ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Beginning today, retailers can vote online for the product categories they want Teen People Trendspotters to examine during two unique sessions at the NACS Show 2006, which will take place Oct. 8 to 11 in Las Vegas. Retailers can vote at the NACS Show 2006 Web site through June 30.

Teen People Trendspotters are considered the voice and face of Teen People magazine and a community of 14,000 teens and young adults across the country. At the NACS Show 2006, four teams of young adults will scout the expo floor and will select "Hot Picks," or products they consider to be the hottest in convenience retailing based on the categories selected by retailers in this new online poll. The teen ambassadors will present their findings to retailers and manufacturers on Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11. 

The addition, the Trendspotter panel will further the research conducted by the NACS/Coca-Cola Leadership Council (NCCLC) as presented during the NACS Show 2005 session "Building Loyalty With the Next Generation," which stressed that teens are not to be ignored, as they are today's most profitable customers. The Teen People Trendspotter panels will feature a group of young adults who will present their views on the newest, most innovative products on the expo floor.

"We take the opinions of our retailers very seriously in determining the educational programming topics available at the NACS Show," said NACS Convention Committee Chairman Sam Turner, CEO of Calfee Co. of Dalton Inc. "These new panel sessions will give attendees the opportunity to learn from a strong purchasing demographic about what influences their buying decisions and spending habits. By having the voting mechanism in place, we give our attendees a voice to help us provide the information necessary to help them build their businesses."

"We are very excited to be partnering with Teen People on this project and anticipate that both retailers and suppliers will gain insights into the preferences of these emerging consumers," added Jane Berzan, NACS senior vice president of meetings, marketing and supplier relations.

Click here for registration and housing reservations for the NACS Show 2006. The event Web site also features the latest news and other information of interest to attendees.