Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award

Each year, Gift for Life selects an individual who has had significant, positive impact on the gift and home industries, then honors them with the prestigious GFL Industry Achievement Award. Honorees have included a number of industry luminaries and leaders, generous of heart, with kindred spirits.

We are pleased to introduce our 2010 honoree, Randy Eller (Eller Enterprises).…

Randy Eller’s expertise in the Home and Gift industry is the result of a committed career. His path to success began with a ten year stint in the retail management of variety stores for a 20 store chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1982, Randy became a salesperson with Russ Berrie & Company and flourished on their team, advancing to Vice President of Marketing for Russ Berrie South until 1987.

He is perhaps best known for his accomplishments and guidance of CBK, an importer and wholesaler of home décor. He was a pioneer for this company in 1988 as CBK’s first company employed salesperson, subsequently becoming the President and a partner in the business in 1995. He was instrumental in the many changes that brought CBK to the forefront of its industry at that time and the ultimate sale in 2002 of CBK to Blyth, Inc, a large New York Stock Exchange company.

Currently, Randy operates Eller Enterprises, of Franklin, Tennessee, which was founded in 2004. It is a consulting firm serving companies and individuals primarily within the Home Accent, Furniture, and Giftware industries. These businesses include Wholesalers, Product Designers, Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising firms. Eller Enterprises also offers personal executive coaching, professional speaking, and mergers and acquisitions advice to clients in a variety of industries.

Additionally, Mr. Eller, who is a former board member of ART, is also a regular columnist for Home Accents Today magazine and has been published in a number of other industry magazines as well.

Mr. Eller is an active member of the Gift and Home Trade Association, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Speakers Association, and a supporter of The 3/50 Project.

Please note that presentation of the Award was moved from the annual January fundraiser to the Retailer Excellence Awards dinner in 2009, held during the summer trade show season, at the New York International Gift Fair.