Nov 3, 2008

GHTA hosts sold out sales training events spurred by sponsorships


(Grand Rapids, Mich.) – The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, continues to host successful education seminars, with many thanks to market center sponsorships. The sponsorships, which allow individuals to attend training seminars at a discounted rate, have made the important seminars both affordable and accessible.

Because of the economy, more agencies have turned to the GHTA for sales training advice and information. These educational training programs focus on the retailer, as sales associates are trained in consultative selling for improved retailer profitability. Marts like Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, and Los Angeles have stepped forward to support this initiative by offering scholarships to all mart tenants, while local rep agencies have hosted the seminars — DHR & Co. in Atlanta, Kolibaba in Seattle, Duncan & Company in Chicago and Joanne & Co. in Los Angeles.

“Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. believes very strongly in the value and importance of sales representatives to the health and success of the Gift & Home industry, and it’s critical to recognize and support their contributions – now more than ever,” said Craig Dooley, the vice president of marketing for Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc, which has market centers in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. “Supporting the GHTA’s sales training initiative is one direct way that Market Centers can demonstrate their commitment to this valuable group, by enabling education and networking to learn new techniques, refresh what they already know and share ideas among peers. Simply put, as sales associates become more successful, the industry grows stronger, and everyone benefits.”

“We value and are committed to furthering education,” said Terence Morris, senior vice president of Building 2 Leasing at Atlanta’s AmericasMart. “In addition to our established AmericasMart University educational program, we are dedicated to supporting our partners who are also committed to the industry and understand the importance of sponsoring initiatives that organizations like GHTA facilitate. It’s a collaborative effort, and we will continue to work with the GHTA in furthering industry education.”

Several GHTA education seminars, which focus on best practices for sales associates, including how to build better relationships with retailers and enhance retailer goals, are scheduled through the end of the year. Below is a detailed list of upcoming seminars and their dates:

“Each seminar allows participants to discuss and address real-life sales challenges, as well as to learn a variety of sales practices and techniques,” said Clark Orlaska, the owner of Practical Sales, an organization that delivers sales management, training and educational solutions to increase sales success on behalf of the GHTA. “The seminars also teach sales people to enhance their relationships with retailers through these practices, in order to more directly identify and address retailer’s goals.”

The GHTA regularly hosts these two-day sales training seminars as it works to standardize industry sales training and continue educating its sales associates, sales agencies and vendors. Following each training seminar, participants receive a certificate of completion. The certificate is proof of the participant’s commitment to relationship building and meeting retailer goals. Seminars are currently scheduled for Chicago and Los Angeles. To register or identify upcoming seminars in your area please call 877.600.4872 or visit www.giftandhome.org.

About Practical Sales

 Practical Sales, which delivers sales management, training and educational solutions to increase sales success, was founded on 20 years of experience by Clark Orlaska. Orlaska, who was selected by the GHTA to conduct all its 2008 sales development seminars, is a former road sales representative, sales manager, and retail buyer. He is now a professional trainer for companies within the gift and home industry.

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 and industry affiliates 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.