Emerging Designer finalists were chosen last night and include Barbara Bush, Larika Page, and Jamie Lin Snider who will all compete in a final design challenge. A final winner will be chosen on Saturday night and the winner will be featured in a temporary booth at the April Atlanta Apparel Market!

The featured designer, Project Runway alum Gordana Gehlhausen, closed the show with a fabulous presentation of her Fall 2010 runway collection.  Her designs included beautiful knits, ring details, sweaters and jackets. Her color inspiration included black, purple and greys.  

And the week continues! Stay tuned for more CFW updates!

Bailey Boys

On Floor 13, AmericasMart’s Children’s World showrooms stayed busy as retailers restocked inventories depleted by a good holiday sales season.

Monogramming is still popular, but it’s taking different forms other than traditional initials. There are more creative options. If you don’t want to invest in equipment for your store, partner with a trusted local business so you can offer the service to your customers, then present interesting alterantives for monogramming.  

Zackali 4 Kids

Sometimes on its own, sometimes paired with a bright accent color, black & white was prominent both in clothing and juvenile

MissTeeVUs

accessories. Maybe it’s driven by more “dad-friendly” items or maybe it’s the next generation of parents looking for a cleaner, crisper look, but there are many products on the scene.

The Klein Group

Almost anything collegiate still sells, in almost any region of the country as alums want new ways to show their allegiance as they become parents. Bright and funky is also still popular for customers looking for alternatives to more traditional pastels in childrenswear, especially anything reminscent of the 1960s and Woodstock.

Larry Lucas

Industry veteran Larry Lucas says he’s seen at least three downturns in his long career, though none quite as severe as last year. However, he sees definite signs of recovery and was up significantly over January 2009. “Many people ran out of merchandise during a strong holiday season so they need to build inventory again,” he says. “They were shopping and writing good orders for a variety of lines.”

Denise Hostetler of The Klein Group reports their showroom was busy in spurts throughout the weekend, but wrote good orders with their steady customers. Richard Holzheimer of Zackali 4 Kids says they saw return customers, but also had several new buyers come in who are either looking for new lines or opening new stores – always a good sign for the business.

Click here to check it out now!

Techie Gifts – Look for fun, innovative accessories that work with all the technology in our everyday lives.

Get Personal – Look for custom options that go beyond basic monogramming, especially for holidaydecor and decorating in general.

All About the Kids – Kids are on the go with parents; look for products to ease the way.

Veggie Tales – Images of fruits and vegetables are fun and comfortable.

Peace Baby – The Woodstock Anniversary inspired an array of products for all generations.

Romantic Notions – Spring also brings a return to soft, romantic looks in both fashion and home products.

Multi-purpose – Across generations and demographics, consumers want multi-functional housewares that are ergonomic, well-designed and useful.

Bright Ideas – Intense, bold, high-def colors mimic HDTV in our everyday lives. Look for interpretations from tabletop to home accents.

This is a small sliver of the possibilities available to meet – and exceed – the needs of your customers. Each concept can be interpreted through a range of price points and merchandise styles. Be creative and use ideas as a guideline to selecting the products your customers will buy and enjoy – so they’ll keep coming back to you as their primary resource.

• Learn how to create a simple framework for a social media program.
• Financial expert Kathleen Hays offers advice on finding the right ingredients to stimulate sales.
• Acclaimed designer Robert Brown discusses how fashion influences home decor.
• Find out how to capture the urban garden business in your community.
• Community involvement bolsters economic stability – find out how from a seasoned retailer.
• Six training tips to grow your greatest assets.
• Find out how Tabletop is poised to thrive in the coming year.
• Read a primer on children’s store success and see how savvy retailers are banking on nostalgia to drive sales.
• See how one furniture retailer competes and thrives as an independent.
• Learn how a hospital gift shop generates million dollar revenue – without adding floor space.
• Special Market Guests including Tyler Florence, Alton Brown, Kathryn Ireland, Thom Filicia, Brad Ford and Erik Qualman.
• Product ads from hundreds of exhibitors.

And lots more. Plus industry specific trends, spotlights on Market events and previews of AmericasMart University classes as well as all the basics of attending a Market from how to get here to where to park to registration information.

Check your mail for all the information, exhibitor ads and Market info you want and need.

“I love this market—the most accommodating group I’ve known in the business.  These are the reasons I choose you over NYC which is equally distant!”–Linda Holden, The Fashion Gallery, Verona, Va. 

“Atlanta has so much to offer to our customers.  Introducing them to some fun locations in a comfortable manner is GREAT!” — Robert E. Prescott IV, Young Colors

Have something to say about Market? Post it now or email me: twalker@americasmart.com

Here are a few highlights of the discussion:

• Look for gray to replace brown as the neutral; buy plenty of bright, bold color for spring and summer.
• Consumers should look forward to sales as special, must-attend events. If you want to have sale merchandise all the time, make sure to place it at the back of the store. You can get away with not putting basics on sale – people need to buy those anywhere. Use sales to move seasonal or higher-end merchandise.
• Diversify your product mix. Post-baby shower; birthday gifts and tweens are hot market segments so make sure you can accommodate customers looking for all those. Make your store a known destination, a surefire go-to for busy parents who need great gifts as well as items for their own kids.
• Use gift wrap as a strong marketing tool. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be showy and effective. Use gift bags and lots of fluff with a big ribbon – all imprinted with your store name and logo – to create an impressive gift with little investment on your end. Customers like the perceived extra effort and added value, and it’s an ongoing advertisement for your store.
• Use tools such as birthday clubs and custom postcards to drive traffic throughout the year. And, make sure your store is on Facebook with a fan page so you can continually communicate with your customers – free!

All day, every day, Fashion is center stage at the October Apparel Market. Fashion shows take place in different areas of the Market throughout the day each day. The latest contemporary men’s and women’s styles are the focus of twice daily shows in the Floor 2 Atrium, while the kid’s walk the walk on Floor 13. Saturday night is all about the latest styles at the big event – the Style Runway on Floor 15 in the Fashion Theatre. No matter who or where, buyers continually have the opportunity to view showcase style at Market!

 Think Easter: pink and white with accenting white cardigans and suits for the boys

Funky Mary Janes, including metallic colors

Bathing suits with matching sandals

Capri and Bermuda sets (oversized topsp with fashion Bermudas and capris)

Sundresses in fun prints

Here’s the full fashion show schedule:

Friday, Oct. 16:

• 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. – Fashion Center Stage featuring Spring 2010

Floor 2, Atrium

• 4 p.m. – Vow to be Perfect

Floor 10, NW quadrant

Saturday, Oct. 17:

• 11 a.m. – Fashion Center Stage featuring Spring 2010

Floor 2, Atrium

• 11:30 – Fashionably Young at Heart

Floor 13, NW Quadrant

• 3 p.m. – Fashion Center Stage featuring Spring 2010

Floor 2, Atrium

• 6 p.m. – Style Runway sponsored by The Montreal Collections, featuring Simon Chang

Floor 14, Fashion Theatre

Sunday, Oct. 18

• 11 a.m. – Fashion Center Stage featuring Spring 2010

Floor 2, Atrium

• 11:30 a.m. – Fashionably Young at Heart

Floor 13, NW Quadrant

• 3 p.m. – Fashion Center Stage featuring Spring 2010

Floor 2, Atrium