Gift & Home Trade Association Launches Website to Support Independent Retailers

Furniture World Magazine

he Gift and Home Trade Association, a non-profit professional trade association dedicated to ensuring the gift and home industry's long term health and viability announced the launch of the Independent Retailer Resource Center (www.independentretailer.biz), which provides tools, resources, information and ideas to help small business owners effectively promote themselves as independent retailers. "This website would not have been possible if it weren't for an incredible team of GHTA member volunteers and our website provider, Bombay Brains Media (www.bombaybrainsmedia.com)," says Diane Carnevale Jones, executive director of the GHTA. "Independent retailers are an integral part of any community, as they support local economies and provide unique gifts and services to consumers nationwide. We're pleased to support them in their initiatives." The Independent Retailer Resource Center (IRRC) was first conceived during the GHTA's 2006 "Future of the Industry" Summit. While the GHTA, as a whole, believes that the retail industry is a mix of retail outlets, big and small, independent and otherwise, the Branding Action Group was formed to create this program specifically to provide independent retailers with information to spur their success, providing them with helpful resources to strengthen their identity as independents through marketing tactics, information about joining the shop local movement, recommended reading, industry events and much more. "These are challenging times for small retailers," according to Carol L. Schroeder, co-owner of Orange Tree Imports in Madison, Wisc., and retail advisor to the GHTA. "The Independent Retailer Resource Center will provide independent shopkeepers with important tools to help them compete in a crowded marketplace. The shop local movement has been gaining strength in many parts of the country, and the GHTA wants to help gift and home accessories retailers take advantage of this momentum. They can either choose to start a buy local program in their area, using the information and links provided on the IRRC site, or creatively promote their store individually using the tools provided." An important aspect of the site is the professionally designed Shop Outside the Box and Proud to Be an Independent Retailer logos, which retailers can download at no charge and use to identify themselves as independents, encouraging their community members to support local business. The resources found on the site were generously donated by prominent industry members and organizations, all of whom believe in the independent retailer, and are available for free to all gift and home store owners. The materials on the site will also be continually updated, ensuring retailers receive the most up-to-date tips and resources. Finally, the "Success Stories" page, which is located on the site, provides retailers with inspiration, as they read about peers who have overcome adversity and who share innovations. All retailers are invited to share personal stories by contacting the GHTA. For more information about www.independentretailer.biz or the Gift and Home Trade Association, visit www.giftandhome.org, or call the GHTA office at 1.800.600.4872. About the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association: GHTA is the gift and home industry's non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA has four major initiatives: to educate sales professionals; to understand and educate the industry on opportunities for technological efficiencies; to support and cultivate the industry's independent retailers; and to understand and educate the industry on showroom/trade show costs, statistics, schedules, opportunities and preferences. GHTA can be reached by email at info@ghta.net. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.