Question 1

8:00am  Log in for the conference sessions to review the platform and visit our exhibit showcase

Accepted Answer

Question 2

8:30am  Meet and Greet

Accepted Answer

Meet and greet your colleagues in the pets industry!

Question 3

9:15am  How To Get Your Business Back in the Post-Corona World  -  Jim Ackerman

Accepted Answer

Jim Ackerman, President, Ascend Marketing
 During this presentation discover a new paradigm – the direct response paradigm – to revolutionize your marketing for immediate sales and brand-building. Also revealed will be the secrets to make ads more effective at generating RESULTS, regardless of the media; digital or traditional. And you'll discover what elements of advertising have the greatest impact on the target audience no matter how you reach them, the difference between campaigns and promotions and how to make both work for your pet enterprise, and much, much more. Jim Ackerman is a renowned marketing & advertising speaker, Marketing Coach, author and copywriter, who specializes in direct response and alternative marketing, and in helping businesses “genetically engineer” their sales systems for ever-increasing success.  He is a regular contributor to Pets+ online Bulletins with his renowned video series called Animal Ads.  He has written material for the likes of Novell, Franklin Covey, and Nature’s Sunshine, HerbaLife, Jafra, Melaleuca, and others.  Perhaps Jim’s greatest accomplishments come helping small to medium-size business owners and entrepreneurs dramatically increase sales and profits, and reduce costs through smarter, results-driven marketing and advertising.  His Principle-Centered Marketing Coaching™ Program is unparalleled for producing results… often turning companies around in a matter of just a few weeks.  President & CEO of Ascend Marketing™, Inc. Founder of The BizKaboom™ Alliance Author/Publisher of The BizKaboom Alliance Newsletter™, National columnist and author of many articles in a broad array of industry publications.

Question 4

10:15am  Why do we Buy?  Veterinary Secrets for Healthy Customer Loyalty; Dr. Barbara Royal, The Royal Treatement Veterinary Center"

Accepted Answer

Dr. Barbara Royal is the founder and owner of The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center in Chicago, past president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) and of the AHVM Foundation, and a co-founder of the Royal Animal Health University (RAHU). Dr. Royal is an internationally renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and physical rehabilitation. She was the first veterinarian in the world to perform acupuncture on a zebra, and has worked with wildlife, zoo animals and pets. She is known as a passionate advocate of common sense and cutting-edge approaches to animal health. Dr. Royal provides a bridge between Western and Eastern medicine for her clients that include pet parents in her local community as well as for high profile and celebrity pet owners. She has studied and uses many integrative and holistic modalities, including Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, advanced herbal medicine, physical rehabilitation and homeopathy. She lectures around the globe, is widely published, and has been regularly featured in the media and in film documentaries for her groundbreaking work. Her engaging first book, The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets, has been used as a textbook for integrative vet courses and is widely available. She teaches about all aspects of practical integrative veterinary medicine through RAHU, and is an adjunct professor at California Polytechnic State University. She lives and works with her family and various wildly healthy pets in Chicago and on their organic farm in Michigan. Dr Royal is also the Vet for Oprah Winfrey!

Question 5

11:15am  What Pet Owners Want: New Research Reveals Consumer Desires for Retail's Future  Jane Harrell

Accepted Answer

Jane Harrell, President, 'cause Digital Marketing   Join Jane, to learn about new data in the company's 10-year research project to better identify how pet companies can connect to pet parents - and what the findings specifically say about pet retail and supplies. Find out what consumers say they want from a pet supply provider, and how you stack up against hundreds of audited providers in how you meet these needs.

Question 6

11:45am  Live Q&A Period with Jim, Barbara and Jane"

Accepted Answer

Bring your questions for the first three presenters to answer live!

Question 7

1:15pm  How to Read the Packaging  Ryan Yamka

Accepted Answer

Ryan Yamka, Co-Founder, COO and EVP R&D, Guardian Pet Food Company
 Given the low bar of entry for pet food companies in the marketplace, it can be difficult for both consumers and retailers to determine which food is best for their animal and how to sort through the sea of claims and all the bags with a wolf or lynx on them.  In this seminar we will discuss different types of claims including 1) scientific (i.e. “puffery”, structure function, proven, etc.),  2) animal raising and welfare claims, 3) natural claims, 4) organic and non-GMO claims and 5) product naming.

Question 8

2:00pm  What to Ask When Bringing in New Products  Ryan Yamka and Nicci Cammack

Accepted Answer

Ryan Yamka, Co-Founder, COO and EVP R&D, Guardian Pet Food CompanyNicci Cammack, Founder, Owner NorthPoint Pets & Company   Customizing product assortment for any retail operation is a challenge and pet retail is no exception. When it comes to determining product quality, nutrition adequacy and what will perform there are several questions to ask manufacturers and distributors to help set you and your customers up for success. We’ll dive deeper into what scientific information is and isn’t available and how to leverage that information in conversations with manufacturers, pet owners and veterinarians. Learn what questions to ask, how to analyze your sales data to make stocking decisions you are confident in, and that will perform well.

Nicci Cammack owns NorthPoint Pets in Cheshire, CT. She has a diverse background and experience including emergency medicine, pharmaceutical research, and functional nutrition. She has completed undergraduate and graduate work, focusing on nutrition’s role in preventing and managing disease. She and her accomplished team utilize their education and background to individualize their approach to everything from stocking their shelves to nutrition plans. NorthPoint is known for doing things differently and she’s looking forward to helping fellow retailers learn some of what has helped to make NorthPoint Pets successful.    Ryan Yamka, PhD, is the founder and an independent consultant with Luna Science and Nutrition, and Co-Founder of Guardian Pet Food Company. He is board certified in companion animal nutrition by the American College of Animal Sciences and a fellow with the American College of Nutrition.  Yamka calls on his extensive background in pet nutrition, and multiple years developing, formulating and launching dog and cat foods as a senior executive with leading pet food companies, to address common myths and misconceptions about pet food.

Question 9

3:15pm  The Regulation of Pet Food in the US; Why It's Important for Retailers to Understand the Regulatory System in order to Protect your Customers  -  Susan Thixton

Accepted Answer

Susan Thixton, Pet Food Consumer Advocate   Pet food ‘speaks’ a different language than human food. Human food ‘chicken’ and pet food ‘chicken’ are two completely different things. But it’s not just chicken…from manufacturing requirements to enforcement of legal regulations, almost every single detail of pet food is different than that of human food. This presentation will provide an overview of the regulations of pet food that will help you help your customers.   Learn about the legal definitions of common pet food ingredients: Discover which laws are enforced and which are not Understand the definition of complete and balanced Is it Feed or is it Food? What is ‘Real Chicken’? How balanced is “Complete and Balanced?”

Question 10

3:45pm   Pets' Food Fight  -  Dr. Cathy Alinovi

Accepted Answer

Dr. Cathy Alinovi, Executive Director, Next Generation Pet Food Manufacturers   Every session that this Pet Connections conference presents an angle of the Pet Food Fight. The fight is on to feed pets real food. The fight is on to provide great nutrition. The fight is on to maintain your sales growth. Here’s more about the pet food fight and what you can do. Dr Cathy Alinovi is a retired holistic veterinarian who treated 80% of what walked through her door with nutrition. Now, as the executive director of the only trade association to advocate for manufacturers and retailers of real pet food, Next Generation Pet Food Manufacturers, Dr Cathy is helping even more pets.

Question 11

4:15pm  Live Q&A with Susan Thixton and Dr. Cathy Alinovi

Accepted Answer

Join us for Q&A with Susan Thixton and Dr Cathy Alinovi

October 11-12, 2022

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