May 28, 2008

GHTA’s Retail Advisory Board brings back Trolley Tour

Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s professional trade organization, announced its Retail Advisory Board (RAB) is building upon the success of one of its events at The Chicago Market: Living and Giving.

This unique presentation will begin with a discussion forum at 4 p.m. in the Merchandise Mart Conference Center (2nd floor) Sunday, July 20, followed by a special trolley tour of local gift and home decor boutiques.

The hour-long forum will feature a panel of industry experts from GHTA’s RAB, as they lead a discussion on current trends and skills that are beneficial to any retailer. The topic they will present is titled “Retailer to Retailer – Strategies for Challenging Times.”

The panel, consisting of Carol Schroeder of Orange Tree Imports, Cinda Baxter of DetailsInk and Tom Ungrodt of Ideation, will provide their insights on the topic and will also facilitate a question and answers session thereafter. This interactive program will offer retailers ideas and inspiration, as well as practical solutions and strategies. The trolley tour will run from 5- 7 p.m., where participants will visit local Chicago boutiques that exemplify the retailing trends discussed at the GHTA Forum.

Retailers can register by calling Sara Hall at (312) 527-7885 or email her at shall@mmart.com. The registration fee for the trolley tour is $24.95. Boxed dinner and refreshments will be served and are included. All are welcome to attend the discussion forum at no cost.

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 www.giftandhome.org.