AmericasMart Blog » home furnishings

June is All About Color!

ksantry — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:49:01 +0000

AmericasMart is offering TWO great seminars during Market Wednesday on June 1, 2011.

In Living Color
Color expert Rebecca Ewing of the Color Marketing Group will show you how color unconsciously affects feeling, behavior and physiology. Learn to use these predictable and universal color responses to attract, inspire and compel customers and clients.
This seminar is worth .2 CEU credits.
TIME: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Home Furnishings Center, Building 1, Floor 14 Seminar Room
Coffee and muffins will be served.

Benjamin Moore Color Pulse
Join Randy Smith of Benjamin Moore as he presents the upcoming color trends for interiors and exteriors.
TIME: 1 – 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Living. Outdoor/Indoor.^® The Gardens.^®, Building 2 WestWing, Floor 10 Seminar Room
Coffee will be served.

DON’T WAIT! MAKE YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND TODAY!
Seating is limited. For more information and to RSVP, contact:
Meagan Maron: 404.220.2104 or mmaron@americasmart.com

And while you’re here…
Refresh, Renew and Reenergize your store or client’s home with the latest in home furnishings, gift, gardens and more when you shop Market Wednesday in Buildings 1, 2 and 2 WestWing.

JingleNog Awarded “Best in Show” for Market Temporaries at Spring Market

ksantry — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:32:53 +0000

The Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market inspired retailers with fresh product, ideas and creativity. You could especially feel the engery and excitement Market Temporaries where more than 140 booths were positioned to attract retailers from around the nation. And, there was one booth in particular that stood out above the rest: JingleNog.

JingleNog’s booth at the Spring Atlanta Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market caught the eye of judges, who were tapped to identify the best displays in the Market Temporaries, with an unexpected and fresh take on holiday product. The winner of the AmericasMart “Best of Show” Visual Display Award this spring, JingleNog showcased the best use of space, product arrangement, lighting, flooring and signage overall.

JingleNog’s handmade glass ornaments are the product of owner and creator Melissa Byrne’s stories and drawings. The glass blown ornaments showcase her twenty years of experience in the Christmas and Gift Industry, as well as the tradition of European glassmaking.

The JingleNog booth brings the product packaging to life as a whimsical, winter circus wonderland on a green and cream palate. Against the candy green striped curtains lining the space, white wire display trees and unexpected faux-grass flooring, JingleJog ornaments came to life and transformed this temporary booth into a fanciful fairytale.

This outstanding and unique display showcased JingleNog’s creativity and supported the playful nature of their product. Congratulations, JingleNog!

Be sure to join us for more creativity and excitement next Market!

5 ways to use Social Media to find success in 2011

ksantry — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:53:40 +0000

It’s that time a year again: new products, new deals, new themes, new marketing and of course, New Year’s resolutions!

In 2010, if you didn’t use social networks like Twitter and Facebook to market your store, network with your community and find ways to grow your business, then that’s ok. It’s ok because in 2011 you’re going to do things differently. You’re going to embrace social media and use it as a daily tool to help you grow, learn and succeed! (If you did use social media in 2010, leave a comment on how it helped your business; also assess what worked and what didn’t, then make a 2011 Plan of Social Media Action.)

To get started, here are 5 ways to use social media to ensure a successful show this January.

1. Pictures! If you don’t have a phone with a built in camera, make sure you bring your digital camera to the show because you’re going to want to make your customers so excited for your new products they can’t stand it! Take pictures of some new items or lines you bought at market. Post to your Facebook page and let your networks know that in a matter of days they could get their hands on those items. Posting pictures of the showrooms and people shopping at market is also a great way to let your customers in on your business, taking your relationship with them deeper.

2. Follow Vendors and Sales Agencies. The best way to stay up-to-date at market is to be monitoring your favorite vendors and sales agencies on Twitter and Facebook. You might even find show specials posted on their social media outlets. To find their accounts (if you don’t know them already) visit their websites, go to search.twitter.com and enter the company name or try Googling their name +Twitter.

