With consumer markets fragmenting into ever-smaller niches, the need to understand who your consumers are and what motivates them to purchase has never been more important. You can learn about the latest research and strategy development approaches in use today at the ninth annual Proof: Market Research & Strategy Development for Package Design conference.

Proof, produced by the Institute for International Research, will be from Oct. 1-3, 2007, at the Wyndham Hotel in Chicago, and Shelf Impact! is again supporting the conference as a media partner.

Additional speakers and topics have been announced for the conference, including:

• Douglas Miller, Production and Operations Manager, Bath & Body Works, “Designing for Manufacturability: Creating Packaging that is Cost-Effective Without Jeopardizing Quality and Visual Appeal.”

• Liz Mohr, Senior Insights Manager, Unilever, “Special Edition Packaging: Worth the Risk?”

• Dan Hill, President, Sensory Logic Inc., “Make Them Fall in Love. Decoding Facial Expressions to Build Emotionally Engaging Packaging.”

Register now and learn more about the conference.