In an effort to help companies that are new to the gift industry, or who are looking for an outside opinion about their operations, the Gift and Home Trade Association has put together a list of gift industry consultants that can provide advice at cost effective rates.

To participate in the industry consultant program, a consultant must:

• Be a member of the Gift and Home Trade Association. With rare exceptions, GHTA Industry Consultants will be allied members of the association.
• Be recommended by at least two members of GHTA that are familiar with the industry consultant’s work and results.
• Offer any GHTA member a FREE 30 minute telephone consultation. After that initial telephone consultation, the consultant should offer GHTA members a discounted rate on any follow up consultations. Anyone who is not a current GHTA member will be billed for his or her initial and all follow up consultations at the consultant’s then current rate. Consultant will notify the GHTA office when contacted by a GHTA member for verification of membership status.

In offering this service to the industry and GHTA members, GHTA neither endorses nor warrants the services being provided by participating industry consultants. Members are expected to use prudent business judgment selecting and contracting with any consultant.
 

MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

Roger Wilson has had 37 years experience as a marketing consultant. For 16 years was the owner of Roger Wilson & Associates, one of the larger sales organizations on the West coast.

Now owns and operates The Manufacturers Representative Profile, the largest detailed database of sales agents who sell consumer products in the US. Agents who sell giftware, housewares, decoratived accessories, etc., have a detailed profile with MRP. He also has a large database of agents who cover chain stores, discount, drug, supermarket, wholesale clubs, sporting goods, toy, auto aftermarket, hardware, home building centers, etc.

Over 3,500 companies have used the MRP service, over 900 being start-up companies. He specializes in taking companies to the next level (re-organization), and has assisted over 2,600 companies in that effort. He can also find new markets for your product line.

Provides services for Manufacturer's Reps

• At no cost, representatives can be part of our database by registering a profile with our company (which are update once a year) http://www.mrpusa.com/ *Be the first to have access to new lines in your territory. We generate millions of dollars of sales commissions to agents each year

Provides services for Manufacturers

• Long and short term strategic planning *Product development
• Packaging
• Off shore sourcing
• Sales training
• How to hire, train, motivate and manage a sales force
• Measure the performance of you sales agents
• Trade advertising and communication

We provide a management program that hundreds of companies have used to grow their business.

For more information please visit mrpusa.com or call Roger Wilson to see how he can take your business to the next level. References given upon request.

Manufacturers Representative Profile (MRP) 2150A Douglas Blvd. #210 Roseville, CA 95661 (916) 784-2300 rogerwilson@mrpusa.com.
 

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT / LOGISTICS CONSULTING

Are you satisfied with your supply chain, both inbound and outbound, as to performance and cost?
Do you have too much capital tied up in inventory, which turns too slow, and yet are out-of-stock at important times?
Do your customers and/or reps complain because you do not have products to fulfill orders?
Do your suppliers or you control your purchase orders and the timely delivery of them?

Supply chain effectiveness is required by customers. It is not an option. If you cannot provide it, they will find someone who can.

Whether the supply chain issue is imports, freight, inventory, warehousing, technology or your overall process and operation, LTD Management can work with you to assess your supply chain, to develop solutions that work and to implement those solutions.

Tom Craig with LTD has over 25 years of real world logistics experience managing supply chains. That experience enables him to understand your needs and to effetively work with you. He has written articles that have been printed and placed online globally. He has spoken at conferences worldwide. Tom has conducted a master class seminar in supply chain management in China for Chinese manufacturers.

Don't guess when it comes to your supply chain. Contact:
Tom Craig
LTD Management
Logistics / Supply Chain Management Consulting
Solutions That Work
email: tomc@ltdmgmt.com
website: www.ltdmgmt.com
tel: 610-458-3636
fax: 610-458-8039
cell: 610-715-3710
mail: 1230 Pottstown Pike, Suite 6, Glenmoore PA 19343
 

The Havens Company

Professional Sales and Marketing Management

With thirty years of experience in the gift and home furnishings industry, we can provide your company with a “market ready” plan that includes:

• Hiring, training, and motivating a national sales organization
• Developing and implementing sales procedures and policies
• Creating and managing an annual sales budget
• Providing guidelines for a world-class customer service dept.
• Producing first class selling materials
• Managing all trade show preparation and participation
• Participating in product development, forecasting, pricing
• Developing a continual 12 month marketing timeline
• And much more…

We work closely with our clients, creating a “results oriented” environment, at a highly professional level. We can be your ongoing marketing/sales team member or provide consultation services on a project related basis. We maintain a strong channel of communication with our clients, as well as with their field sales organizations.

