Honoring Excellence
GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 10/21/2010 5:30:19 AM
During the summer New York International Gift Fair, nearly 300 people in the gift industry gathered at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers for the 59th annual Gifts & Decorative Accessories' Retailer Excellence Awards, to honor retailers and gift industry leaders.
Gift for Life, the industry's charitable organization supporting AIDS awareness and education, presented the Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award to Randy Eller owner of Eller Enterprises. Eller is a long-time industry veteran, having been a part of the gift industry for 35 years, working at such gift giants as Russ Berrie and CBK. He is an active member of the Gift and Home Trade Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses and the National Speakers Association.
REA AWARD WINNERS
Taking Retailer Excellence Award top honors were bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy, Rhinebeck, NY; Poppy, Columbia, MO; Jenss Décor, Orchard Park, NY; Swagger Gifts, Cary, NC and www.taigan.com, Brentwood, TN.
Gifts & Dec honors retailers and industry leaders at the 59th annual Retailer Excellence Awards.
And retailers weren't the only ones honored that evening. Julia Elliman of Goetz Inc. was presented with the Outstanding Manufacturers' Rep Award, which is determined by retailer nominations. The Rising Star award, given to a company in business for three years or less, went to Lindsay Phillips of Lindsay Phillips LLC and a Special Award of Recognition for Service to the Community was given to store owner Mary Liz Curtain of Leon & Lulu in Clawson, MI, for her outstanding contribution to the community. Curtain hosted 65 store events in 2009.
On behalf of the judges, Caroline Kennedy, editor-in-chief of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, presented a Special Award of Recognition for Service to the Community to Leon & Lulu and crowned co-owner Mary Liz Curtin "Queen of Quite a Lot." |
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With a view of the Hudson River as a backdrop, guests mingle over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. |
Chris Collins and Su Hilty of 7W New York/ MMPI present the award for Visual Merchandising to Barbara McCormick (left), Diana Parker (second from left) and Lilianne Johnstone (far right) of Poppy. |
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Randy Eller, Eller Enterprises, was honored by Gift for Life, the industry's charity partner, with its Industry Achievement Award. |
The Industry Rising Star award was presented to Lindsay Phillips for her fast-rising company Lindsay Phillips LLC. |
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Mandy Becker beams with Swagger Gifts' award for Marketing Achievement: Branding/Integrated Marketing. Becker, who is currently residing in Europe and running her store remotely, flew in from Finland to attend the Awards Gala and shop the New York International Gift Fair. |
Julia Elliman of Goetz Inc. excitedly moves to the stage to accept her award as 2010 Outstanding Manufacturers' Rep, a retailer nominated category. |
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Larry and Marsha Dautch of Jenss Décor took home the honors for Marketing Achievement: Community Service Events. |
Taigan.com, winner of the Retailer Excellence Award for Internet Gift Retailing, was unable to attend. |
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Sean Nutley and Jojo Ans of bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy, Retailer Excellence Award winners in Store Design. |
We would love your feedback!
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Randy Eller
Aug 21, 2010 -
REA Honors
Oct 4, 2011 -
Evening of Excellence
Sep 1, 2009
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