About the NPTA Alliance Annual Convention

The Next Convention Will Take Place October 21-24, 2008 in Chicago, IL

Each year the members of the NPTA Alliance come together to meet with their suppliers in the privacy of a suite environment. These suite meetings are the highlight of the Convention and the reason the Convention exists today. Holding useful private meetings is the key to success for many trading partners.

For many the Convention also provides an opportunity for members to meet, network, plan for the future, and solidify relationships. In addition, the Association uses this time to gather the members of its Divisions to plan the future of the Association and how it can provide beneficial services to its members.

Each Convention consists of the following events:

• Suite Meetings
• Opening Reception
• Chairman’s Luncheon or Dinner
• YLD Breakfast or Lunch
• Division Meetings

In addition, there may also be some educational programs as well.

The Young Leaders Division Meeting

The Young Leaders Division hosts a breakfast or lunch each year for YLD members and prospective members. YLD currently consists of more than 150 members from supplier and distributor companies, its strongest membership to date. Open to managers 45 years of age and younger, the group’s mission is to provide a place for personal and professional development in an environment of networking and relationship building.

Attendees use this opportunity to meet with YLD members and learn more about the group as well as the many activities it sponsors, including the Management Development Program at Miami University, Oxford, OH, and the annual Young Leaders Division Conference Day held in conjunction with the NPTA Annual Management Conference held each Spring.

A presentation is done by a guest speaker during the meeting.

The S.O.S. Industry Excellence Award

Each year during Chairman’s Lunch or Dinner at the Annual Convention, the NPTA Alliance presents the Stanley O. Styles Industry Excellence Award. The list of past winners reads like a “Who’s Who” in the paper, packaging and supplies industry. The Award is much revered and is not bestowed lightly. First awarded in 1983 in recognition of Stanley O. Styles, the stature of the award that is named for him has grown significantly. The criteria for winning the award, for either a supplier or merchant, include a commitment to the distribution business, being an innovator, and being a good citizen of the industry.

Stanley O. Styles, the man who inspired the S.O.S. Award, was part of the paper industry for over 75 years and was one of the most respected and beloved men. The NPTA Industry Excellence Award was named in honor of Stanley Styles because he personified all the positive aspects that the paper, packaging, and supplies distribution industry represents.

Styles began his career in 1913 when he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Martin Cantine Paper Co., Saugerties, NY. Except for two years when he served in the Army during World War I, Stanley Styles would remain with Martin Cantine for 36 years. It was during those years of his life when he made many lifelong friendships with members of the paper distribution industry.

Styles was employed by the NPTA Alliance for 35 years as secretary of Fine Papers and later as NPTA Alliance’s senior consultant. During his time with the Association, he traveled extensively and was a regular speaker in the paper industry.

Navigating the NPTA Alliance Convention

Anyone who has ever attended a traditional trade show/convention knows how frustrating and time consuming it can be to get business accomplished. In most cases, attendees migrate from one booth to the next hoping to get a few minutes of time with a member of the exhibiting staff. "Meetings" are often impromptu and interruptions are the norm. It’s not unusual for a visitor to have to come back to a booth several times before being able to "connect" with someone—even just for a few minutes. Over the years, our member distributors told us how unproductive trade shows can be and our supplier members said they were tired of button-holing uninterested distributors.

The Annual NPTA Alliance Convention is far from a traditional trade show/convention. It is an innovative model for business events. For those first-time attendees and suite holders, the idea of a "suites-only convention" may seem daunting, but by scheduling appointments in advance and having a quiet place to meet, both the suite holder and the attendee have the benefit of conducting more business. They know when, where and for how long their meetings will last and they can plan to make the most of their time together. Plus, they have the added benefit of privacy.

To follow are just a few tips to help make your experience as a new conference suite holder or new attendee more productive.

Tips for First-time Conference Suite Holders

The NPTA Alliance starts accepting conference suite registrations approximately four months prior to the actual Convention. Once your company has decided to sign up for a conference suite, the clock starts ticking on your company’s marketing and promotion efforts. Here are some guidelines to help your company get the most out of its conference suite at the Annual NPTA Alliance Convention.

• Immediately fill out all of the requests for information sent to you by the Association. This is particularly important when it comes to the information about your company that is scheduled to appear on the association’s web site: www.goNPTA.com and in Paper & Packaging magazine. All of this material has deadlines on it and it is in your company’s best interest to adhere to these deadlines.
• Once your company is assigned to a hotel location (remember, suite numbers are not assigned until you actually check-in for the event), send out invitations to all your customers and potential customers to let them know that you will be at the NPTA Alliance Convention and that you would like to meet with them. The invitations should have the name and phone number of the person responsible for scheduling your conference suite appointments.
• To maximize the number of appointments you can schedule, start early in the day with breakfast meetings and take advantage of the full three days of the Convention.
• Be conscious of NPTA Alliance events taking place during the day. Do not schedule appointments during these events. It is important for your staff, as well as your customers, to attend these programs. Remember, this is an educational event for you too.
• When it gets to the point that more requests for appointments are coming in and your time slots are filling up, be prepared to bring additional staff people with you to handle the overflow. Remember, there may also be some last minute walk-in visitors or first-time attendees who do not have set appointments but who would like to visit with your company. (You may choose to require all visitors to schedule in advance.)
• Since the hotels do not allow suite numbers to be assigned in advance of the first day of the Convention, it is of paramount importance that once your company is assigned a conference suite number upon hotel check-in that you contact an NPTA Alliance staff member with the suite number. This communication will assure you that your company will be listed on the first available conference suite list that is distributed to attendees as they pick up their badges at the Registration Area. Updated lists are distributed all during the event, as well.

Tips for First-Time Attendees

It’s true that a suites-only convention is a totally different experience than visiting a trade-show, booth event. So, if you have never attended a suite convention, you will want to follow some of these tips for first-time attendees.

• Check the NPTA Alliance web site (www.gonpta.com) regularly for new suite holders and contact them for an appointment as soon as possible.
• Stay at one of the three official Convention hotels to make it as convenient as possible to get from one appointment to another, even when they are at different Convention hotels.
• Be sure to attend the Opening Reception and the Chairman’s Luncheon or Dinner—which allow for networking with industry members. The Opening Reception, in particular, allows you to meet informally with suppliers. Try to target those suppliers you weren’t able to get an appointment with—maybe they will try to squeeze you in after all or maybe your impromptu meeting at the reception can turn into dinner afterward.
• Use your time wisely for both business and educational purposes by attending NPTA Alliance’s Programs. These Programs allow attendees to hear, first-hand, from some of the industry’s top executives.
• If you have any trouble making an appointment with a suite holder, contact the NPTA Alliance for assistance. Allow the Association to work as your partner to assist you in achieving your business goals at the Convention.

Remember, whether you are a suite holder or an attendee, the key to a successful Convention experience is to plan in advance. Then, if you run into an unforeseen obstacle, call on the Association staff to assist you. That is why we are here—to assure that you have a successful and informative Convention experience.

Click here to register for the 2008 Annual Convention!