Keynote speaker John Brandt and others will focus on ‘pleasing the customer’ and managing changing demands as the annual Consumer Products Conference promises best program ever

August 16, 2006 — CARY, N.C. — The spotlight will be on the customer – what she wants, how to reach her and how to prosper in a changing consumer products market – as a far-reaching program has been announced for the VISION 2007 Consumer Products Conference, January 21-24, 2007 in Denver, CO.

Now in its sixth year, the VISION Conference annually attracts more than 400 participants for three days of presentations and networking, as well as the prestigious Visionary Awards. The Conference is sponsored by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.

"In its first five years the VISION Conference has become the premier educational and networking event in the consumer products and nonwovens industries. The 2007 Conference promises to be the best ever and will highlight ‘the next big things’," says INDA President Rory Holmes. "The unique combination of the entire value chain from around the world coming together certainly makes VISION a must-attend event for any consumer products company."

The focus on the customer will center on the keynote presentation and roundtable discussion led by John Brandt, of the MPI Group, who will outline a method with which executives can rethink and reinvent the customer value their organization delivers. In a three-part session, Brandt will instruct attendees how they can enhance their business by increasing customer value.

Companies that are best serving the consumer with innovative and successful new products will once again be rewarded by participation in the annual Visionary Award competition. In what has become the most anticipated event at VISION, finalists will make presentations to the VISION audience on their new products and attendees will vote for the recipient of the 2007 Visionary Award. The recipient will be announced on the final morning of VISION 2007. (Nominations for the Visionary Award are being accepted through September 1.)

Among other VISION 2007 Conference highlights:

-- A session on "Success on a Global Scale," featuring an entertaining presentation from Ken Schmidt, former Director of Communications of Harley-Davidson. Schmidt will explain how Harley-Davidson rose from the ashes to become one of the country’s most recognizable brands.

-- The World becomes the target in a series of presentations that will focus on international issues such as ""A Global Forecast on Polypropylene," by Bob Dennett, of Chemical Market Associates; "Hot Spot: India," by Valkunth Gupta, of Panum Corp.; and "Thriving in a Global Marketplace," presented by Edwin Nichols, of Nichols & Associates.

VISION 2007 will close with an informative presentation entitled “Innovation & Acceleration Anxiety” by Ze Frank, designer and internet icon, who will advise attendees on how to not only survive, but also prosper in a constantly changing business environment.

For information or to register for the VISION 2007 Consumer Products Conference, January 21-24, 2007 in Denver, CO, log on to the INDA website at www.inda.org.

For information on or to nominate a product for the 2007 Visionary Award, contact project coordinator Michael Jacobsen, mjacobsen@inda.org.