Gift of Life to Honor Giftcraft’s CEO, Trevor Cohen

August 30, 2017  by Jane Chero in Designer Weekly, Industry, Special Events   

Cohen will be awarded Gift for Life’s Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Trevor Cohen and Toronto-based Giftcraft have also pledged a $25,000 donation to kick off the Party for Life fundraising campaign, which raised more than $225,000 last year.

“No one is more worthy of this distinctive honor than Trevor and his company,” said Gift for Life chair George Kacic, who prior to his position with AmericasMart served as a sales executive with Giftcraft and has known Trevor for decades.

“His company management, his industry innovation, and his tremendous generosity are all factors that have made him a respected and appreciated leader.”

Cohen emigrated from South Africa to Canada in 1981, where he immediately established a start-up company focused on developing innovative products leveraging licensing, branding and Asian manufacturing. Cohen penetrated the largest North American retailers within the first year of his successful launch.

In 1991 he became a strategic advisor to Giftcraft and at the same time entered into a joint venture with Matrix Industries, a large vertical manufacturer in Asia.

Over the next ten years he made a significant impact on the Giftcraft company business while growing his own company, Trevco, into the largest seasonal vendor of collectibles to the big box stores in North America.

Cohen sold Trevco in 2002 in conjunction with assuming the role as CEO of Giftcraft.

Since 2002, Cohen has accomplished a complete restructuring of Giftcraft’s product lines, merchandising and sales strategies, and the company logistics to transition the company into a full-service, leading edge designer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative lifestyle and giftware products.

Cohen became the controlling shareholder of Giftcraft in 2006 and has positioned the company to become a market leader with global reach.

“I am honored to receive this lifetime achievement award and to be recognized by Gift for Life for my contribution to our industry,” said Cohen. “I proudly accept this recognition on behalf of my Giftcraft family who have supported me all the way.”

Gift for Life unites the gift and home industries against AIDS with more than $5 million raised since its inception in 1992. In 2008, Gift for Life selected DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S., as its sole charity partner.

For more information or to attend Gift for Life’s 26th Annual Party for Life, benefiting DIFFA, contact Steven Williams at swilliams@diffa.org or call (212) 727-3100.