Mar 17, 2008

GHTA Announces 2008 Dates for Sales Associate Training

The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA) announces new dates and locations for its popular two-day training course for sales associates – Selling in the Gift and Home Industry. Courses are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

• Minneapolis, March 5-6
• Boston, March 14-15
• Dallas, March 25-26
• San Francisco, April 3-4
• Los Angeles, April 7-8
• New York, May 1-2

GHTA has elevated the curriculum to a higher level of professional, consultative selling. The course’s subject matter is timely, and addresses the current concerns and economic issues facing sales associates and retailers. Topics include the following:

• Itinerary planning and organizing for the best use of time and expenses
• Five keys to successful call management and making every minute with a buyer count
• Buying and selling styles and how to win trust and confidence in your customers
• Successful prospecting and adding the right accounts for maximum territory sales volume
• Your own style and how to leverage your personality to achieve greatness
• What retailers want from sales associates
• Techniques for managing time, itinerary and samples
• Calculating sales per square foot, turnover, average inventory and open-to-buy to help retailers improve profits

For its 2008 two-day training courses, GHTA has added a professional trainer, Clark Orlaska of Practical Sales, from within the industry. Orlaska is a former road sales representative, sales manager, retail buyer and now a professional trainer for companies in the gift and home industry.

During the training course, sales associates will learn the best practices of professional sales associates that are making some of the highest commission earnings in the US. Participants will also have the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with other sales associates in the gift and home industry. Each participant will leave with templates that have practical application back on the road, as well as a certificate of completion as a “Gift and Home Sales Professional” (GHSP).

The cost for sales associates is $200 for GHTA members and $300 for non-members per participant. There is an additional $25 late fee for registering less than 30 days in advance. The registration fee includes lunch. Registration forms can be obtained from GHTA by calling 616-949-9104 or info@ghta.net.

About the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association:

GHTA is the gift and home industry’s non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, industry affiliates and retailers work together to improve relationships. GHTA’s mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA has four major initiatives: to educate sales professionals; to understand and educate the industry on opportunities for technological efficiencies; to support and cultivate the industry’s independent retailers; and to understand and educate the industry on showroom/trade show costs, statistics, schedules, opportunities and preferences. GHTA can be reached by email at info@ghta.net. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit giftandhome.org.