We work on a reasonable monthly fee, with incentive based options.

Call us today to discuss the wide range of possibilities that we offer and the type of results that you can expect.

The Havens Company
Tom Havens
7711 E. Greenway Road, Suite 101
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Phone (480) 991-6330
(800) 757-0055
Fax (480) 991-8601

“We can help you achieve and exceed your company’s growth potential !”
 

Jones Street Sales and Marketing Consultants

OBJECTIVE:

To provide a more efficient, profitable and effective alternative to full time sales and marketing management.

OUR PRINCIPALS

Ken Keely

Ken has 30 years experience in sales and sales management. His 24 years in the gift industry were spent as a territory sales rep, and as sales and marketing manager for major gift, stationery, home décor and collectible manufacturers. Ken maintains an extensive network of relationships with many primary gift chains, Home Shopping Network and QVC, gift catalogs and key sales agencies.

Kim Keely

Kim also has a 24-year history of success in the gift and toy industry. She has served at every level of corporate sales and marketing management. Kim has built a far-flung network of relationships with dominant mass marketers like Target, Cracker Barrel, Kirkland’s and major toy retailers which include Toy’s “R” Us, Zany Brainy and specialty advertising organizations.

Services of Jones Street Marketing

What can Jones Street Marketing do for you? Our nation-wide relationships with quality gift sales organizations, sales principals and professional sales reps assure you of maximum market penetration with improved results in sales and profits. With Jones Street Marketing on the job, you can be assured that:

• Your products will be represented by sales organizations that are appropriate for your product and your markets
• Your products will be more visible during trade shows and on the road
• All Sales Training will be swiftly accomplished. We have the ability to quickly establish a new sales force or make necessary changes to an existing sales force. Ongoing sales training will be performed by phone
• We will work closely with territory sales reps helping them to identify new retail markets and key retailers in their territory.
• We will establish realistic, overall sales goals for your products with each rep firm and assign monthly sales quotas to each territory. Analyze a monthly sales reports and review sales with each principal We will extend and improve your relationships with key, mass market, toy, home shopping and gift retailers.
• Assist you in developing in house systems to improve order entry, information and data control, commissions and invoicing.
• Jones Street Marketing will coordinate and schedule the distribution of show samples and materials.
• Because all travel expenses for each trade show we attend are divided equally among our clients, all manufacturers achieve another important cost reduction.

Jones Street Sales and Marketing Consultants
414 East Jones Street,
Savannah GA 31401
(912) 233-0703
 

Dick Pruett Sales Management Services

With sixteen years of experience as the original time shared sales manager in the gift and home furnishing industry and eleven years as an rep agency owner, I offer a no nonsense approach, that is not full of fluff.

I will tell it like it is and will not work for a company if I don’t believe we can achieve our mutual goals.

I can provide your company with a “market ready” plan that includes:

• Hiring, training, and motivating a national sales organization
• Managing all trade show preparation and participation
• Review sales figures and maintain reports
• Consistent contact with rep principals and associates
• Uncover market trends or lack thereof
• Work with trade magazines, newsletters, etc.
• And much more…

I direct the sales efforts of multiple clients, on a time-share basis, while successfully maintaining a one-on-one type of working relationship with each company. I have accomplished generating an individualized, productive sales/marketing program specifically designed to meet current needs and future expectations.

My years in the gift and home furnishing industry have provided me with an extensive networking system, including well established agencies with proven sales ability, and the new entrepreneurial agents who are bringing in fresh, innovative sales/marketing ideas for today’s market.

I can launch or increase your sales and develop a solid team that will help us accomplish our goals.

Dick Pruett Sales Management Services
Dick Pruett
470 W. Camino De La Reina,
Vail, AZ 85641
(520) 762-0012
(800) 952-4633
Cell (520) 270-1561
Dpruettsms@aol.com
 

Peggy Maynard Sales Management, LLC

Peggy Maynard 

My goal is to provide affordable and effective sales management to gift industry manufacturers that are not currently large enough to sustain that capacity in-house.

