative HME Retail Product Awards, a panel of experts will honor HME products that are particularly suited for retail sale. The purpose of the competition is to promote and recognize products that contribute to providers' bottom lines though cash sales.
Products will be judged on functionality, quality/durability, aesthetics/style, environmental sustainability, ease of retail set-up and pricing.
Five products will be chosen as winners and featured in a retail products roundtable conference session called The Best New HME Retail/Cash Opportunities, moderated by Jim Greatorex, owner of Black Bear Medical, on Wednesday, 10/9/13, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Winning manufacturers will be allotted five to seven minutes to discuss their product with the audience.
Winning products will be featured in a window display in the Medtrade Retail Design Center on the show floor. “I, and many others, go to Medtrade looking for the next great cash opportunity,” says Greatorex. “This year providers will have a chance to expand their business and in some situations be one of the first to promote a product.”
Whittling down the bounty of products to just five is a tall order, but Greatorex and the other panelists will cull based on the biggest opportunities. “We will look for products with large potential markets,” he explains. “Perhaps a new diabetic product where the demographic is sizable. Manufacturers also have to tell us about their direct-to-consumer marketing plan, because if they are not going to be part of the marketing process in helping drive awareness, the chances of success are diminished.”
Like all educational sessions, The Best New HME Retail/Cash Opportunities, is included with the regular conference fee. To register and see more information about these and other educational offerings, visit Medtrade.com.