Ohio gift company P. Graham Dunn hosted its 10th Dealer Conference, March 23-24, topping off the two-day event with a $10,000 product giveaway.

Company President Peter Dunn said he was "very pleased" with the increase in attendance, up from 75 registrations last year to 133 this year.

Although he did report "a certain degree of congestion" due to the demanding schedule, the specialty retailers who attended were "very upbeat" and experienced "significant spiritual uplifting" from the event, which featured an inspirational message from Tony Evans, best-selling author and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. Additionally, CBA's newly named executive director, Curtis Riskey, gave an update on the industry and challenged retailers to work together.

Dunn said seminars were running almost continually at Laser University, with 80-100 participants learning about the company's laser program, which has around 300 products stores can personalize. Laser machines are now in 140 stores, with commitments for about 40 more as well as the 10 new dealers who signed up at the conference.

The event culminated with a banquet and the $10,000 drawing, with Jim Whitaker, the former board chairman of CBA, taking home the prize. Whitaker, who has two stores in the Lynchburg, Va., area, accepted the prize gratefully, receiving "major applause" from those attending the banquet, Dunn said.

Ten $500 prizes were also given to retailers who placed orders during the conference, and instead of the usual 5% discount given at the event, a 10% discount was offered to dealers placing orders.

Other vendors who set up shop at the conference were Barbour Publishing, Pumpernickel Press, CBA, Blossom Bucket, New Day Christian Distributors and Bob Siemon Designs, some of whom stayed on to participate in the spring fair open to the public the weekend following.

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