January 2024 GCX: Start the Year Member Conference was a Resounding Success!
Issued February 5, 2024
GC Buying Group held the 21st annual GCX: Start the Year Member Conference at Atlanta Market on January 16 and 17. Ninety-seven vendors and 140 buyers assembled for two days of informative education and a dynamic vendor showcase & expo. “Store and vendor energy was all abuzz in Atlanta with an exceedingly positive vibe,” confirmed Janis Johnson, president, and founder of Gourmet Catalog/GC Buying Group. “Equal engagement was experienced by all store and vendor members during the product previews, learning, and networking,” Johnson continued.
The education day featured a well-received presentation by longtime GC ally Bob Negen from WhizBang! Retail Training, enlightening store members about ways to stay “Mighty on Main Street”. Plus, special vendor presentations brought buyers up to date on new products and programs; and stores enjoyed open mic conversations on select topics throughout the day. Read More
GC Buying Group starts 2023 at ‘pre-pandemic high’ with member conference
Issued February 14, 2023
The two-day event brought almost 200 buyers and 87 vendors together. Kitchenwares industry buying group GC Buying Group and its members held its 20th annual Start the Year Member Conference at Atlanta Market last month.
Running Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, 87 vendors and 180 buyers joined for two days of education and a vendor showcase and expo. 11 and 12.
The event’s educational day featured a presentation entitled “back to the Future 2023” by industry expert Warren Shoulberg – former editorial director of HFN and the 2022 winner of the Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award – and special vendor presentations that updated buyers on new products and programs. Open mic conversations on select topics also took place throughout the day. Evening events on Jan. 11 included a cocktail buffet and networking event with store and vendor members held in the GCX Education Room.“Store and vendor energy was at a pre-pandemic high at the Atlanta events with an overwhelmingly positive vibe,” said Joh Read More
GC Buying Group Adds New Store Members and Recaps January Markets
Issued February 9, 2022
GC Buying Group added five new member stores in January, growing ranks for 2022 to 348 store locations nationwide.
The GC Team participated in three important markets in January.
First up was the well-attended GC Start the Year Member Conference, held January 5-6, co-hosted by Dallas Market Center. One hundred store buyers from 25 states, along with 79 vendors, were in attendance. The all-day store meeting featured new product presentations by key vendor members and special group discussions with open mic conversations among members. The Best Sellers topic stimulated interesting discussions and revealed product favorites. An informative virtual keynote address by Dan Holman, CEO of Toronto-based Canadian Retail Solutions, focused on the topic Post Pandemic Retail Wealth, was concluded by a live interactive Q&A between Dan and store members in the Group. Read More
GC Buying Group Hosts In-Person 2021 Member Conference in Dallas
Issued July 19, 2021
For the first time in 18 months, GC Buying Group members assembled on June 23 and 24 at the Dallas Market Center for a live, in-person Store Meeting & Vendor Showcase. After postponing the January, 2021 long established Start the Year Conference, the GC team coordinated with the Dallas Market Center to consolidate its Member Conference and 40th anniversary celebration. Read More
GC Buying Group Announces Annual Best Vendor Awards
Issued July 12, 2021
Each year the GC Buying Group store members vote on and select vendor members who have shown outstanding service and products in many areas. 2020 winners were announced, and awards were presented at the June GC Member Conference held at the Dallas Market Center on June 23 and 24. Read More
Independent Stores Choose GC Buying Group
Issued July 7, 2021
The GC Buying Group store membership base has continued to climb in 2021, despite the pandemic, welcoming a total of 17 new Store Members in the first half of the year. Read More
2021 GC Spring Virtual Series
Issued April 21, 2021
GC BUYING GROUP WRAPS UP SPRING VIRTUAL SERIES AND PREPS FOR SUMMER EVENT Read More
GC Buying Group Adds Members and Team Attends Dallas Market
Issued August 26, 2020
Six retailers have joined GC Buying Group over the summer months. In spite of having no chance to meet at markets, GC was glad to welcome new store members from four states across the US. The joining retailers are happy to be part of the Group and are looking forward to future networking with other members and taking advantage of benefits the GC Group provides. Read More
Virtual Trainings Benefit GC Buying Group Members
Issued August 17, 2020
GC’s Summer Series has drawn to a close, prompting Store and Vendor Members to express gratitude for the helpful program that connected them in a virtual way. Without the usual summer markets for reviewing new products, unveiling promos and essential interaction between stores and vendors, GC has allowed members the opportunity to have the next best thing: GC Summer Series presentations, featuring both Live and On-Demand viewing. Read More
GC Buying Group Kicks Off Virtual Summer Series This Week
Issued July 13, 2020
In keeping with the ten-year tradition of Summer School and through the support of loyal vendors, GC is set to begin three weeks of virtual trainings and product features. Since 2011, GC store and vendor members have assembled at AmericasMart in Atlanta for the annual Summer School. This year with market centers not allowing group meetings, GC will host virtual live and on-demand vendor trainings. Read More
GC Start the Year Conference Inspires Members for 2020
Issued January 28, 2020
GC Buying Group kicked off the new decade with the 17th annual Start the Year Member Conference and Vendor Showcase. Held January 15 and 16 at AmericasMart Atlanta, the two-day event drew independent retailers from small communities and large cities alike. Read More
GC Celebrates 10 Years of Summer School in Atlanta
Issued July 16, 2019
GC Buying Group’s Summer School in Atlanta celebrates new traditions, creativity, and a key anniversary. July 2019 marks the 10th year of GC Buying Group's Summer School at the Atlanta Gift & Home Market. Summer School opened with stores discussing best sellers with a reoccurring theme of sustainability and eco-friendly products. GC’S exclusive Party in the Kitchen and Showroom Crawl created a space for store members to network, meet with vendors in showrooms and participate in door prizes. Read More
GC Buying Group Event Attracts Record Breaking Attendance
Issued February 12, 2019
With over 200 store buyers attending and 170
Vendor tables represented at the Vendor Showcase, this year’s Start the Year Member Conference buzzed with excitement for 2019. GC Buying Group announced during the conference in Atlanta the 2019 launch of two new online programs, created to add convenience and opportunity for both vendor and store members. Read More
Education and Order Writing Top Features of GC Buying Group January Conference
Issued January 29, 2018
GC Buying Group held their 15th annual Start the Year Member Conference and Vendor
Showcase on January 10 and 11 at AmericasMart during the International Gift and Home Furnishings Show in Atlanta, GA. “Always the very best way to begin a new year! Returned to work very inspired. Bravo GC Team” -Jenny Morrison, owner Ginny Gordon’s of Morehead City, NC. Read More