DALLAS — In order to better understand the unique opportunities and difficulties faced by GC independent kitchenware retail members and GC vendors within the group, GC Buying Group has put together a panel of retail advisers for 2025.
The members of the 2025 Advisory Board are:
Angela Skogen, Cooks on Main, Williston, ND
Gregg Smith and Mary Moore, The Cook’s Warehouse, Atlanta
Rebecca and Jeff Carney, Cook’s World, Rochester, NY
Art and Martha Nading, The Extra Ingredient, Greensboro, NC
Sean O’Hanlon, Le Roux Kitchen, Haddam, CT (ME, MA, NH store locations)
Bob, Rick and Ron Kratchman, Kitchen Kapers, Cherry Hill, NJ
Dan Hoffman, The Kitchen Shoppe, Carlisle, PA
Laura and Stephen Havlek, Sign of the Bear Kitchenware, Sonoma, CA
In connection with the vendor event scheduled for Friday, January 17, the eight-store board will convene in Atlanta during the GC Start the Year Member Conference. At the forum, the GC Team will arrange an industry-related Q&A session between the board and GC providers.
The board will also get together in July for GCX: Connect at Atlanta Market and at the Chicago Inspired Home Show.
In order to represent all GC Buying Group members, stores are invited to join the board through a process that is based on their knowledge, experience, location, and store size.
Janis Johnson, the president and creator of Gourmet Catalog, Inc. and GC Buying Group, stated, “GC is extremely fortunate to have the most market-savvy, successful stores as members of the GC Group.”
In addition to serving as mentors to stores in the group who require support beyond the regular consulting counsel given by the GC Team, advisors on the GC Board have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in the housewares sector.
