The General Merchandise Distributors Council (GMDC), founded in 1970, networks beauty and health care manufacturers together with pharmacy and general merchandisesuppliers for mutually beneficial buying and selling. The GMDC hosts several conferences each year, bringing together wholesalers and retailers. Its education branch publishes studies and white papers and offers marketing training programs. GMDC also publishes weekly newsletters and helps its members connect to industry publications like Drug Store News and Chain Drug Review.