Gourmet Catalog Hires Buying Group Director

Gourmet Catalog and Buying Group in Dallas recently announced the addition of Maryann Samsa as buying group director.  With more than 30 years of experience, Samsa is a highly valued industry insider whose talents and relationships will bring fresh perspective and new ideas to the group. 

 “I have learned so much from Lynn Becraft, who empowered me to work every aspect of retail at the Kitchen Kaboodle for 30 years.  Now, I am ecstatic to take on a new adventure joining Janis Johnson’s team at GC,” said Samsa.

Samsa began working at Kitchen Kaboodle in 1982. The birth of her two children encouraged her to stay home for a few years, only to return to the store in 1986.  With the diverse inventory that Kitchen Kaboodle represents, Samsa became versed in a many categories such as furniture, lifestyle and notably, kitchenware.  

Samsa was one of three buyers for the store, among them being Lynn Becraft, founder and owner of the store.  With a natural knack for problem solving and knowing what customers want, it wasn’t long after she started buying for the store that she soon took over all of housewares.  Also, she handled a plethora of other daily operations, such as staff training on housewares and planning store special events. Over the years, she developed close relationships with numerous vendors and retailers across the country. 

Samsa will act as a consultant for Gourmet Catalog store members. Having been a retailer, Samsa has a deep appreciation and understanding of the variety of challenges stores face every day, allowing her to be intuitive to what information stores need when introducing a new product or service. Samsa remarked, “I love working in the housewares industry and hope to be able to contribute and help store’s build successful businesses.”

In the same respect, Samsa will be instrumental in helping Gourmet Catalog vendors communicate with store members. Samsa’s goal is to help vendors take the mystery out of buying for stores, not only by promoting the best products, but assisting with merchandising, training employees on features, explaining how to demo and bringing products into the store ready to sell. Through close relationships with representatives from various kitchenware vendors, Samsa has had extensive experience with product development as well. 

Working closely with Maryann over the years, I have grown a deep respect for her as an industry insider,” said Janis Johnson, president and founder of Gourmet Catalog & Buying Group. “Maryann will bring a new dimension to our group, while also sharing consistent goals and values with a passion for kitchenware and people of our industry; we are quite eager to share experiences and learn from one another,” added Johnson.

Samsa’s inaugural day with Gourmet Catalog is Dec. 2, just in time to help prepare for the group’s Start the Year Member Conference in January.

Gourmet Catalog members form the original and leading buying group in the housewares industry. Celebrating 35 years in 2016, Gourmet Catalog works to ensure the success of independent retailers with a variety of programs and services, including discounts provided by 200 plus vendor members.