May 17, 2007

GHTA’s Retailer Advisory Board Announces Chicago Seminar Details

The Gift and Home Trade Association, the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, announces that it has scheduled a special event during The Chicago Market: Living and Giving(tm) on July 20, featuring its Retailer Advisory Board. This unique presentation will begin with a discussion forum at 4 p.m. in the Merchandise Mart Conference Center, followed by a trolley tour of local retailers where participants will see and experience the topics discussed.

The trolley tour will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and boxed dinners will be provided for each participating retailer. 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. All are welcome to attend the discussion forum at no cost. Retailers who are unable to attend the tour should still plan to attend the forum, as the RAB will present valuable information, including the psychology of selling, engaging the customer, visual merchandising and creating customer excitement.

In addition to market sponsors, 2007 RAB seminar sponsors include DEMDACO, New Creative, OneCoast, Precious Moments, Inc., The Thymes, and Wellspring. Chosen by the GHTA members, the eight-member Retailer Advisory Board was created in 2006 to support and cultivate the industry’s independent retailers.

GHTA is also sponsoring a series of seminars presented by Mary Liz Curtin during the summer show season. Titled “Extreme Makeover: Retail Edition,” the complimentary seminars will reveal what happens when an industry veteran, experienced sales manager and “retail expert” actually owns and runs a store. In addition to her current schedule that includes the Pacific Market Center, Northeast Market Center, L.A. Mart and New York International Gift Fair (full details at www.giftandhome.org), she will now also be presenting at the Columbus MarketPlace on June 25 at 6 p.m.

Curtin will present an informative and amusing look at the first year in business at Leon & Lulu, a furniture, gift and accessory store she and her husband opened April 1, 2006. Retailers will learn how Leon and Lulu is building its brand, publicizing the store and setting itself apart from the big boxes.

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 the industry. GHTA’s mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA hosts an annual conference, and distributes monthly newsletters, to inform and educate its members. GHTA also has a nine-member Retailer Advisory Board that advises on how best to support independent gift and home retailers. GHTA can be reached at 138 Garfield Street, Denver, CO 80206, 1-877-600-4872 / 720-748-4872 Fax: 509-479-5254, or by email at info@ghta.net. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit giftandhome.org.