Frequently Asked Questions 

Our goal is to accelerate business recovery and streamline ways of working better together throughout the supply chain.  

The COVID-19 crisis has significantly disrupted and is changing the way the industry and trading partners conduct business. The need for enhanced communications and planning, agility and speed are the new normal as companies seek to stabilize their business operations and plan for the future to better serve consumers and society at large.

This program is designed for senior executives to discuss key business issues and priorities in order to accelerate business recovery and stabilization after the pandemic has subsided or if there is a re-occurrence in the fall and winter months. The program will accelerate dialogue on key issues confronting your businesses today and provide a forum to address the challenges and opportunities going forward.

Companies and their leadership teams are busy addressing day-to-day business challenges related to the pandemic. This virtual meeting room program ensures maximum appointment scheduling flexibility. Appointment windows are spread over the course of multiple business days during in order to meet participants’ unique business needs and availability.

Program dates are:
September 29 – Oct 1, 2020

Topics you choose to discuss with trading partners are based upon your unique business needs and priorities. Topics should include:

FOCUS: COVID-19 Disruption: Planning and Response

• How we are doing today….and how do we collaborate and conduct business going forward? 
• Critical Issues: Important and Urgent
• Supply Chain Performance: disruptions and recovery
• Omnichannel Considerations and Implications
• Out of Stocks: Manufacturing, Warehouse, Store-Level and On-Line
• Assortment Strategy and Implications for New Product Introduction Plans
• Promotion Strategy Updates and Implications
• Consumer and Employee Health & Wellness Issues
• Crisis Management: COVID-19 Recurrence Planning
• Business Planning for the balance of 2020

Each morning starts with one 30-minute topic with three concurrent round table breakouts. You will gain insights into: 

• Current state: update on the COVID-19 Virus;  
• Looking Ahead: The Road to Recovery 
• Global Perspectives and Lessons Learned 
• Shifting Consumer Shopping Behaviors 
• The Acceleration of Omni-Channel Shopping 
• Supply Chain Resiliency and Recovery 
• Public Policy Implications: Federal, State and Local 
• The Future of Health & Wellness: Consumers and Employees 
• The 2nd Wave: Managing thru a Re-Occurrence 
• The New Era of Trading Partner Collaboration: Working Better Together…… 
• Assortment and Promotion Strategy during the Pandemic 
• Financial Stability: Operating Models, Controlling Costs and M&A. 
• Organizational Leadership and Effectiveness 
• Pandemic Navigator: Predictive Tools for Decision Making 

FMI Private Brands Summit + BCS is designed for Executive leadership and team members that companies deem appropriate.  

Retailer and wholesaler participants that would benefit include CEO, Chief Merchant, SVP Supply Chain, SVP Retail Store Operations, Chief Digital Officer Private Brands Leader and other key individuals where appropriate.

Manufacturer and supplier participants should include CEO, Chief Customer Officer, SVP Supply Chain, SVP Manufacturing, Chief Digital Officers, Business Development and other key individuals where appropriate.

FMI Private Brands Summit + BCS is open to FMI members, associate members and non-member companies who sell, manufacturer, or support private brands.

We encourage you to complete and submit your retail/wholesale form or manufacturer/supplier form  ASAP but no later than Friday, August 28, 2020, so we can reserve your space in the program. The very last available date to commit is Monday, August 31 before the scheduling system opens.

Online registration is quick and easy. After reserving your companies participation by completing the commitment form online, you will receive an email from FMI with a comp code for up to three attendees. With that comp code you or your administrative contact may register participants online. Additional registration fees for companies sending 4 or more attendees are online.

Have questions or need assistance with registration? Please contact Debbie Stewart at register@fmi.org.

Yes. FMI and our technology partner will provide participants with online live and on-demand training tutorials for the technology platform, with a focus on the virtual meeting room features. The platform is easy to use, intuitive and technical support is available before and throughout the event. More details to follow.

The appointment scheduler opens on Thursday, September 17, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. It is the same appointment scheduling system that we use for the FMI Midsummer program and the FMI Annual Business Conference.

Daily updates to the FMI Private Brands Summit attendee page will be made with committed companies. Regular communications will be shared, including a list of participating companies. Individuals participating in the program will be updated daily.

Although we are using the same FMI Scheduler as our ABC and SEE programs, we will add a training manual in the coming weeks.

Yes. You can find details on sponsorship here.