16th Annual Convention and EXPO to Highlight All Aspects of $300 Billion E-tailing Industry

Washington, DC, August 16, 2006 --(PR.com)-- The Electronic Retailing Association, the only industry association representing direct response marketing companies and major retailers that use electronic media to sell goods and services to consumers, will hold its 16th Annual Convention on September 10 -12, 2006 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.  The convention brings together the most profitable companies in the industry for two full days highlighting the latest news, industry perspectives, and the hottest innovations and products to hit the consumer market.  More than 3,000 attendees will gather to hear top business leaders address industry trends, regulatory standards, and solutions to issues affecting direct marketers.  Attendees for this event include Fortune 500 CEOs, production experts, online retailers, and savvy entrepreneurs and inventors.

The electronic retailing industry, which includes the Internet, live shopping, long- and short-form commercials (informercials and spots) and radio, grossed over $300 billion in 2005, almost double-digit growth over the previous year and is on track to meet or exceed similar projections this year, particularly online which currently represents 33% of consumer purchases (14% informercial; 10% home shopping, 6% DR radio), according to the results of ERA’s 2006 Electronic Retailing Buyer Study.  The news media are encouraged to attend this news-making gathering with unlimited access to:
 
- Fortune 500 CEO’s and business leaders.
- Best selling author and sales guru Robert Cialdini.
- Television host, journalist Stu Varney on economic issues affecting the industry in the U.S.  and internationally, including media fragmentation, privacy and data security, and home shopping.
- Never-before-released data on consumer buying trends.
- Pollster and political pundit Frank Luntz on the upcoming elections and implications for the Direct Response industry.
- Issue expert testimony and availability on Net Neutrality, Counterfeiting, Internet Security.
- More than 40 next-generation inventors preview their ready-for-market consumer products.  Special guest Erik Thompson, a finalist on the ABC hit series American Inventor, will provide advice on making a successful product pitch to major direct response retailers like HSN, QVC and Guthy-Renker. 
-Over 15 educational sessions on topics including Online Shopping and the latest technologies, DRTV, DR Radio, International Direct Response, Multi-channel Marketing Strategies and Counterfeiting.
- More than 150 participating companies and exhibitors showcasing the industry’s latest services and technologies.
- The ERA 2006 Awards – known as the industry’s “Oscars”

For more information on ERA’s 16th Annual Convention, visit ERA’s website at www.retailing.org.

Advance media registration for the convention is now available online at www.retailing.org/new_site/communications/press.asp. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All others must pre-register in advance by Friday, September 1, 2006.

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