GGAA Appoints Hinds
Craig Hinds has been named president of San Francisco- based Golden Gate Apparel Association (GGAA), a 140-member organization that holds apparel and accessories trade shows in the Bay Area five times a year to correspond with each apparel season.
Hinds was elected early last month and began the term of office on Jan. 28.
“Apparel shows are important to business— you can see more of our customers at trade shows than we could on the road,” said Hinds, who currently works as an independent sales representative for several junior apparel lines, including Nostalgia and Angie, which are both divisions of Tempe, Ariz.-based apparel manufacturer Star of India.
Hinds said he will continue working out of his office in Camarillo, Calif., and will commute to the Bay Area five times each year to conduct meetings and plan the association’s trade shows.
Previously, he served as West Coast sales rep for Greensboro, N.C.-based Wrangler Jeans. He said he got involved with GGAA in 1990, when he served as West Coast sales rep for the Hang Ten women’s division.
“My territory includes the entire state, so I have to call on Bay Area retail stores,” he said. “And, GGAA’s trade show attracts more apparel buyers than any other show in the Pacific Northwest.”
As GGAA president, Hinds said he plans to find ways to increase the association’s exhibitor base of 280 manufacturers and sales reps, as well as come up with marketing ideas and incentives to help increase foot traffic at the show. —Claudia Figueroa
