Giftware News catches up with industry vet Su Hilty, vice president of marketing at 7 W New York. Hilty, with more than 40 years experience in the industry, recently announced her June retirement.
Giftware News: What are your plans after retirement from 7 W? What are you looking forward to the most?
Su Hilty: I plan on spending time writing my next chapter, which will include the following subchapters:Adventurous travel: There are places still on my list: Australia/New Zealand (my last continent to visit), India and Alaska, to name just a few. I have taken a major adventure trip every year since my husband died — Amazon, Machu Picchu, Antarctica, Galapagos, Africa, China, Mongolia, Egypt, Grand Canyon white-water rafting, etc. Why stop now?Design/art industry organizations and affiliations: Giving more time to discover, learn and volunteer with Gift for Life and DIFFA: Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS, Alpha Workshops, FIT, Bard Graduate Center, MAD, Rubin Museum, Met Museum, etc.
Giftware News: What are your plans after retirement from 7 W? What are you looking forward to the most?
Su Hilty: I plan on spending time writing my next chapter, which will include the following subchapters:Adventurous travel: There are places still on my list: Australia/New Zealand (my last continent to visit), India and Alaska, to name just a few. I have taken a major adventure trip every year since my husband died — Amazon, Machu Picchu, Antarctica, Galapagos, Africa, China, Mongolia, Egypt, Grand Canyon white-water rafting, etc. Why stop now?Design/art industry organizations and affiliations: Giving more time to discover, learn and volunteer with Gift for Life and DIFFA: Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS, Alpha Workshops, FIT, Bard Graduate Center, MAD, Rubin Museum, Met Museum, etc.
Charities: Hoping to make a difference. Of special interest is the Nature Conservancy and the Global Giveback Circle. I am most looking forward to doing things on my own schedule.
GWN: What are a few of your proudest moments from your career?
SH: After five wonderful years at 225 Fifth Avenue, followed by a difficult sale of the building and then a quick transition to a new building, [one of my proudest moments was] actually being able to cut the ribbon for our opening market at 7 W.
The other moment was winning the coveted MMPI Marty Award in 2010, which is the annual Wallace Olman Award, named for the first successful general manager of MMPI, who set the standards against which all recipients are judged.
SH: After five wonderful years at 225 Fifth Avenue, followed by a difficult sale of the building and then a quick transition to a new building, [one of my proudest moments was] actually being able to cut the ribbon for our opening market at 7 W.
The other moment was winning the coveted MMPI Marty Award in 2010, which is the annual Wallace Olman Award, named for the first successful general manager of MMPI, who set the standards against which all recipients are judged.
GWN: Where do you think the gift and home industry is heading?
SH: My favorite expression is “all we can be sure of is change” and this is what is rapidly happening to the industry. Those we thought would always be major players are no more. Those who did not exist last year are becoming the poster children for the industry. I look forward to seeing what will transpire over the next year and beyond.
Technology is and will continue to change how we do business, and those who succeed will embrace new ideas and processes.
GWN: What would you advise to new buyers, retailers, etc. just entering the industry?
SH: Embrace the new technology, but don’t forget the importance of the human touch in all business relationships — common courtesy, listening and being open to new ideas and direction.
SH: Embrace the new technology, but don’t forget the importance of the human touch in all business relationships — common courtesy, listening and being open to new ideas and direction.
Image courtesy 7 W New York.
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