MD-IDEX: Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange

October 19-21, 2023
Omni Amelia Island Resort

Amelia Island, Fla.

#PTDA23IS
 

2023 UPDATES! 
Friday, October 20 | 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 21 | 8:30 a.m.-12:35 p.m.

PTDA Manufacturer Members, be sure to reserve your MD-IDEX booth. 

Discover new business opportunities or strengthen current relationships! Known as the most time and cost-effective way to do business according to Industry Summit participants, MD-IDEX provides an opportunity to build relationships, solve problems and discuss new opportunities with senior executives of potential and current business partners.

MD-IDEX will take place over two days and introduce a new format, giving you greater access and more flexibility in how you conduct business.

• ​Day one will feature two hours of open time with no pre-scheduled appointments--ideal for making an introduction or conducting a brief conversation with channel partners you might otherwise not be meeting with on day two.
• Day two will feature 8 one-on-one, pre-scheduled 25-minute meetings -- longer than previous years to allow for more productive business dealings.

All manufacturer and associate* companies with an MD-IDEX booth and all distributors attending the Industry Summit can participate. Manufacturers and associates are required to reserve a booth for entry into MD-IDEX. Register by September 1 to get maximum exposure.

How Does MD-IDEX Work?

• Manufacturers and associates reserve space in the MD-IDEX hall. This also allows your company to participate in the process to schedule appointments with attending distributors.

• For 2023, day one (Friday) will feature an open format with unscheduled appointments. Distributors can walk the MD-IDEX floor and engage in conversation with manufacturers and associates at their respective booths.
• Day two (Saturday) will feature eight, 25-minute meetings with a 5-minute passing period between appointments. Scheduling will open in September. More information about the scheduling process will be available soon.

• Final appointment schedules will be available through the scheduling software about a week before the Industry Summit.

• Following the appointment schedule created, distributors meet with manufacturers/associates in the reserved space to discuss current sales programs and begin planning for 2024.

MD-IDEX Information and Policies

*Although associate members cannot directly schedule appointments with distributors, distributors can make appointments with associates. PTDA encourages associate members to reach out to those distributors with whom you want to meet and request they schedule an appointment with your company. Associate members wanting to meet with manufacturers will need to request a time outside of MD-IDEX.
 

What Is the Schedule?

Friday, October 20
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Open time. With no pre-scheduled appointments, distributors are free to walk the MD-IDEX room to speak with manufacturers and associates they do not have meetings with on Saturday.

Saturday, October 21
8:30 a.m.-12:35 p.m.
Scheduled 25-minute appointments (with 5-minute "passing" time between each appointment); there will be a break with no appointments from 10:25 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
  

How Do I Participate?

1. Register your team for the Industry Summit. At least one team member will need to be registered by September 1 to take full advantage of the scheduling opportunities. Companies who register after September 1 may still take advantage of direct scheduling if time allows.

2. Prior to scheduling, you will be asked to identify which delegate will be responsible for scheduling appointments.

3. Identify those manufacturers or associates you want to meet with during MD-IDEX.

4. Starting at 10:00 a.m. Central on September 25 and continuing through September 29, schedule eight appointments (on a first-come, first-served basis).
5. Between October 11-19, review your final schedule and prepare for your MD-IDEX appointments using the Distributor Worksheet for Manufacturer Meetings.

Distributor Deadlines-at-a-glance

September 15	Register to attend the Industry Summit
September 15-25	Review the list of manufacturers and associates exhibiting in MD-IDEX  and determine with which manufacturers you want to schedule appointments
September 25-29	Starting at 10:00 a.m. Central, schedule your eight dedicated distributor appointment time slots on a first-come, first-served basis
October 11-19	Review your final appointment schedule and prepare for your appointments

 

For Manufacturers:

• Reserve your MD-IDEX booth by June 1 to save $600 and by September 1 to be included in scheduling.

• Register your team for the Industry Summit.

• Identify the distributors you want to meet with during MD-IDEX.

• Beginning September 29, review the appointments scheduled with you by distributors. Determine which distributors to schedule in your remaining appointment time slots.

• Starting at 10:00 a.m. Central on October 3 and continuing through October 9, schedule the balance of your appointments (on a first-come, first-served basis).

• Between October 11 and 19, review your final schedule and prepare for your MD-IDEX appointments using the Manufacturer Worksheet for Distributor Meetings.

Manufacturer Deadlines-at-a-Glance

June 1	Reserve your MD-IDEX booth to save $600 on the reservation fee
August 25	Reserve your MD-IDEX booth to save $450 on the reservation fee
September 1	Reserve your MD-IDEX booth to be included in scheduling (You must be registered to attend Industry Summit!)
September 1-October 1	Review the list of participating distributors
September 29-October 2	Review your schedule to see your scheduled appointments. Identify which distributors you want to schedule in your remaining appointment slots
October 3-9	Starting at 10:00 a.m. Central on October 3, schedule the balance of your five dedicated manufacturer appointment slots on a first-come, first-served basis
October 11-19	Review your final appointment schedule and prepare for your appointments