Gourmet Catalog Anticipates High Attendance at Member Event

Gourmet Catalog & Buying Group, the leading and original buying group in the housewares industry, will begin 2014 with its largest Start the Year Member Event to date. The 11th annual member conference taking place Jan. 8 and 9, 2014, at AmericasMart Atlanta will feature the popular full-day private trade show and two industry keynotes. 

The two-day members-only conference offers store and vendor members a chance to network, introduce and review new products, and participate in sales demonstrations and learning opportunities. Highlights include small-group discussions, guest speakers, a networking lunch, a buffet supper and the vendor showcase. 

Guest keynote speakers on Jan. 8 are Tom Shay and Patrick Ungashick. With more than 20 years experience working firsthand with hundreds of businesses and their owners, Ungashick turns the conventional wisdom about exit planning upside down with a radically different approach. Shay offers financial management as it is relevant to a retailer and guarantees to offer a better understanding of financial statements, allowing stores to make better decisions and definitely more money. 

Stores will walk away more prepared for what is to come, with knowledge of topics they are asking about. After a day of learning, vendor and store members will enjoy cocktails and a buffet supper at the Capital City Club. The showcase, held within the AmericasMart complex on Jan. 9, is an exclusive trade show for Gourmet Catalog members. Dozens of company presidents and top executives from vendor members will participate in the event, previewing exciting products and offering hands-on education about popular features stores wouldn’t get anywhere else. 

Stores will receive important one-on-one time with vendors. “This event is the only place you can get more than 150 vendors in one room that will take the time to show you what their products will do,” said David Freeman, owner of Kitchenware Outfitters. 

Store members also find this event to be an essential shopping opportunity since they have direct access to the kitchenware vendors they want to see most, all in one place. “This is the easiest shopping I have ever done and I have been buying for 16 years,” said Miriam Beachy, owner of Butterchurn Kitchen. 

The combination of an education-filled agenda with the all-day vendor showcase makes it no surprise that attendance is already at an all-time high. “Start the Year is the only event where independent retailers can interact and connect with company principals to receive face-to-face support, new line introductions and product demonstrations,” said Janis Johnson, founder and president of Gourmet Catalog. “People choose to connect. This conference enables the connection in multiple ways.” 

Gourmet Catalog (GC) offers members a range of programs from customized catalogs and flyers to help with social media, eNewsletters, eBlasts, eCommerce and more. GC is committed to helping stores with their specific needs, making their lives and businesses as easy and successful as possible. 

Celebrating 30 years in 2011, Gourmet Catalog works to ensure the success of independent retailers with a variety of programs and services, including discounts provided by nearly 200 vendor members.