Aug 7, 2012

GHTA Hosts Industry Summit at NYIGF

The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, will host a special roundtable dialogue focusing on marketing to today’s women. The roundtable, a private industry summit sponsored by the New York International Gift Fair®, Gifts and Decorative Accessories, and GHTA, will take place during the NYIGF® on Monday, August 20, from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM.

The special roundtable dialogue, which will address key drivers to reaching women consumers in today’s dynamic marketplace, will be moderated by Warren Shoulberg (Gifts & Decorative Accessories). It will feature industry experts representing all sectors of the gift and home industry: retailers, vendors, agencies, consultants, and service providers. Each participant, including Mary Liz Curtin (Leon & Lulu), Diane Silverstein (Absolutely Fabulous), Jennifer Hill (Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill), Teya Flick (Whereoware), Patti Biro (Patti Biro & Associates), Kelly Gunn (Natural Life), Gregg Corzine (Archipelago Botanicals), Patricia Norins (Gift Shop Magazine), and Caroline Kennedy (Gifts and Decorative Accessories), was hand-picked as a panelist, based on their expertise and experience.

“Each of these panelists has made a significant contribution to our industry,” said Julie Dix, president of the GHTA. “Their expertise and experience is invaluable and a wonderful asset. We look forward to hearing their thoughts and sharing them with other members of our industry.”

“NYIGF provides an excellent backdrop for these industry thought leaders to explore a topic of such crucial importance to our industry,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president. “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with GHTA to provide a forum at NYIGF for these types of discussions.”

The summit is by invitation only, but those interested in submitting questions to the panel may do so by emailing info@giftandhome.org by August 5.

GHTA will publish a white paper summarizing the findings of the summit following the event.

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, retailers and industry affiliates who are involved in an industry that is fast changing, with the expectation of making it better together. 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@giftandhome.org. For more information on the Gift and Home Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.

About NYIGF:
NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. The summer 2012 NYIGF runs Saturday, August 18, Wednesday, August 22, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.