Business Building Educational Programs
Gain the competitive edge in your business through tips, proven techniques and best practices, courtesy of the San Francisco International Gift Fair. Programming includes:
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Airports Are Thriving, They’re Where You Want To Be
11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Seminar Area is located at the back of the 2500 Aisle
Program Description:
Imagine millions of feet walking in front of your lease line from dawn until well past dusk. In airports you can convert them into customers and watch your sales grow exponentially. Learn all about getting into and doing business in airports at this special session. Top executives from San Francisco International airport and other experts will share with you the right steps to take to seize the numerous airport opportunities available. Airports want and need successful retailers like you.
Chef Appearance, Tasting & Cookbook Signing Event
12:00 - 2:00 pm | Booth: 1400
Meet Chef and long-time San Francisco resident, Andrea Froncillo. Author of two popular cookbooks, The Stinking Rose Restaurant Cookbook and Crab: Buying, Cooking, Cracking - Andrea is always developing new recipes and fine tuning the menus at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant, The Stinking Rose, Bobo's, The Dead Fish, Calzones, or Crab House at Pier 39.
Wine Support: The Effectiveness of Merchandise Sales in a Winery Tasting Room
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Seminar Area is located at the back of the 2500 Aisle
Presented By: Beverly Armstrong has 20 years experience buying merchandise as well as developing private label products for over 25 wineries. Her current endeavors are focused on visual balance of products, environments and brand as a culture.
Program Description:
Armstrong will lead a discussion and share her knowledge and expertise in the areas of vendor/trade set-up, purchasing and price negotiations; storytelling with merchandise and staging; how to select core items and recognize their sales strength; and merchandise as a brand reflection - to brand or not to brand. Following the seminar, Armstrong will lead buyers on a tour of selected vendors at the show.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Guerilla Marketing: Free and Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Drive More Traffic and Sales
11:00 am – 12:00 pm| Seminar Area is located at the back of the 2500 Aisle
Presented by: Patricia Norins, Publisher, Gift Shop Magazine and Green Retailer
Program Description:
Inexpensive and unbelievably effective grass roots marketing strategies to grow traffic and sales. In this fast-paced session, Norins will share 50+ marketing ideas to help you build stronger relationships with your customers, increase store traffic and sell more products.
Chef Appearance & Cookbook Signing Event
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Booth: 1400
Mitch Rosenthal is the co-owner and executive chef of three San Francisco restaurants, Town Hall, Salt House and Anchor & Hope. He believes that cooking and eating should be a shared experience and every meal is a celebration. In his cookbook Cooking My Way Back Home, Rosenthal showcases the most popular dishes from his three successful restaurants, delivering warmth, personality and an infectious enthusiasm for the communal aspect of cooking and dining.
Buying Right, Then Managing What You Buy
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Seminar Area is located at the back of the 2500 Aisle
Presented by: Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, Founder & President of Creative Business Consulting Group (CBCG), a Boston-based Retail Consulting Firm
Program Description:
Do you want to increase sales and learn how to consistently maximize inventory contributors including average stock, turnover, and gross margin? We’ll review how to analyze your inventory and turn it into a key strategic weapon for your retail success. Learn how to:
• Drive Profits – learn how to minimize your inventory investment while increasing inventory turnover
• Enhance Overall Product Mark Up – learn how to utilize key retail industry benchmarks to improve mark up and gross margin targets
• Lower Store Debt – shift your monthly cash investment from inventory to debt reduction
• Improve Productivity of Store Management – Shift the amount of time spent on inventory management to time spent on building long term strategic sales and marketing efforts.
• Create a Proactive Emphasis on Inventory - Learn the best ways to minimize stock outs and capitalize on all sales opportunities.
Monday, February 20, 2012
CAHHS Hospital Gift Shop Special Session: 2012 Trends - Explore, Expand & Educate
9:00 am -10:30 am | Room 222
Presented By: Lilly Stamets, Gift Shop Manager, UCSF & Jhana Jordan, Buyer Relations Director, Urban Expositions
Program Description:
Hospital Gift Shop Special Session CAHHS (California Association of Hospitals & Health Systems) invites you to attend our open forum and talk about the year ahead of us. Surprises for all who attend.
Opportunity Knocks: How to Capitalize on the Evolving Retail Marketplace
11:00 am – 12:00 pm| Seminar Area is located at the back of the 2500 Aisle
Presented by: Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, Founder & President of Creative Business Consulting Group (CBCG), a Boston-based Retail Consulting Firm
Program Description:
Change is everywhere in the retail marketplace. Where consumers buy products, what products consumers want, and how retailers must react to reach today’s “always connected” consumers are just a few of the challenges facing retailers. The key for retailers today is to successfully target niche markets of customers and to have the right products- as well as the tools - to create effective – and efficient - customer transactions.
This seminar is a call to action for any retailer that wants to succeed over the long term by learning the tools of the trade for retailers today to create effective customer interactions. Join us for this seminar and walk away with actionable steps to implement for your store to gain an immediate sales return when you get home.
• Share Best Practices: Key Lessons On How To Drive More Profits For Your Store;Tailor Your Store’s Product Needs And Marketing Messages
• Identify Opportunities: Key Sales Opportunities Created By An Evolving Marketplace
• Define Actions: Executable Steps To Enable Your Store To Gain An Immediate Sales Return
Handcrafted Resource List
Pick up the official show directory onsite for a complete list of exhibiting companies with handmade in the USA products or international handcrafted items.
Green By Design Resource List
Pick up the official show directory for a complete list of exhibiting companies showcasing products or items that are made from green, sustainable, biodegradable, organic, recycled and reclaimed items.
On-Going Show Specials
A number of exhibitors will be offering various savings on their lines and other discounts during all four days of the show. Be sure to pick up a show directory for a complete listing of companies participating in the on-going show specials.
Terrific Tuesday
Take advantage of show specials being offered by participating exhibitors on Tuesday, February 21. A complete list of participating exhibitors will be available at the show registration desk.
Parking Rebate Program Benefitting the San Francisco Food Bank
Bring your receipt along with any three non-perishable food items to the Parking Rebate Desk and receive a $5 transportation credit. Buyers who are unable to bring food items will receive a $3 transportation credit.
Show Your Badge to Receive Discounts at Local Businesses
The San Francisco International Gift Fair will once again partner with the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau to offer exhibitors and attendees significant discounts a local area businesses including hotels, restaurants and bars through the “Show Your Badge” Program. To receive the discount, Gift Fair attendees and exhibitors will simply present their SFIGF exhibitor or attendee badge. Click here for a list of Bureau members participating in the program. Additional participants will be added up until the Gift Fair’s opening, with a complete list available onsite at the Gift Fair.
