Programs

Subsistence Marketplaces Conference Over 4 billion consumers in the global marketplace earn less than two dollars per day. In spite of their low income, these consumers manage to purchase goods and services, secure financing for large purchases and homes, pay for the education of their children and other family members and accumulate savings; many of them achieving these and similar objectives by managing their own small business. These consumer-entrepreneurs represent billions of dollars in investment, spending and saving power and have largely been ignored by global providers of goods and services. Responding adequately to their needs requires that business theory and practice incorporate issues of resource allocation and availability, family support, literacy, poverty and address questions, such as: What are the common and distinctive characteristics of low income/low education consumer/merchants across the many countries they represent? How do these consumer/merchants make decisions about purchases and investments, and participate in the global marketplace? How should products, services and distribution systems be designed for them? How should market research be designed to accurately capture customer responses to new product and service concepts, promotional tactics and distribution channel innovation? How can micro-entrepreneurs among these largely ignored groups participate in value chains and the wealth creation process? This is a small and interactive conference that allows dialogue among a mix of academicians and practitioners who are interested in issues relating to these unique consumer/merchants, and who are willing to share their research and ideas in an energizing environment.
College:	College of Business Administration
Delivery Mode:	Classroom
Total Required Hrs:	22 contact hours
Contact Name:	Katie Weinstein
Contact Phone:	(312) 355-0423
Web Site:	http://www.uic.edu/depts/oee/submarkets/
Cancellation/Refund Policy:	Cancellations must be received in writing three weeks prior to the conference date in order to receive a refund less a $50 administrative fee. Send cancellations to exedworkshops@uic.edu or by fax to (312) 413-9730. Cancellations received after this date will not be refunded.