NYIGF Announces Staff Changes

In connection with the summer 2013 reorganization of NYIGF into four broad market collections, GLM has announced a series of personnel changes, effective immediately, for the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) team. These staffing changes include creation of new positions, a new hire, internal promotions and shifts in areas of responsibility. 

According to Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president, "These staffing changes will facilitate the reorganization and introduction of four broad market collections — Home, Lifestyle, Craft and New — at the summer 2013 NYIGF. The new positions and related internal promotions are designed to maximize each team members' contributions to the show and the market overall." 

Changes to the NYIGF team, which are effective immediately, include creation of two new positions, Sales Director for NYIGF Home and Sales Director for NYIGF Lifestyle, with responsibilities including oversight of exhibit floor layout changes and exhibitor relocations connected to changes planned for August 2013. Both of these positions report directly to Falkenberg. 

Randi Mohr, a veteran member of the NYIGF staff, has been promoted to Sales Director for NYIGF Home Divisions. In this capacity, Mohr will oversee NYIGF's Accent on Design®, At Home, Gourmet Housewares Show and Tabletop divisions. In addition, she will continue to manage sponsorship and digital sales. Since joining GLM in 2003, Mohr has held increasing levels of responsibility on the NYIGF, most recently as sales manager for the Fair's Accent on Design, Baby & Child and Studio, and served as a member of GLM's sales team for the Gift Fair in Atlanta. Mohr graduated from Iona College, in 2003 with a B.A. in International Business, and in 2006 earned MBA Management with an International Business Certificate. 

Mohr will oversee five member of NYIGF's Home Sales team: Jaime Sikorjak, who has been promoted to Sales Manager of Accent on Design and Studio; Marc Delman, Sales Manager for Tabletop and Gourmet Housewares Show; Danielle Giacoponello, Sales Manager for At Home; Kristen Hamilton, Sales Representative for At Home; and Mary Hennessy, Sales Representative for Accent on Design, At Home, Gourmet Housewares Show and Tabletop. 

Scott Kramer, a gift and home industry veteran and former member of the NYIGF team, has returned to GLM to serve as Sales Director for NYIGF Lifestyle Divisions. In this capacity, he will oversee the Baby & Child, General Gift, EX•TRACTS, New York's Newest and Personal Accessories featuring Details divisions. In addition to Kramer's seven years with GLM – the first three for the Boston Gift Show and the last four for the NYIGF, his extensive sales and marketing experience includes three years with a school fundraising organization and eight years as the owner-manager of a gift retail operation. Kramer graduated in 1988 from the University of Hartford with a B.A. in Organizational Communications. 

Kramer will oversee six members of NYIGF's Lifestyle Sales team: Patricia Rivas, who has been promoted to Sales Manager of Baby & Child and will continue to work on New York's Newest; Paula Bertolotti, Sales Manager for New York's Newest; John Kelly, Sales Manager for General Gift; Melissa Engongoro, Sales Manager for Personal Accessories and EX•TRACTS; Nicole Climent, Sales Representative for General Gift; and Bibi Javed, Sales Representative for Personal Accessories and EX•TRACTS. 

Additionally, NYIGF's Handmade divisions will continue to be managed by Liz Beauregard, Sales Manager and Michelle Karol, Sales Representative. The newly launched Artisan Resource show will remain under the direction of Allison Rober, Sales Manager. 

NYIGF is the nation's premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The winter market takes place Saturday January 26, through Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Information and registration is available online at nyigf.com.

Ganz Acquires Midwest-CBK Gift, Holiday, Home and Outdoor Decor Business

Midwest-CBK, a leading holiday, gift and home décor designer and manufacturer, has announced it has been purchased from MVP Group International, Inc. by Toronto-based gift company, Ganz. The acquisition includes the Midwest-CBK brand name and popular holiday, gift, and home and outdoor décor business. MVP Group will retain the Colonial Candle, Everybody's Ayurveda, Genuine Monkeez & Friends, Monkeez Makes a Difference and Goofballz brands, and Union City, TN. distribution facility and staff. 

The Midwest-CBK product line and the MVP Group International brands of Colonial Candle, Everybody's Ayurveda, Genuine Monkeez, Monkeez Makes a Difference and Goofballz, will continue to be available through the Midwest-CBK sales team. 

"Midwest-CBK is a perfect addition to the Ganz family of brands, a company with a similar heritage, strong values, experience, vision and focus," says Scott Wehrs, president of Midwest-CBK. "By combining forces, both Midwest-CBK and Ganz will continue to grow and provide the industry with exceptional new product design and development, and outstanding service." 

"This acquisition unites two renowned and highly respected market leaders, combining the strengths of both companies with best-in-class people, products, service and support for independent retailers," says Howard Ganz, president of Ganz. Midwest's and Ganz's product development and sales teams will continue to operate independently thereby allowing each to focus on their strengths. "This strategy brings many benefits and opportunities to retailers through an unmatched selection of holiday, gift and home décor products, innovation in products and programs, depth of design and outstanding sales and support teams, backed by a company with the combined resources of Midwest-CBK and Ganz." 

For more information, contact your Midwest-CBK account manager, visit mwcbk.com or call 800/394-4225.