The POPAI Board of Directors voted to approve a merger with ARE. The final step is a membership vote on July 7. It is expected the merger will be approved. The new association will be larger and better positioned to become the leading global retail experience association. It will maintain the POPAI brand and mission while growing globally. For the first time, the new board will include a global chapter representative, Pierre-Alain Weill of POPAI France. The merger aims to increase benefits for worldwide members through stronger events, research, education and networking.

1.
June 3, 2015
Dear POPAI Global Chapter Member,
We are pleased to share that the POPAI Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly to
approve a Plan and Agreement of Merger with ARE (Association of Retail Environments) at a
board meeting held on May 29 in New York City. The final step to approving the merger is
an all membership vote on July 7. It is expected that most members will participate by
proxy and that the merger will be approved. In anticipation, we want to communicate to
our POPAI Global Chapters our commitment to being an even stronger global association.
While the combined association will have a new name and identity, there is agreement that
the strong POPAI brand name will continue forward as an integral part of the New
Association. Equally important, our shopper marketing research and education mission will
also continue forward under the POPAI brand name with a well-funded, earmarked
endowment. The OMA awards and our strong global chapter network will also continue
under the POPAI brand name. The New Association will be headquartered in Chicago and
we will take steps immediately to hire a new CEO capable of leading a much larger, global
entity.
The importance of our POPAI Global Chapters was an important part of the merger
negotiations that have taken place over the last six months. Not only do we expect to
maintain the current global presence of our association into the future, we expect that to
add more chapters and grow membership within existing chapters. In view of this
commitment, for the first time ever, the New Association will have a global member seat on
its 16 member Board of Directors. The first global chapter representative nominated to be
on the board of directors of the New Association will be Pierre-Alain Weill of Weillrobert,
PLV of POPAI France. When approved, Pierre-Alain will become a normal voting board
member and will have a voice in the direction of the New Association.
Change is difficult. Many of our companies have been vested POPAI members for decades
through generations of company management. But just like managing our own companies,
it is critical to make the correct long term strategic decisions that create the most value for
customers and shareholders, which in this case, is our members. The New association will
nearly double our size and give us the scale to become the undisputed leading global, non-
profit, retail experience association. The New Association will be the leading authority on
the retail experience providing our members with even stronger event, research,
education, award, scholarship and networking opportunities. We expect only to increase
benefits to our world-wide members.

2.
Many aspects of integrating these two historic industry associations will take time. In the short term,
POPAI operations will continue as normal as we work through the details of integration. We look
forward to engaging our Global Chapters in the years ahead to gain your insights on the strategic
direction of our New Association. In the meantime, we invite you to reach out to any of us with
questions or concerns that you may have.
Sincerely yours,
POPAI Merger Committee
Michelle Adams
Chairman - Current
Marketing Brainology
Maadams65@yahoo.com
Bob Zanotti
Vice Chairman - Current
Process Retail Group (Member since 1978)
bzanotti@processretailgroup.com
Scott Eisen
Treasurer - Current
Ideal (Member since 1997)
scotte@idealpop.com
Denis Gibney
Board Member - Current
Frito Lay (Member since 1994)
Denis.p.gibney@pepsico.com
Richard Winter
Past Chairman – 1999
Past President (2009 – 2014)
Premier Fixtures
rwinter@premierfixtures.com
David Abramson
Past Chairman – 2001
Rapid Displays (Member since 1947)
dabramson@rapiddisplays.com
Mike Lauber
Past Chairman - 1996
Tusco Displays (Member since 1979)
mrlauber@tuscodisplay.com