GCA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

Trade shows are a significant investment of time, money, and energy... but the real return comes from what happens before, during, and after the event. In this session, you'll learn practical strategies for attracting the right buyers, displaying products, creating meaningful connections, and following up effectively. We'll cover ways to maximize every aspect of your show experience, regardless of booth size or budget. Kate and Lindsay will also share some of their best hacks (and biggest flops) learned from exhibiting at over 50 trade shows combined. Leave with actionable ideas you can implement at your very next market!

Speakers

Kate Murray

Owner and Designer, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress

Kate Murray is the owner and designer and letterpress printer at Quick Brown Fox, a letterpress brand and retail shop in Saugerties, New York.

Lindsay Henry

Founder & Creative Director, Inklings Paperie

Lindsay Henry is the founder and creative director of Inklings, a stationery and lifestyle brand based in Plymouth, Michigan.

... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
Mezzanine ABC

Breakout Session, Mini Conference

11:30am EDT

Breakout Session 2: Who Will Sell Greeting Cards Tomorrow?

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

Mezzanine D

The greeting card industry relies on sales reps to drive growth, but finding the next generation of talent is becoming increasingly challenging. This panel will examine what's changing, what's working, and how publishers and sales organizations can adapt. From recruiting and compensation to hybrid roles and evolving expectations, attendees will gain practical insights for building a stronger, more sustainable sales network.

Speakers

Doris Webb

Tree Free Greetings

Doris Webb is a greeting card industry professional with more than 20 years of experience in sales, account management, and retail channel development. As part of the Tree-Free Greetings team, she works closely with sales representatives and retail partners to identify consumer trends... Read More →

Brad Woods

Maginating

Lisa Engler

Avanti Press

Vanessa Harnik

Notes & Queries

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
Mezzanine D

Breakout Session, Mini Conference

12:15pm EDT

End of Mini Conference

Tuesday August 18, 2026 12:15pm - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

Tuesday August 18, 2026 12:15pm - 12:15pm EDT
TBA

Break

12:15pm EDT

Lunch and Annual Business Meeting

Tuesday August 18, 2026 12:15pm - 1:45pm EDT

Medallion ABCD

Join Mary Beth Sibert, President of GCA, for an overview on the last year and updates on GCA.

Speakers

Mary Beth Sibert

Director, Brand Management and Artist Relations, American Greetings

Tuesday August 18, 2026 12:15pm - 1:45pm EDT
Medallion ABCD

Meal, Full Conference

1:45pm EDT

Break

Tuesday August 18, 2026 1:45pm - 2:00pm EDT

Medallion Foyer

Tuesday August 18, 2026 1:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
Medallion Foyer

Break, Full Conference

2:00pm EDT

Retailer Panel

Tuesday August 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Medallion ABCD

Speakers

Dan Collier

Daniel Richards

Shannon Kang

Director of Merchandising, Paper, Barnes & Noble

Shannon is the Director of Merchandising, Paper for Barnes & Noble and Paper Source, where she oversees the buying strategies of a range of paper categories across both brands, including greeting cards. With more than 20 years in retail across multiple countries, she has built her... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Medallion ABCD

General Session, Full Conference

3:00pm EDT

Break

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm EDT

Medallion Foyer

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm EDT
Medallion Foyer

Break, Full Conference

3:15pm EDT

Breakout Session 1: Faire

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

Mezzanine ABC

Session information TBD

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Mezzanine ABC

Breakout Session, Full Conference

3:15pm EDT

Breakout Session 2: Faire

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

Mezzanine D

Session information TBD

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Mezzanine D

Breakout Session, Full Conference

4:00pm EDT

Break

Tuesday August 18, 2026 4:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Medallion Foyer

Tuesday August 18, 2026 4:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Medallion Foyer

Break, Full Conference

4:15pm EDT

Building a Scroll-Stopping Brand: Launching and Growing on Social Media

Tuesday August 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT

Medallion ABCD

In a crowded digital world, attention is the most valuable currency. This session breaks down what it actually takes to build a brand people stop for, engage with, and remember on social media.

Through real-world examples and actionable insights, this session will provide practical strategies for launching, growing, and evolving a social media presence that not only captures attention — but keeps it.

Whether you’re building a brand from scratch or refining an existing strategy, you’ll leave with ideas you can immediately apply to create content that resonates and stands out.

This session will be lead by American Greetings.

Speakers

Adriana Tescut

Director Brand Marketing, American Greetings & Papyrus

Adriana is a brand marketing and social media leader with over a decade of experience spanning data, strategy, and storytelling. She has spent the past 11 years at American Greetings, where she has evolved from a foundation in business intelligence into leading brand and social marketing... Read More →

Victoria Pacino

Manager Social Media & Content Strategy, American Greetings

Victoria Pacino is the Manager of Social Media and Content Strategy at American Greetings, where she works across both the American Greetings and Papyrus brands. With 12 years of experience in brand management, she specializes in building engaging digital campaigns and driving brand... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Medallion ABCD

General Session, Full Conference

6:30pm EDT

Dine Around Dinners

Tuesday August 18, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT

TBD

You'll be assigned a random dinner group at various restaurants throughout the Louisville area.

Tuesday August 18, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
TBD

Meal, Full Conference

8:00am EDT

8:30am EDT

9:30am EDT

9:45am EDT

11:15am EDT

11:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

12:15pm EDT

12:15pm EDT

1:45pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

3:15pm EDT

3:15pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

6:30pm EDT

Get help with the event