Jul 29, 2013

Key Speakers on Marketing, Generational Insights, Retail and Design Trends Featured at Upcoming Greeting Card Association Convention

An impressive roster of key speakers is scheduled for the 72nd Annual Convention of the Greeting Card Association (GCA), taking place from Wednesday, September 18, through Saturday, September 21, at The Westin Savannah Harbor in Savannah, Ga.

Jay Baer will present “Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is About Help Not Hype” on Thursday, Sept. 19, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Baer is a New York Times best-selling author who has started five multi-million-dollar companies and consulted for 30 of the Fortune 500; and his blog is ranked as the number-one content marketing blog in the world. In this informative discussion, Baer will offer a new approach to win customers that cuts through the clutter to deliver marketing that is truly, inherently useful. Filled with dozens of real-life examples, this hilarious and powerful presentation will fundamentally change the way you think about your business and help you to create customers for life.

Seth Mattison returns to the GCA Convention with “Generational Behavior 2.0” on Friday, Sept. 20, 9-10:15 a.m. – a follow-up to his popular presentation last year on selling and marketing to the generations. Mattison, a millennial keynoter for BridgeWorks, LLC, is an internationally renowned expert on workforce trends and generational dynamics. This year, he will be leading an interactive session on what future-focused leaders need to be doing to ensure they’re bring out the very best in each of the generations in their organizations – tapping into key insights and best practices on leading, managing and retaining talent of all ages in order to future-proof your organization today.

Scott Butterfield, trends consultant at Hallmark Cards, is partnering with students from the Savannah College of Art and Design to present “Design Trends and Forecasting” on Friday, Sept. 20, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. This session will explore three distinct color directions: Paint Box Color, Chalk Box Color and Jewel Box Color, plus specific hues within the three categories that will be significant for next year and beyond. Stylistic trends meaningful to Hallmark’s product development will also be reviewed in the context of how they relate to the overarching color forecast.

Additionally, from Wegmans Food Markets, Michele Crowley, business group manager, and Mary Jo Catalfo, category manager-card shop/general manager-seasonal, will lead a “Retailer Presentation” on Thursday, Sept. 19, 10:15-11:30 a.m. They will talk about Wegmans’ business – providing an introduction to the company; a historical look at where this successful Rochester, N.Y.-based retailer came from and where it’s going; its Corporate W.I.G.S. (Wildly Important Goods), including what they’re working on, how it relates to the card departments, and how they partner with their suppliers to drive sales and profitability; and the store’s card shop strategy.

Other informative sessions at the GCA Convention will include a “USPS Update” on Friday, Sept. 20, 8:30-9 a.m., led by George White of Up With Paper and Brenda Turner from DaySpring; and an “Associates Panel Presentation” on Friday, Sept. 20, 10:30-11:30 a.m., featuring Bill Birmingham of Fixture Resource Group, Mark Vando of Brightmarks, and Phil St. Germain of J.S. McCarthy Printers.

Another highlight of the Convention will be an afternoon of “Ask The Experts” optional breakout sessions on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2-5 p.m. Topics will include Small Business Ownership, hosted by Rick Ruffner of Avanti Press and Alan Friedman of Great Arrow Graphics; Marketing Your Business, hosted by Patti Stracher of GLM and Christy Kaprosy of American Greetings; Licensing 101, hosted by GCA President Susan January of Leanin’ Tree and GCA Convention Chair Sue Buchta of Papyrus-Recycled Greetings, Inc.; and Paper and Process Trends, hosted by Brad Cannaday of Neenah Paper, Jenni Birkholz of Appleton Coated, and Eva Divjak of Astro Converters.

The GCA thanks the following sponsors of its 72nd Annual Convention: Avanti Press; American Greetings Corporation; Appleton Coated; Cardstore.com; Hallmark Cards; J.S. McCarthy Printers; Leanin’ Tree; Masterpiece Studios/Fine Impressions; National Stationery Show; Neenah Paper; Papyrus-Recycled Greetings, Inc.; and Stationery Trends.

All members of the industry – both GCA members and nonmembers – are invited to attend the GCA’s 72nd Annual Convention. For a complete schedule of events and to register, visit www.greetingcard.org or click here.