About GHA

Who is GHA?

Gift & Homewares Australia (GHA) is the leading industry body representing the gift and homewares industry in Australia. As a 'not-for-profit' organisation is dedicated to serving approximately 4,300 members who include importers, wholesalers, manufacturers and agents within the Australian gift and homewares industry, as well as owners and managers of retail businesses.

We are actively involved in representing our members on industry and government issues and staging world class trade exhibitions. Our three annual exhibitions feature the latest products and trends in the gift and homewares market and attract Australia’s leading buyers and retailers.

GHA lobbies Government on behalf of our members on issues such as Customs, Free Trade Agreements (for example, with China, Thailand and the United States), taxation and industrial relations (for example, WorkChoices).

The Association provides extensive advice to members on human resources and industrial relations which is a core service provided to members. These contracted services that GHA presently outsources to Australian Business Limited and Slater & Gorden will be brought in-house. This decision was based upon a demonstrated need within our membership to provide valuable advice and information in these areas. The introduction of WorkChoices has made this requirement even greater.

This service will enable the Association to represent our members as an ‘employer organisation’ in the Industrial relations Commission (IRC) as a registered body under the Workplace Relations Act (1996).

How did GHA Begin?

Our origins date back to 1977, when five companies in the Importers, Wholesalers, and Manufacturers Association (IWMA) came together to address what they saw as common industry concerns. One of these was the high cost being charged by commercial organisers to exhibit at trade fairs. The five companies united in their efforts to address the problem, and in September 1981 the IWMA held its first trade fair in Sydney featuring 29 exhibitors.

In 1987 the IWMA and the Victorian Giftwares Association (VGA) amalgamated to create the Australian Gift & Homewares Association Pty Ltd, which is now known as GHA.

GHA Today

From humble beginnings which saw 29 exhibitors take part in our first trade fair, we now have over 700 exhibitors on show at each of our three annual trade fairs.

GHA's growth in membership has allowed us to secure many important benefits and services for our members.These range from providing members with a voice to government and regulatory bodies through to providing discounts on freight, credit services, travel and other services.