Education, trend-spotting key for PCC at Expo WestEducation, trend-spotting key for PCC at Expo West

The Natural Products Expo West experience is downright effervescent with unknowns. Will retailers find exciting new products to carry? What trends will reveal themselves at the show? One thing is certain for PCC Community Markets in Seattle: “If Expo is scheduled to happen, PCC will be there,” says Steven Jamieson, one of the company's merchandisers.

“We feel it is important to show up for the natural products industry, to identify trends, network and share with brands what we are hearing from our shoppers in terms of what they would like to see in the way of innovation,” he says.

As with most Expo-attending retailers, PCC Community Markets launches into its show strategy well before the team treks nearly 1,200 miles from Seattle, Washington, south along the Pacific coast to Anaheim. The team works with New Hope Network and its hosted buyer program to get things rolling. It identifies which PCC employees will be attending, and for how many days. Sometimes PCC leaders are invited to speak on panels, and that always requires focused preparation.

And once New Hope releases the schedule of in-person events, PCC plasn how the team will spend its time at the show.