Worldwide Directory of Trade Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Business Promotion Councils
Directory of Worldwide Business Associations of Importers, Exporters, Manufacturers, Traders, Wholesalers, Dealers, Retailers, Growers, Publishers, Builders, Service Providers, Hoteliers,
Travel Agents, Commission Agents, Brokers, Owners
Home Association Directory By Category By Type By Country Add Association Association News
Association Search
HOME » Association Profile
Alphabetical A to Z Association Listing :
0-9 |A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z
Hits: 251  
Gift and Home Trade Association
Address : 2025 East Beltline SE, Suite 200
City : Grand Rapids
State : Mi
Zip : 49534
Country : U.S.A.
Phone : 616-949-0141
Website : http://giftandhome.org/
Contact Person : The Secretary
Association Information
Association Activity : About The Gift and Home Trade Association

"The history of the gift and home industry itself can claim to have started sometime in the post-World War II years," says Andy Bjork, a former GHTA president. "The industry has survived without uniform leadership for the past 50 years. The Gift and Home Trade Association has grown from the industry's need for leadership."

In November of 1999 networking groups Club 35, Willie Loman, Professional Representative Organization (PRO) and National Association of Sales Agents (NASA) gathered in San Diego, where the members began discussing the serious issues facing the gift industry. At that time, major areas of concern included independent representative organizations fearing gift representative conglomerates and major manufacturers allowing retailers to purchase items directly.

After the initial meeting in San Diego, many members continued to discuss the state of the gift industry in between meetings. The group grew quickly, creating a basis for an organization, but there was still a need for more support and input from other networking groups. That support came in the form of liaisons from various networking groups in the gift and home industry.

In January of 2000, the group scheduled its first meeting for what was to be known as USA, or United Sales Agencies. Randy Newcomb of The Newcombs, Joe Hertig of Gift Street, Don Haberman of Markwest Inc., Kim Pitcher of 225 Unlimited, Andy Bjork of BrassSmith House, Paul Blair of Paul Blair Associates, Carol Lang of California Marketing Assocociates, Ron Gilefsky of Ron Gilefsky & Company, Ned Stack of Stack & Company, Vicki Darrah of Darrah & Company, Ltd., and Peter Lisciotto of Eastern Sales Associates formed the first steering committee with Don Hiskey of Hiskey and Company leading the meeting as acting President.

The USA held its first official meeting in Las Vegas in November 2000, where the first USA officers were appointed. Hiskey remained the first president, Bjork served as vice president, Lisciotto served as the secretary and Pitcher served as the treasurer of the United Sales Agencies.

In January of 2003, GHTA selected Conference and Management Specialists as the association's management company and Gregg Marshall, CPMR, became the association's executive director.

Although originally only sales agencies comprised USA, manufacturers and importers began joining the growing organization in July 2003 and United Sales Agencies changed its name to United Sales Association. For the next several years, USA thrived as one association uniting the gift industry, and later the home accessories industry, with a common goal - to educate and improve the industry.

USA formed its first education committee during the summer of 2003 with Peggy Maynard of Maynard Sales Associates as the committee's first chairperson. The committee addressed sales associate training with a plan for three levels of training, followed by training for manufacturers.
 
Giftwares and Novelties Associations in U.S.A.
Association of Graduates Gift Shop (AGGS), West Point, U.S.A.
Gifts and Services Alumni Association (GSAA), Blacksburg, U.S.A.
Giftwares and Novelties Associations in World
British Jewellery And Giftware Exports (BJGE), Hockley, U.K.
Gift Goods Association Of All Japan, Tokyo, Japan
Japan Federation Of Gifts & Souvenirs, Tokyo, Japan
The British Jewellery Giftware And Finishing Federation (BJGFF), Birmingham, U.K.
Directory of Trade Associations, Export Promotion Councils, Chamber of Commerce
  Privacy Policy | Terms | Disclaimer | Contact Us Copyright ©World Trade Associations Powered By Eximweb