GLM creates face-to-face and online buying, selling and networking platforms for designers, product developers, manufacturers, reps, retailers and operators through tradeshow and event production, online community development and association management.

The company was founded by George F. Little, in 1924, and acquired by Providence Equity Partners, in October 2011. The executive team includes Chief Executive Officer Charles McCurdy; Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer Doug Smith; Senior Vice Presidents Dorothy Belshaw, Philip D. Robinson and Roy Turner; and Fair Director Andrea Canady. GLM employs some 100 people, with offices in White Plains, NY, Atlanta, GA and Naples, FL.


Tradeshow and Event Production

GLM currently produces 15 tradeshows, serving industries as diverse as giftware, home furnishings, social stationery, home textiles, tabletop, gourmet housewares, contemporary furniture, personal care, art & design, antique jewelry, beach, board sports, fashion and hospitality. Annually, these events showcase some 11,000 exhibitors in 1.8 million net square feet of exhibit space, and attract approximately 150,000 attendees.

Outside of the trade arena, the company's Soiffer Haskin division organizes private sales for luxury goods manufacturers and retailers. Established in 1982 and acquired by GLM in 1998, Soiffer Haskin currently conducts 40 private sales annually, for clients including Hermes, Mikimoto, Bulgari, Tourneau, Loro Piana, Pratesi, Valentino, Max Mara, Ralph Lauren Home, Hugo Boss and Hickey Freeman, with a customer base totaling 125,000.
 

Online Community Development

The New York International Gift Fair, National Stationery Show and Surf Expo feature online catalog galleries – paid marketing opportunities through which exhibitors upload product catalogs. Online catalogs help participants increase awareness before, during and after tradeshows. Since 2008, nearly 1,500 catalogs have been posted, generating 47,800 leads and more than 25 million page views.

GLM launched www.RetailerForum.biz, a free online networking and business resource for gift, home and stationery retailers, in 2009. Retailer Forum features retailer spotlights, a catalog gallery, small business resources, forums and an internal messaging system. In addition, the site includes a unique one-to-one matching tool for members, which connects retailers based on their store type, business experience, product offerings and business areas in which they need/can offer assistance.
 

Association Management

In 2010, GLM became the new trade association management company of the Greeting Card Association (GCA), the US-based trade organization representing greeting card and stationery publishers, and allied members of the industry. GLM's management role includes oversight over all administrative functions, GCA regulatory and legislative issues, public relations, membership development, meetings and convention planning and execution and financial matters.