ECRM
ECRM operates a curated B2B meeting platform connecting CPG brands and suppliers with retail and foodservice buyers through category-specific virtual and in-person Sessions across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, supported by its RangeMe online product discovery platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersSolon, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ECRM does
ECRM, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Solon, Ohio, operates a curated B2B meeting platform that connects consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and suppliers with retail and foodservice buyers through pre-scheduled, category-specific Sessions. Since 1994 the company has facilitated more than 3 million face-to-face meetings across more than 1,941 executed Sessions, with 47,000+ retailers, foodservice operators, and brands participating. Sessions are organized across four regions — North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia — and span five vertical categories: Food & Beverage, Pharmacy & Medical, Health & Beauty Care, General Merchandise, and Foodservice. Named retail participants cited across sources include Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS Health, Meijer, Albertsons, Hy-Vee, Dollar General, PetSmart, and Gordon Food Service.
The company's core technology is the proprietary MarketGate platform, which orchestrates pre-scheduled 1-on-1 buyer-seller meetings in both in-person (at hotels and resorts) and virtual formats. Participants use the ECRM Portal for meeting preparation, note-taking, and follow-up tracking, while iPad-based meeting management tools support on-site execution. Three primary session formats are offered: Planning Sessions (20-minute private meetings with up to two attendees), Innovation Pipeline (10-minute meetings in 10x10 booths), and Discovery Hub (tabletop format for first-time attendees). ECRM owns RangeMe — an online product discovery and sourcing platform acquired in June 2017 — which gives suppliers year-round exposure to retail buyers and feeds Session pipelines with on-demand sourcing activity. RangeMe is integrated at the registration layer, allowing suppliers to link RangeMe profiles into Sessions. Each participant is supported by a dedicated Client Success Manager throughout the engagement lifecycle.
ECRM's revenue model is primarily transactional: suppliers (brands) pay per-Session registration fees, with list prices ranging from $7,125 for Discovery Hub to $10,688 for Innovation Pipeline to $15,913 for Planning Session (early-bird pricing), rising to $7,500 / $11,250 / $16,750 at full price. Fees cover meeting space, lodging, meals, and session services; suppliers bear their own travel costs. Buyers participate at no charge, with ECRM absorbing buyer costs as a deliberate network-acquisition strategy. A second revenue stream is RangeMe platform access, treated as a recurring subscription. Additional revenue mechanics include a $650 per-person-per-day extra-attendee fee and co-hosted summits with industry partners (e.g., the Convenience Leadership Summit with retailmediaIQ). ECRM states that Session participation costs approximately 39% less than the average trade show ($11,500 vs. $19,000), and participants typically receive 20–50 pre-qualified meetings per Session. The company operates as a privately held corporation with 251–500 employees and no institutional investor or PE ownership disclosed in the input data.
ECRM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ECRM
- Legal name
- ECRM
- Website
- https://ecrm.marketgate.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- ECRM operates a curated B2B meeting platform connecting CPG brands and suppliers with retail and foodservice buyers through category-specific virtual and in-person Sessions across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, supported by its RangeMe online product discovery platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ECRM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- B2B Retail Matchmaking Platform
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail, Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Shows Organizers (THAHABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms (THAHAFAB)
Keywords
Where ECRM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Solon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ECRM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Supplier Registration Fees: Suppliers (brands) pay a registration fee to participate in ECRM Sessions. The fee covers meeting facility access, lodging accommodations, meals, and session services. Suppliers are responsible for their own travel expenses to the host city. Participation tiers range from Discovery Hub tabletop ($7,125–$7,500) to Innovation Pipeline private booth ($10,688–$11,250) to Planning Session with 20-minute meetings ($15,913–$16,750).
- RangeMe Platform Access: RangeMe is ECRM's online product discovery and sourcing platform, providing year-round exposure for suppliers to retail and foodservice buyers. It serves as an additional revenue/engagement stream integrated with the in-person Session model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | RangeMe Discovery Hub (Emerging Brands / First-Time Attendees) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Innovation Pipeline (Challenger Brands) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Planning Session (Leading Brands) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
ECRM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ECRM curates pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings between consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and retail and foodservice buyers through category-specific virtual and in-person Sessions. Its MarketGate platform orchestrates meeting scheduling, note-taking, and follow-up tracking, while the wholly-owned RangeMe platform provides year-round online product discovery and sourcing between events. Suppliers pay registration fees to participate in Sessions; retail and foodservice buyers attend free of charge.
Product overview
ECRM provides a curated B2B meeting platform that connects consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands with retail and foodservice buyers through category-specific virtual and in-person Sessions. The core MarketGate platform orchestrates pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings between qualified suppliers and buyers, while RangeMe extends year-round online product discovery. Session formats include Planning Sessions (20-minute private meetings in suites), Innovation Pipeline (10-minute booth meetings), and Discovery Hub (tabletop format). Programs span five vertical categories: Food & Beverage, Pharmacy & Medical, Health & Beauty Care, General Merchandise, and Foodservice, with sessions organized across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RangeMe ECRM's online product discovery, sourcing, and purchasing marketplace that connects retailers and suppliers year-round. Suppliers gain year-round exposure to buyers from retail chains and foodservice operators; buyers use it for on-demand product discovery and sourcing.
- MarketGate ECRM's proprietary web platform powering meeting scheduling, participant management, and program delivery across virtual and in-person Sessions. Includes the ECRM Portal for participant preparation, note-taking, follow-up tracking, and meeting rating.
