This session will discuss the factors that cause success or failure from both a strategic and operational perspective. It will suggest that successful firms in every industry demonstrate five key characteristics. You will learn from the best practices in other industries and how they may be applied to your business.

1. Barriers to Entry: Competitive battles are not fought on every item on every transaction every single day. Instead, competition is waged between alternative business systems.

2. De-Commoditization: The overall product assortment offered allows for both tonnage sales and reasonable margin opportunities from non-commodities.

3. Employee Productivity: New procedures for controlling payroll expense have been implemented.

4. Profit Focus: The maximization of dollar profits takes priority over the maximization of sales or the minimization of asset investment.

5. Internal Profit Understanding: There is a clear understanding within the decision-making ranks of how profit is generated or destroyed by employee actions.

The NPTA Alliance has involved a group of industry leaders to address the changing needs of industry companies. This will allow your Association to become more valuable to you. Join Brent Grover and the industry leaders listed below, for an important report on the future of your Association.

Within NPTA, many of both the traditional members and the non-traditional members have engaged to some degree in the Limited Outlet Distribution (LOD) model. The LOD can be defined simply as an exclusive/selective distribution model where manufacturers distribute their products through a limited number of outlets in a given geographic region. The LOD model is believed to be the predominate system employed for the distribution of printing paper. However, the current utilization of the LOD is thought to be much less common in the distribution of disposables, packaging and sanitary supplies.

The change in distribution patterns has been attributed to a variety of factors including the consolidation of both manufacturers and distributors; integrated supply, marketing, and buying groups; and the always accusable Internet-based sales transaction. This study conducts research with a sample of the NPTA Alliance members as well as non-members to determine the frequency in which LOD is employed as a distribution strategy. The level of satisfaction with the process for both the manufacturers and the distributors is also being analyzed. The results of the study are the focus of this presentation.

China is the next great business frontier and a wonderful place for the Annual Management Conference to visit. Rich in color and elegance, The Great Hall of China is a beautiful place for the main Conference dinner. The aroma of culinary delights fills the air and all attendees will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and drinks, carefully selected and prepared by Disney chefs. There will be some surprises as well (and some very special NPTA Alliance awards will be presented).

After dinner, our guests will be escorted to the beautiful Italy Isola terrace for their walk-round dessert reception. The terrace provides a great view of the World Showcase Promenade as well as a fireworks spectacular. Guests will mix and mingle as they enjoy delicious creations at this waterfront location.

You will watch the “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” show that fills the sky above the World Showcase Lagoon. When finished, you may stroll at your leisure back to the Disney Boardwalk Hotel. (All registered attendees, spouses, guests and children are invited to attend.)

The NPTA Alliance Board of Directors represents the membership and the industry. Those interested may attend the Board meeting as guests. Please contact NPTA: npta@goNPTA.com.