3. Hashtags! You might not know what a hashtag is, so let me first explain. Hashtags were developed as a means to create ”groupings” on Twitter. Through these you can tag a post with a keyword so it can be found or referred to later. You create a hashtag simply by prefixing a word with a hash symbol: #hashtag. Here are a few examples:

via @AmericasMartATL: AmericasMart launches HD Home juried home furnishings/lifestyle collection: http://bit.ly/hFp0ty #atlmart

Via @AlexasAngles: “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.” #quote

Via @snapretail: Cute Displays for the #Holiday Season http://ht.ly/3ipaP #retail #marketing

4. Connect with other retailers. Running a successful retailer store can be hard. One way to learn what works is by talking to a retailer that has proven success. You can find these retailers online and set up a time to share a coffee, walk showrooms together or grab dinner after market. Continuing that conversation throughout the year will help you stay on track and feel the support of someone who knows exactly what you’re going through. A great way to find these retailers is by following the #atlmart hashtag. Another way is by sending out Facebook posts and Tweets that you’ll be attending the market and you’re looking at connecting with other retailers. Finally, go to AmericasMart Facebook page and see who they are talking to/who is posting on their page and reach out to them.

5. Attend a social media seminar at market. As you return to your store after the shows, you should be asking yourself: how will I market the products I just bought? It’s important to create a 2011 marketing plan and make sure social media is a part of that plan.

There are lots of good seminars at Market. I will be speaking on Thursday, Jan 13^th in the Social Media Track. Please consider spending an hour with me on: Top 10 Facebook and Twitter Strategies to Drive Sales.

For a complete list of seminars visit AmericasMart seminar page and SnapRetail’s seminar series page.

If you can embrace social media in 2011, you will find how beneficial it is for your store. Just make sure you know what you’re doing, how to use the sites, and create a plan of action first that way you can track your efforts. Wishing you a happy new year and a successful 2011!

AmericasMart Celebrates 50 Years

ksantry — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:51:45 +0000

AmericasMart Building 1, which originally opened its doors as the Atlanta Merchandise Mart in 1961, will ring in the New Year by celebrating its 50^th Anniversary in 2011. This anniversary marks its five-decade position as the premier destination for home furnishings, décor and accents, highlighted by the January 2011 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and Atlanta International Area Rug Market.

This landmark anniversary affirms AmericasMart’s strength and longevity and elevates Building 1 as the epicenter for an expansive HOME furnishings product mix. With the most complete product collections, the HOME building is the primary resource for retailers to discover the latest and greatest products—all in one strategically designed location.

New to the HOME collection is HD Home, making its highly anticipated debut in the Market Temporaries this January. HD Home is a juried collection of exclusive high-design home furnishings and décor, and will be showcased on the first floor in the “center hall” of the HOME building.

The comprehensive collections in the HOME center continue to attract home and gift retailers and interior designers from around the world. This January, retailers and interior designers can expect to once again discover an international HOME destination supported by 50 years of commitment and evolution.

Be part of history at the January 2011 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and Atlanta International Area Rug Market. For more information about the January Market, click here.

To read the entire release, click here.

IN LIVING COLOR…Expert Thoughts From Designer Rebecca Ewing

ksantry — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:55:47 +0000

Is Rebecca Ewing a creative genius, design guru or a little like Doctor Phil? Perhaps she’s combination of all three? In a recent seminar she hosted at the Fall Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market last weekend, Rebecca showed retailers the value of creating an environment with design and color that is aesthetically pleasing as well as calming to the senses. Rebecca believes that physiology and interior design go hand-in-hand. The industry leader showed her expertise and knowledge of the world of interior design with intricate details on how she can match a room to one’s personality. After listening to her, you are convinced that colors and their hues can change behavior and alter moods.

During her seminar, Rebecca went beyond interior design and talked fashion–and how to leverage certain clothing and colors to accomplish specific goals. She explained how wearing the right color palette can make one more approachable. She was a perfect example of this theory as the crowd was extremely attentive and responsive to her thoughts and insight. Many were there for to learn more for their store and personal insight, but the course was also offered to those seeking .2 CEU credits.

The event was a hit with comments such as:

“Rebecca’s knowledge and experience is incomparable.”

“Absolutely fabulous! She was fantastic!”

“Rebecca is always informative and showing new views and perspectives of color and the impacts.”

“Wonderful seminar. I loved the presentation, and I hope to learn more.” “Very interesting and informative. Thought provoking.”

