Pet Connections Expo Announces Speaker Lineup

Listen to this article

International Conference Development, LLC (ICDevents) announced today that Susan Thixton, pet food consumer advocate, author of TruthAboutPetFood.com and participant of the documentary, “Pet Fooled,” which debuted on Netflix in January, will speak about pet food regulation at its first annual Pet Connections Expo this fall.

The Pet Connections Expo will take place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center October 3-4, 2017. This inaugural tradeshow will focus on healthy pets and will bring together pet industry buyers and suppliers from around the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions as well as the entire country.

In addition to Susan Thixton’s session, “Get the Scoop on How Pet Food is Regulated to Give you Greater Knowledge of What you Sell,” ICDevents says “an esteemed group” of speakers will give presentations during the show, including:

Knowledge, Compassion and Trust: The Three Keys to Building Relationships with Cat Owning Customers, Pam Johnson-Bennett, CCBC, best-selling author and host of National Geographic’s Wild and Animal Planet’s UK show, “Psycho Kitty”

Boost Your Bottom Line – How Adding the Right Pet Supplements Can Enhance Your Business, Bill Bookout, BS, MBA, president, National Animal Supplement Council

Pet Nutrition and How to Help Your Customers Decide, Billy Hoekman, Natural Science Coordinator, Answers Pet Food

Helping Brick and Mortars Survive, Retailer panel moderated by Greg Tilford, CEO, Animal Essentials

Dr Judy Morgan, author and veterinarian certified in acupuncture, food therapy, and chiropractic care for dogs, cats and horses, and Dr. Richard Patton, animal nutrition expert, will also be speaking.

“I look forward to speaking at the Pet Connections Expo and helping independent store owners know how to better assist cat product customers make purchases that best fit their individual cat’s needs,” Johnson-Bennett said. “By asking a few key questions about the customer’s cat, pet store owners can offer more personalized and customized guidance because, as we know, cats are not one-size-fits-all when it comes to important, everyday items such as litter boxes to toys.”

“Speaking alongside so many accomplished individuals makes me proud to be part of an event that sets itself apart through education,” Hoekman said.

Pet Connections Expo will also feature a unique way of interacting with others in the industry – the Campfire Sessions.

“Campfires have long been a source of light and warmth, and a conduit of conversation and inspiration,” show director Bill Doherty said. “The Campfire Sessions take place right on the show floor, during expo hours. Attendees have the opportunity to listen in to these 30-minute interactive sessions, and contribute to the topics that are of the highest interest with peers and experts.”

The Campfire Sessions will be located throughout the show floor which will generate traffic to the exhibits.

Some examples of the Campfire Session topics that will be presented on the show floor include:

-Pricing for Profit: Retail Strategies & Pricing Models to Maximize Every Transaction

-Aging Pets: Addressing the Needs of Senior Animals

-Find Hidden Money: How Your Inventory Management Could be Killing Your Cash Flow

-Employee Life Cycle: How to Find and Keep the Best Team

-The Latest in Grooming Practices for Your Independent Pet Store

-Social Media Strategies to Help You Bring in More Business

-Add to Your Customer Base by Hosting Successful Events at Your Pet Retail Store