Achieving Customer Relevance
Strategies for Connecting Lifestyles within Life Stages
May 10-12, 2010 • Chicago, IL

The Institute for International Research is excited to announce that production of the Achieving Customer Relevance conference is underway. We will be reviewing presentation submissions until September 21st – space is limited so please submit your ideas TODAY!

This three-day event is the destination for those looking to understand how to reach targeted life styles and stages. From the segmentation to the marketing, explore best practices for pinpointing innovative ways to deeply connect with profitable segments, growing segments and new segments to maximize lifetime value and achieve sustainable growth.

Your Opportunity
We are currently recruiting corporate practitioners to share unique ideas, perspectives and case studies related to future trends.

Got a good story to tell? Have a provocative perspective that needs to be shared? I’m interested in hearing from you.

Session topics include but are not limited to:
• Transition in Life Stage: How Your Customer Evolves
• Breaking into New Life Stages without Alienating Your Consumer Base
• Products Across Life Stages – Which Ones Succeed and Why?
• Researching Life Styles and Stages: Tools and Techniques
• Innovating New Products or Services for Multiple Life Stages and Styles
• Common Threads and Differences in Specific Segments
• Creating an Authentic Message to Build Loyalty for Life
• Integrating New Trends into Traditional Products to Grow Your Brand
• Emerging Product Markets for Various Life Stages
• Product Life Stages: Introducing and Removing Products
• Ethnography for Universal Design
• The Spread of Technology through Life Stages
• Keeping Your Product Relevant as Your Consumer Ages
• Using Social Networks and Blogs as a Marketing Tool? What Works?
• The Right Mix of New Media to Reach Your Target Market
• Mobile and Online Marketing: Where Your Consumers Are
• Trends in Social Media and Technology
• How Your Consumers are Using Online Now
• Cutting Edge Trends: What’s Next?

Formats include
1. Standard presentation (45 minutes long)
2. Interactive ideation and brainstorming sessions (60 minutes long)

o Real Time Exercise: Get your hands dirty! At this point in the event the larger group will be broken up into small work groups. Your mission will be to complete a take. Facilitators will frame the exercise and then the small group will vote on the best project.
o Guru Session: This is your opportunity to really pick their brains, off the record. Chance of a lifetime. In a small group discussion setting, get access to big stage thinkers.

Interactivity is encouraged in all sessions!

The Audience
Who will attend? Leaders from a variety of industries with responsibilities in:
• Marketing
• Market Research and Development
• Product and Brand Management
• Consumer, Customer, Shopper, Strategic Insights
• New Product Development/Management
• Strategic Planning and Development
• Customer Experience, Loyalty, Retention
• Business Development
• eMarketing/Social Media
• Innovation & Discovery
• Communications/Design
• Licensing/Sales
• Segmentation
• User Experience

Speaker Benefits
Our speakers join us for countless reasons. Some include:
• To advance the purpose and value of reaching life stages and styles
• To share best practices and lessons learned
• To showcase the critical role of reaching life stages and styles within their organization
• To reinforce their own position as an expert and share results of an exciting project or study
• To network with their peers and other industry leaders and participate in high level, intellectual exchanges

Added Bonus: Each speaker will receive free admission to the conference (a $3000+ value) including admission to all conference sessions, networking breaks, lunches, exhibit hall, cocktail party, etc.

Submission Guidelines & Deadline
For consideration, please e-mail Amy Kritzer at akritzer@iirusa.com with the following information by Monday, September 21st:
• Proposed speaker name(s), job title(s), and company name(s)
• Contact information including address, phone and e-mail
• Title of presentation
• Brief overview of the presentation (1 short paragraph plus 2 bullets that illustrate audience takeaways): Please note: if your proposal is selected, portions of this description will be printed in the brochure and used online to promote your participation
• Previous conference presentation experience and/or brief speaker biography

Due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to respond to each submission. All those selected to participate as speakers will be notified shortly after the deadline.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO VENDORS, CONSULTANTS & SOLUTIONS PROVIDERS
Whether you are looking to build awareness, generate new business or strengthen existing relationships – a presence at the Achieving Customer Relevance conference can help you achieve your goals.

This event provides a unique opportunity to showcase your products and services to targeted end users and decision-makers. Establish the right set of contacts and be at the right place and the right time.

A limited number of sessions are reserved on the program for vendors, consultants and solutions providers. Sponsors of the conference are given priority choice among available sessions. We are excited to work with you to customize a package that would meet your marketing needs. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Ashley Chiplock Warheit, Sales Manager. She can be reached via email at achiplock@iirusa.com or at 646-895-7481.

Thank you for your interest in Achieving Customer Relevance!
All the best,

Amy Kritzer
Senior Conference Producer
Marketing and Business Strategy Division
Institute for International Research
P: 646-895-7328 F: 212-599-2192
akritzer@iirusa.com
708 Third Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017