Visual merchandising and consumer products expert JoAnne Stone-Geier, is a retail corporate gift program pioneer, author, consultant, trainer and sought after speaker at national trade shows. Expert in specialty retailing, trend analysis, brand and product development and strategic marketing and promotions, Stone-Geier brings 25 years of experience to the retail and e-tail industries.Versed in both consumer preferences and independent specialty retailing, Stone-Geier has worked with small companies and entrepreneurs to large national brands. Her earliest work in visual merchandising caught the attention of Neiman Marcus in Chicago. Hired as a consultant, Stone-Geier developed, launched and grew their corporate gift service division. Noting the success of the program, retailer Carson Pirie Scott hired Stone-Geier to create and manage their own corporate gift services division. During this engagement, Stone-Geier developed a relationship with the Jaffa Crystal Company, the main supplier of crystal to the corporate gift market. Impressed by her ability to innovative and drive sales growth Jaffa Crystal Company offered Stone-Geier a position as their Nation Director of Marketing and Sales. Currently Stone-Geier develops and teaches educational programs on specialty retail and niche marketing through seminars at national and international trade shows and company workshops. As a contributor to leading trade magazines, often quoted as an industry advisor, and as a past Retail Editor and monthly marketing columnist for Fancy Food and Culinary Products Magazine, Stone- Geier continues to guide retailers and manufacturers in their quest for new customer markets.According to Stone- Geier, “Successful specialty retail marketing blends product and customer development, and must be a marriage between a savvy merchant and their manufacturers.Specialties: Seminar Speaker, Author, specialty retailing, trend analysis, brand, product development, strategic marketing, promotions, retailers, manufacturers, vendors, trade shows, associations, trade groups