GHTA names conference speakers, adds sales training dates
Staff -- Home Accents Today, 7/1/2006
The Gift and Home Trade Association has named its keynote speakers for the GHTA 2006 Annual Conference in November.
"With four well-respected leaders in our industry discussing issues critical to our members, this is one conference no one should miss," said Kelly Dierke, vice president of GHTA and 2006 conference chairperson.
With a theme of Reinventing Your Company to Prosper in a Changing World the following keynote speakers will appear at the conference, held Nov. 17–18 at Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, Fla.:
- Mary Liz Curtin is a writer, speaker and retailer. Curtin speaks internationally on trends, display and management for independent retailers; and owns Leon & Lulu, a furniture store, with her husband. She also chairs the board of Gift for Life and founded the new retail networking group called "It's Another."
- Jennifer Castoldi is the founder, CEO and chief creative director of Trendease International (www.trendease.com). Trendease is an online design and style publication acting as a resource for the home fashion, design and lifestyle industries.
- Gil Cargill has spent 25 years as a consultant, speaker and trainer helping businesses achieve dramatic and permanent improvements in sales productivity. A frequent speaker at national conventions and consultant to numerous organizations, Cargill was named as one of the "Top Six Speakers in the Country," by Sales & Marketing Management magazine.
- Randy H. Eller is a 30-year veteran of the Gift and Home Decor industry. He spent 10 years as a retailer, 10 years as a sales representative, and the last 10 years of his active career was spent as president and a partner of CBK. He currently works with various companies within the industry as a consultant and also speaks professionally to audiences as a veteran of the industry and supporter of independent retailers.
More information about the conference, including hotel reservations forms are on the GHTA Web site at www.giftandhome.org.
In other news, the GHTA has added new dates and locations for its two-day training course for sales associates — Selling in the Gift and Home Industry. Courses are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Northern California (Bencia), July 21–22
- Atlanta (AmericasMart), Sept. 7–8
- Chicago (Merchandise Mart), Sept. 18–19
- Seattle (Seattle Gift Mart), Nov. 8–9
The first day of Selling in the Gift and Home Industry covers prioritizing and managing a customer base; organizing a sales territory, managing sales books and samples; prospecting; making appointments; the order process; and best practices for business management.
In the second day, experienced sales associates will learn techniques for selling at shows; developing relationships; synergistic selling; raising the level of professionalism; reaching inaccessible customers; and more by drawing upon the combined knowledge of the group. This course builds on concepts covered during the first day.
Continuing the development of Selling in the Gift and Home Industry, the GHTA education committee has decided to combine the Introduction to Selling in the Gift and Home Industry and the advanced Selling in the Gift and Home Industry classes into a single, two-day Selling in the Gift and Home Industry seminar, recognizing most of the material is relevant at every level of sales associate experience.
The cost for sales associates is $125 for GHTA members and $225 for non-members per participant, per day. There is an additional $25 late fee for registering less than 30 days in advance. The registration fee includes lunch, beverages at breaks will be provided. Registration forms can be obtained from the GHTA office by calling 877-600-4872 or 720-748-4872.