These management skills are available in several forms depending on your needs, some of which are:

• Analysis of your company situation, goals, and needs
• Placement of your line with the appropriate sales agency, or improving the results from existing representation
• Establishment of sales goals for your company, by territory
• Consistent communication with agency principals / sales managers to achieve these goals
• Training, education, motivation of reps
• Frontline personality at major shows
• Effective, rep-friendly sales tools
• Newsletters

I have over 25 years of experience within the gift industry ranging from store manager of a high-volume gift chain to VP of sales for a European candle company.  Each of the experiences throughout these years has been a building block in my growth, the whole of which provides me with a unique perspective – the ability to see all sides, to consider all possibilities and all consequences in the decision-making process.

For an initial discussion to see if my skills are compatible with your needs, please contact me:

 Office:  (919) 735-1124
 Cell:  (919) 394-2458
 Email:  peggy@maynardsales.com
 Web:  www.maynardsales.com
 

Spoor & Associates Inc. Sales & Marketing Services

Spoor & Associates Mission Statement

As a leader in sales & marketing management services in the gift industry, our goal at Spoor & Associates Inc., is to give our clients an organized and clear picture of their products in the marketplace, by following industry trends, tracking product movement, setting long and short term sales goals, establishing good sales tools, and helping with research and development. With these analytical tools and open & honest communication, we strive to make our clients successful and profitable in the marketplace.

Who Are We?

We function as your in-house sales and marketing team. Our experts develop sales and marketing strategies, define markets and establish distribution networks. When you turn over the sales & marketing responsibilities to us, your management team gains the time to do what they do best...manage!

Areas Of Expertise:

Mitch & Barbara Spoor

Mitch & Barbara Spoor have more then 30 years of experience on all sides of the marketing triangle: Buying, Manufacturing & Sales Distribution. The additional five Spoor & Associates offices across the U. S. are all equally qualified to handle the marketing needs of their clients. Each one is hand picked and offers their clients the same range of services.

Overseas Product Sourcing

Spoor and Associates Inc. overseas international product sourcing & import division, is now in it’s seventh year. Our primary objective is to source and import all types of products for gift and decorative accessory manufacturers. We work with long standing, high quality manufacturers in Hong Kong & Mainland China. Spoor and Associates Inc. can simplify and streamline the entire process of sourcing and importing products or parts of products to the United States.

How To Reach Us

Spoor & Associates Inc.
Mitch & Barbara Spoor
1712 Sebring Hills Drive
Henderson, NV 89052
Phone: (702) 896-5237
Toll Free: (800) 770-7470
Fax: (702) 896-0843

spoors99@yahoo.com
www.spoorconsultants.com

Call us for a free, 30 minute consultation.
 

Markert Group Consulting

From concept and design to production, marketing and distribution, Markert Group Consulting helps suppliers maximize the potential of their products and profitability of their company. Our proven, best practices and extraordinary network of resources have been developed over 20 years in the gift, home and apparel industry with some of the countries most successful retail operations.

Founder, Gail Markert, has helped hundreds of suppliers improve their product lines and processes to achieve optimum sales. With over 20 years retail experience in merchandising management, Gail Markert has first-hand knowledge of the intricacies of product development, merchandising and supplier development. Her extensive background includes experience in global sourcing, concept development, merchandising, assortment planning and negotiations. Her work with a variety of both niche and chain marketers provides clients with a rare insight into the retail and merchandising world.

Her broad experience uniquely positions her to advise on market trends, recognizing opportunities for growth, creating brand strategies for increased sales and profit.

Services

• Product Development
• Assortment Planning and Analysis
• Brand Management
• Strategic Planning
• Sourcing and Supplier Development
• Marketing
• Training

We provide services to gift and home suppliers that save time, energy and the expense of developing and maintaining in-house specialists. Our individual approach assures a customized solution for your organization. Our uncompromising commitment to your success results in immediate and long lasting results.

For more information please visit markertgroupconsulting.com or call us today to see how we can contribute to your success.

Markert Group Consulting
Gail Markert
1913 18th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 292-7819
Gail@markertgroupconsulting.com