Beyond a need; Refining the virtual customer experience

Beyond a need; Refining the virtual customer experience

Naomi Sleeper
EVP
Imperial Distributors

 

Next month, Imperial will host its second virtual spring-summer seasonal show. At this time last year, many companies were cancelling in-person conferences and trade shows. Imperial was no exception. Out of necessity, we replaced our August seasonal show with our first virtual event. Results and retailer feedback indicated that, beyond a need, the change was a meaningful advantage. The online version of the event allowed for broader access and far greater flexibility.

With the experience of three virtual seasonal events, we are now embarking on our fourth iteration of our virtual show experience. Imperial’s Spring-Summer 2022 Seasonal Show will feature enhanced functionality to help our retail partners maximize product discovery, optimize deals, learn about the newest seasonal trends, and engage with our sales team and category experts. We expect our upcoming virtual show will offer an easier seasonal shopping experience than ever before.

So, what does this mean for the future? Life is finally beginning to return to pre-Covid definitions of normal. People are celebrating with families, gathering socially, returning to the office, and attending live events. Yet, some of the changes we had to make during the pandemic have highlighted opportunities for lasting improvements (widespread outdoor seating, comes to mind). Increased efficiency and improved remote engagement are enduring benefits. Our industry’s huge growth in e-commerce has paved the way for supermarkets to better serve shoppers with easier access to essential and broader product offerings. Rather than returning to pre-pandemic ways, we can now carry the wins of this past year forward for the long-term betterment of our industry.