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GHTA Stampedes Its Way to Excellence

By Caroline Kennedy -- Gifts and Dec, 1/4/2010 12:00:00 AM

Photos: Ted Teele

The Gift & Home Trade Assn. held its annual conference at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, AZ. The gathering brought together representatives of a cross-section of the gift industry: manufacturers, sales organizations and reps, trade show and mart executives, technology vendors, retailers and trade press. Checking their business rivalries at the door, for three days, this diverse group came together to learn with and from each other ways to improve business for the benefit of all.

After an opening ceremony performed by a group of local Maricopa and Pima Indians, the conference was officially called to order and Jeff Portman, president and COO, of AmericasMart Atlanta took the stage to get the conference started out on an uplifting, forward-looking note. Portman outlined the new ICON Honors program being inaugurated this year by AmericasMart and the GHTA. The ICON Honors will recognize excellence and achievement across all facets of the gift and home industries.

Over the course of the two days, guest speakers and panel discussions provided much food for thought. Among the presentations: Stacy Mitchell spoke on the importance of “Thinking Local”; Merit Guest spoke on the use of emotional intelligence in business; and Keith McFarland regaled the audience on doing business in a challenging economy. In addition, retailer panels helped vendors and reps better understand what their needs are and how retailers can be better served by them.

But it was not all work and no play. The annual golf outing raised funds for Gift for Life. S’mores were toasted over an open campfire at an Old West town, while some folks went to jail or tried their luck bull riding. And an evening of line dancing was enjoyed by many after a sit-down dinner and live auction that raised funds to help support the organization.

The most important lesson that everyone took away was the importance of working together toward a common goal and to help others. This lesson was reinforced by the team-building exercise during which 20 teams worked together to finish putting together and decorating bicycles, which were then given to 20 very surprised local Maricopa Indian children. In this exercise was also a lesson about the spirit of giving, and how gifts, no matter how big or small, make an impact on the recipients.


Taking Care of Business Leaving business rivalries at the door, GHTA conference attendees sat down together in sessions that were inspiring and informational. All photos courtesy of Ted Teele View the gallery here	Kickin' Up Their Heels The Gift & Home Trade Association Conference was not all work and no play. Participants had plenty of opportunity to mix and mingle, and enjoy a little R & R too. All photos courtesy of Ted Teele View the gallery here


Team Building Brings Joy to Kids The team builiding exercise resulted in 20 decked out bikes that were given to 20 surprised Maricopa Indian children who thought they were on hand to pick up trash, not brand new bikes! All photos courtesy of Ted Teele View the gallery here

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