GC Buying Group Presents Best Vendor Awards

Dallas, April 16 – The GC Buying Group team was part of The Inspired Home Show in Chicago where awards were presented for the Best Vendors, as voted by GC retail members. Winners were excited to be recognized by the GC Group and proudly displayed the awards in Chicago Show booths.

Winners are:

RSVP – Best in Stock

Le Creuset – Most Creative GC Program

Hestan – Best In-Store Signage

Heritage Steel – Best In-Store Fixture

Dreamfarm: Fluicer– Most Innovative Product

Harold Import Company – Best in Customer Service

Harold Import Company – Best in Shipping

Harold Import Company – Best Overall Vendor

In addition to the fanfare of award presentations, the GC team hosted specialty retailers at the GC booth on Sunday and Monday afternoons. Store owners and buyers had the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas about products from exhibiting vendors amid the excitement of discovering vendors new to the Show. Unwinding and networking contributed to the Show’s success for GC members attending. 

Also in Chicago, the GC Buying Group Retail Advisory Board was treated to lunch at the annual board meeting. Discussion topics ranged from individual top selling vendor lists to online ADA compliance issues and the impact of PFAS on assortment planning. Comments were recorded and shared with the entire GC membership. 

GC Advisory Board members are:

Angela Skogen – Cooks on Main

Gregg Smith – The Cook’s Warehouse

Art and Martha Nading – The Extra Ingredient

Sean and Jennifer O’Hanlon – LeRoux Kitchen

Stephen and Laura Havlek – Sign of the Bear

Dan Hoffman – The Kitchen Shoppe (Not in Chicago)

Bob, Rick, and Ron Kratchman – Kitchen Kapers (Not in Chicago)

“Timing for the Chicago Inspired Home Show works well for the GC team and our members as an excellent follow up to the January Start the Year Member Conference,” pointed out Janis Johnson, founder and president of Gourmet Catalog/GC Buying Group. “The face-to-face experience at markets reinforces the vendor/retailer relationship and reaffirms the strong business connection,” Johnson concluded. 

About GC Buying Group: 

GC Buying Group Members form the original and leading buying group in the kitchenwares industry. Celebrating 43 years in 2024, GC functions to ensure the success of independent retailers with a variety of programs and services, including discounts provided for 300+ retailers by GC vendor members. For more information on Gourmet Catalog/GC Buying Group, call: +1-214-855-0005, email: info@gourmetcatalog.com or visit: gcbuyinggroup.com.