Gourmet Catalog & Buying Group plans to host its 5th Annual Retail Summer School July 9-10 during the 2014 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Show at AmericasMart.
Due to the success of the additional half-day session introduced in 2013, Gourmet Catalog will maintain the new format for this year. The extra half-day on Wednesday, July 9, will allow 10 additional vendor members to participate in training Gourmet Catalog store members, including Creo (Full Circle), Emile Henry, Fagor, iPinium, Mauviel, Picnic Time, PSP Peugeot, Revol, Tovolo and Wüsthof. Chef Fabio Viviani from “Top Chef” will introduce Picnic Time’s new Legacy product line, The Heritage Collection. Revol will have Elizabeth Karmel – chef, author and nationally respected authority on grilling, barbecue and Southern food – presenting her new line of everyday essentials. These vendors will also have a table at the party in the classroom that evening, allowing members more time to see product and to network.
The traditional full day of Summer School will be hosted Thursday, July 10. Store members will separate into small groups and attend 25-minute classes from 12 top Gourmet Catalog vendors, including All-Clad, Browne, HIC, iCoffee, KitchenIQ, Le Creuset, Lékué, Messermeister, Scanpan/Global Knives, SodaStream, Viante and Vitamix. The small-group training will provide retailers with the opportunity for hands-on demonstrations, exclusive product education and in-depth discussions with vendors.
“Summer School has become such an important event for our store and vendor members,” said Janis Johnson, founder and president of Dallas-based Gourmet Catalog. “The intimate demonstrative setting allows vendors to present products effectively, and stores walk away with valuable knowledge they won’t find anywhere else. We can’t wait to see everyone in July.”
The Summer School event is open to Gourmet Catalog’s 300 store and 200-plus vendor members. Store members receive two free hotel nights to attend the event.