- Food & Beverage Sessions Category-specific Sessions covering Candy, Foodservice, Produce, Frozen, Beverage, Snack, Meat & Seafood, Deli/Dairy/Bakery, Coffee/Tea/Cocoa, Center Store Grocery, and Adult Beverage categories for grocery buyers and CPG suppliers.
- Pharmacy & Medical Market Sessions Sessions covering Pharmaceuticals, Health Systems, Home Health & Diabetes Care, and Pharmacy Technology for pharmacy buyers, health systems, and medical product suppliers.
- Health & Beauty Care Sessions Sessions covering Health & Wellness, Beauty, and Personal Care categories for retail buyers and brand suppliers in the health and beauty sectors, including contract manufacturing, packaging, and logistics topics.
- General Merchandise Sessions Sessions covering Baby, Home, Pet, School & Office, Seasonal & Outdoor, Household & Cleaning, Personal Goods, and Convenience & Impulse categories for general merchandise retail buyers and suppliers, including pet category buyers such as PetSmart.
- Foodservice Sessions Sessions connecting foodservice operators (restaurants, hotels, hospital dining, college campuses) with consumer packaged goods brands for menu innovation, supplier vetting, and sourcing efficiency.
Quantifiable outcome
- 39% lower cost than average trade show ($11,500 vs. $19,000 total cost)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ECRM
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ECRM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
ECRM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RangeMecoreRangeMe is ECRM's online product discovery, sourcing, and purchasing platform. ECRM owns RangeMe, and the two platforms are tightly integrated: suppliers can link their RangeMe profiles during ECRM Session registration, and RangeMe provides year-round exposure between Sessions. ECRM Session participants automatically gain RangeMe access.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ECRM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Informa Markets: Informa Markets is one of the world's largest B2B exhibition and event organizers, with deep presence in food, beverage, retail, and CPG verticals (e.g., Natural Products Expo, Fancy Food Show). Directly competes with ECRM for CPG-retail buyer and supplier mindshare via traditional trade shows and curated matchmaking programs.
- Emerald Holding: Emerald operates B2B trade shows and events across retail, design, and consumer goods, including curated buyer-seller programs comparable to ECRM's Session format. Directly comparable as a publicly visible event-driven platform serving overlapping CPG/retail audiences.
- RX Global (Reed Exhibitions): RX Global organizes large-scale trade exhibitions and curated buyer-seller programs across food, retail, beauty, and pharma. Directly comparable to ECRM's Session model on both the in-person event format and the buyer-supplier matchmaking function.
- Clarion Events: Clarion Events is a global event organizer with food, retail, and consumer goods portfolios (e.g., ICE Europe, trade exhibitions). Directly comparable to ECRM as a curated B2B event operator serving CPG-retail audiences across multiple geographies.
- dmg events: dmg events operates large-scale exhibitions across hospitality, food, retail, and construction, including buyer-seller matchmaking formats. Directly comparable to ECRM in event-driven CPG/retail buyer-supplier connection.
Emerging players
- Faire: Faire is a fast-growing B2B wholesale marketplace that connects independent brands and retailers, increasingly expanding into CPG categories ECRM serves via RangeMe. Comparable as a digital-first alternative to ECRM's curated discovery model.
- Ankorstore: Ankorstore is a European B2B marketplace connecting independent brands and retailers with curated product discovery. Comparable to ECRM's RangeMe platform in providing digital buyer-supplier matchmaking for retail categories.
- Tundra (by Shopify): Tundra is a B2B wholesale marketplace backed by Shopify that connects brands and retailers with zero-commission sourcing. Comparable to ECRM's RangeMe as a digital product discovery and supplier-buyer connection platform.
Others
- National Retail Federation (NRF): NRF is the world's largest retail trade association running NRF Big Show and adjacent retail media/content. Comparable as an industry convener for the same retail buyers ECRM serves, though operating as a non-profit association rather than a commercial matchmaking platform.
- KeHE Distributors: KeHE is a specialty food and natural products distributor with deep CPG-retail buyer relationships. Comparable as an adjacent participant in ECRM's foodservice and grocery Sessions, and as a potential channel partner or competitor in supplier-buyer matching.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ECRM social profiles
Digital presenceECRM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ECRM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
ECRM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ECRM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ECRM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ECRM
What does ECRM do?
ECRM curates pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings between consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and retail and foodservice buyers through category-specific virtual and in-person Sessions. Its MarketGate platform orchestrates meeting scheduling, note-taking, and follow-up tracking, while the wholly-owned RangeMe platform provides year-round online product discovery and sourcing between events. Suppliers pay registration fees to participate in Sessions; retail and foodservice buyers attend free of charge.
Is ECRM a public or private company?
ECRM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ECRM founded?
ECRM was founded in 1994. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is ECRM based?
ECRM is headquartered in Solon, United States, in the North America region.
How does ECRM make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Supplier Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are rangeMe Platform Access.
Who are ECRM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Informa Markets, Emerald Holding, RX Global (Reed Exhibitions), Clarion Events and dmg events. Emerging players are Faire, Ankorstore and Tundra (by Shopify). Others are National Retail Federation (NRF) and KeHE Distributors.
Does ECRM have an API?
No public API is recorded for ECRM.
What industry is ECRM in?
ECRM's product category is B2B Retail Matchmaking Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAJ, Retail, Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Shows Organizers, with a secondary code of THAHAFAB, Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms. Its NAICS code is 561920.