Want to know more about Rebecca and discover additional ideas? Visit Rebecca’s website: www.handsonhues.com

Changa Named ‘Best of Show’ at September Markets

ksantry — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:32:21 +0000

The Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market together with The Atlanta Gourmet Market closed yesterday, ending the three-day Market run. At Market, one spectacular company was recognized as the Best of Show for outstanding visual display in the gift and gourmet temporaries. Out of all the temporary booths, this company stood out above the rest. The Best of Atlanta winner demonstrated excellence in visual display above all others across the entire temporary gift and gourmet categories-staged on floor 7 in Building 1.

A first-time exhibitor at AmericasMart, the winner took its booth to a new level, using only handmade product created by friends and family. Featured product included handcrafted bark wood frames, flowers in a beautiful arrangement from a friend’s yard, rod-iron displays, handsewn drapery and table linens and custom clipboards. The 2010 Best of Show award was presented to the Changa, a new line of changeable jewelry headquartered in Hendersonville, NC.

More information about Changa can be found on their website: http://www.changajewelry.com/.

Caravan Recommits to AmericasMart

ksantry — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:08 +0000

Caravan Rug has reaffirmed its commitment to Atlanta and the industry by renewing its multi-year lease at AmericasMart. After 15 years in Atlanta, Caravan has ensured its future success with the renewal of its 5,700 ft showroom on floor 4 in Building 1—the 20-floor destination for all Home products. The showroom has allowed Caravan to spotlight some of the world’s finest designs in the world’s largest collection of area rugs.

Be sure to check out Caravan at the January 2011 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.

More details on Caravan’s renewal here.

Fall for It All This September at AmericasMart’s Two-In-One Market

ksantry — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:21:50 +0000

In just two weeks, exclusively at AmericasMart, retailers will experience the magnitude of two Markets together in the premier destination for everything new in fall home furnishings, gift and gourmet. Four buildings, three days of buying and two Markets—all in one location, all taking place at The Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market together with The Atlanta Gourmet Market, September 11-13, 2010.

While each Market individually offers a unique showcase, together they create an unrivaled collaboration of debuts, top lines and dynamic product. Only here, will retailers discover new product launched within the last month and be able to take advantage of the last order-writing Markets of the year. The Markets present gourmet, home furnishings and gift in four buildings of permanent product centers, supported by temporary categories staged in Building 1, floor 7.

Plus, discover the creme de la creme of gourmet with the Best of Atlanta awards, learn how to build baskets and merchandise in today’s economy and find out more about social media and best business practices.

It’s all here this September!

For more information, click here.

Holiday & Floral/Home Décor Center Blossoms

ksantry — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:52:38 +0000

The Holiday & Floral/Home Décor Center welcomes two new companies and celebrates one large expansion to the July Market as part of the five-floor home to the top lines in holiday product, floral designs and complementary offerings and specialized home furnishings on Floors 16-20 in Building 1. The two additions and one expansion to the the top lines in holiday product, floral designs and complementary offerings and specialized home furnishings are:

Knud Nielsen Co., new showroom, 18-A-21;
TAG, new showroom, 18-D-9;
Darice, expanded showroom, 20-D-9, 11.

In addition to the recent expansion in the product center, there has been significant movement and new arrivals over the past several months. Since the Fall of 2009, AmericasMart has added and expanded more than a dozen companies to the Holiday & Floral/Home Décor center and like all permanent product centers at AmericasMart, they are supported by product collections in the Market Temporaries.

This July, retailers will be able to take advantage of the special opportunities and offerings showrooms are promoting exclusively in Atlanta at Market. Retailers are invited to visit the showrooms on Floors 16-20 in Building 1 to find our more details.

To find out more about more about July Market click here or consult the Market Magazine or Buyers’ Guide (upon arrival to Market).

For more information click here

Happy Chic with Jonathan Adler: Staying Trendy and True to You

ksantry — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:12 +0000

Get decorating tips and ideas from the lead judge on Bravo’s “Top Design” when AmericasMart welcomes Jonathan Adler, home décor designer and author of “My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living” to the July Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.

Adler’s design company is dedicated to bringing style, craft, joy and a general feeling of grooviness to any home. Additionally, Adler’s 12 company operated stores have grown to become an internationally recognized home and gift-oriented lifestyle showcase offering decorative objects, tabletop collections, bedding, bath accessories, candles, furniture, rugs, pillows and lighting. Learn how to keep up with new market trends while staying true to your original point of view. You can find Adler on Friday, July 16 at 2 -3 p.m. in Building 1, Floor 14, Room 14-D-9.