ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NACS' Crack the Code Experience will fill the void of the NACS Show, which was previously scheduled for Oct. 11-14 in Las Vegas and canceled at the behest of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Crack the Code will be a robust digital experience and curated marketplace to take place over five weeks from Nov. 2 through Dec. 4, according to NACS.
“This digital experience was built with feedback we received from our retailer and supplier community,” said Henry Armour, NACS president and CEO. “We’re working hard to bring you new tools to help you navigate this new normal and operate your businesses as effectively possible.”
Crack the Code will be a digital experience and curated marketplace to take place over five weeks from Nov. 2 through Dec. 4.
The Crack the Code Experience will connect convenience retail buyers and sellers around the globe and give all participants 24/7 access to forward-looking ideas and insights, innovative new-to-channel products and strategic connections, NACS said.
Key elements include:
- More than 45 education sessions, including five general sessions with high-level speakers and relevant themes focused on critical industry issues such as disruption, business strategy, cultivating a community hub and planning for 2021 and beyond.
- An interactive online showcase for trends and Cool New Products.
- Showrooms from big-name brands and new exhibitors, enabled with in-app appointment setting, product photos, chat functions, request for quotes, virtual demos and sample requests.
- Insightful deep dives on key topics, including the future of mobility, technology trends, new product categories like CBD and how customer service expectations have evolved in the age of COVID-19.
“This is just a new chapter in the same playbook,” Armour said. “We know one idea can change your business; and that an idea can come from anywhere. This year, that idea will simply be found in our new digital experience.”
The 2021 NACS Show is scheduled to take place Oct. 5-8 in Chicago. Updates of the Crack the Code Experience are available at NACSShow.com.
Related Events
The NACS Show cancellation also required rethinking of events held in conjunction with the trade show, including the Petroleum Marketers Association of America’s (PMAA) fall meeting and the Petroleum Equipment Institute’s (PEI) annual convention.
While PMAA hosted a virtual meeting in early October, PEI has planned its first Virtual PEI Convention & Expo to be held live online Nov. 10-12.
The digital event will include educational sessions and panels—available live or on-demand—networking lounges and an interactive expo hall, among other elements.
Key topics to be addressed will include the economy, forecourt modernization, and safety, according to Rick Long, executive vice president of PEI.
“This year we believe that it’s more important than ever that the fueling handling and equipment industry come together,” Long said. “This first-ever event will duplicate the key elements of our traditional convention.”
The latest updates on the Virtual PEI Convention & Expo are available at pei.org.
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