Sales Rockstar Meryl Hooker Announces Retirement, Farewell Tour
Long-time greeting card and gift sales rep, Meryl Hooker, is retiring at the end of the year. Her last day of business will be Wednesday, December 19, 2012.
“The past 15 years in the industry have been incredible. I have met the most amazing people, had more fun, and certainly had a life I never imagined for myself,” Hooker said. “As good as it’s been, the time has come for me to explore other opportunities.”
In September, she will launch an 8-week, territory-wide Farewell Tour, complete with tour t-shirts, in Washington, DC.
“Doing a Farewell Tour was a no brainer,” she said. “Going out on the road and seeing my accounts is one of the best parts of being a road rep. These buyers have taken care of me for a long time, some from the very beginning. Having one last appointment to say good-bye in person is the least I can do. Plus, we’ve got last minute holiday orders to write!”
Rob Fortier will assume the primary leadership and programming role at Center Aisle Group, which she co-founded with Fortier in 2009. .
“Center Aisle will keep going strong. Rob will continue to delivery the best, most experienced, comprehensive creative business development and sales education opportunities in the industry. Nobody does it better. Period.”
Hooker has worked as a sales rep since 1999 in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. She currently represents Accoutrements, Anne Taintor, Badge Bomb, Blue Q, Ephemera and Pomegranate Communications and has received multiple sales awards and set several sales records. Since 2005, she has been the author of “Road Rage,” a blog about sales, business development, and life as a road rep.
With Fortier, she is the co-author of what has been hailed as “the bible” and a “must-have guide” for the greeting card industry with “Pushing the Envelope: the Small Greeting Card Manufacturer’s Guide to Working With Sales Reps” and “Showtime! The Greeting Card and Gift Company’s Guide to Trade Show Success.”
