World Market Center Las Vegas announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with the Gift & Home Trade Association (GHTA) for 2011, with the ultimate goal being to bring new buyers to its bi-annual markets, while also increasing membership numbers for the national association.
Under this exclusive market program, World Market Center Las Vegas will give away 500 free association memberships to new gift buyers who register and attend the Winter Las Vegas Market, Jan. 24-28, 2011. Complimentary memberships will be only available to gift store buyers who are either completely new to market or have not been to the Las Vegas show for three market cycles. All qualifying buyers also must be in attendance at Winter Market to obtain the membership.
Aside from not having to pay the $100 membership fee to join GHTA, all members will receive a variety of benefits by joining the trade association, including access to the annual all-member conference featuring nationally recognized speakers; networking and cocktail receptions at major industry shows in Dallas, New York, Las Vegas and Atlanta; and special discounted rates to ICON Honors, a prestigious awards program at the AmericasMart. Additionally, members also will be eligible for health insurance, discounted pricing on trade publications, monthly e-newsletters highlighting association news and events, e-clips, a monthly listing of articles of interest, the Brandwise Gift and Home Index, discounted credit card processing, a free 20-minute session with the GHTA attorney and a dynamic website with a members-only section.
Meanwhile, specific benefits for retailers include access to the Independent Retailers Resource Center (www.IndependentRetailer.biz), which provides retailers with information and tools to brand and publicize their stores, as well as the Retailer Help Desk, which gives retailers the opportunity to e-mail retailer-specific questions to the GHTA for consideration. They also will be provided with educational opportunities at various events seminars, quarterly webinars and retailer-to-retailer breakfast seminars at major trade shows throughout the year.
“This new partnership with the Gift & Home Trade Association further solidifies our ongoing commitment to grow the gift industry in Las Vegas,” said World Market Center Las Vegas President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Maricich. “We think this will be an attractive incentive to bring new gift buyers to our market and a way for our gift vendors to gain more exposure for their brands and expand sales opportunities.”
About Gift & Home Trade Association: GHTA is the gift and home industry’s non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, retailers 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@giftandhome.org. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.
About World Market Center Las Vegas: World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex. The state-of-the-art campus showcases furniture, decorative accessories, gift, lighting, area rugs, home textiles and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center open daily to consumers and designers. World Market Center currently hosts the biannual Las Vegas MarketTM, the preeminent total home market along with Gift + HomeTM and Vegas KidsTM. For more information on World Market Center Las Vegas and its shows, visit www.wmclv.com. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.