Experience All of Atlanta While at Market

Posted on October 4, 2010 by ksantry

October is less than two weeks away. Are you ready for Atlanta? Do you have plans in between walking the floors and writing orders? Let us help you with the decision making on where to stay, what to do and most importantly where to eat!

We have enterntainment and food recommendations, the Top 50 things to see/do in Atlanta, what’s happening in October in Atlanta and more! Check it out and start making plans before you arrive. Click here and enhance your Atlanta trip!

If you want to wait until you’re at Market, we can still help! Just go to the registration lobby on the second floor and look for the “experience Atlanta” booth. We’ll have brochures and information on all the fabulous things to see, do and eat in Atlanta.

Atlanta is just around the corner for you! Start thinking about what you’re going to do while you’re here.

Holiday/Floral & Home Decor Center Blooms as January Nears

Posted on September 23, 2010 by ksantry

As the January 2011 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market nears, AmericasMart is poised to welcome new companies and celebrate the expansion of existing showrooms throughout the 13 permanent product centers staged in its four-building campus. One major product center spanning five floors in Building 1—the Holiday/Floral & Home Décor center—is currently experiencing this growth with recent expansions, renewals and additions.

Two new companies have secured space and are set to open their first Atlanta showrooms in the Holiday/Floral & Home Décor center, enhancing the already rich product offered within the half-million sq. ft. of this category. Egyptian Museum will be staged in a showroom on floor 20 (20-D-3) in Building 1, and d. Stevens will be located on floor 18 (18-A-10).

Further adding to the category momentum is the recent recommitment of two anchor showrooms in the Holiday/Floral & Home Décor product center: Accent Décor and Hill’s Imports. Accent Décor will relocate from floor 20 to 18 (18-A-23), enabling the company to more than double its current space. Hill’s Imports will now be housed on floor 17 (17-a-15)—moving from floor 19—in nearly 7,000 sq. ft of space.

The Holiday/Floral & Home Décor products, special offerings and events can be discovered on floors 16-20 of Building 1—the destination for everything HOME—this January.

To view the entire release, click here.

IN LIVING COLOR…Expert Thoughts From Designer Rebecca Ewing

Posted on September 17, 2010 by ksantry

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

Day in the Life of a Gourmet Judge

Posted on September 16, 2010 by ksantry

I thought it was one of those “you won the lottery” pranks but the request was real, AmericasMart Atlanta wanted a judge for The Atlanta Gourmet Market, and they wanted me for the job. They asked if my calendar was free that day. What a strange question, of course it would be free that day.

I was a bit nervous about the assignment, five hours on two gourmet floors, tasting dressings, rubs, candy, snacks, soups and condiments. Was I up to the task?

Upon arrival I met Todd Mussman from Muss and Turner’s http://www.mussandturners.com/ We were given 20 pages of entries, and we stared walking the floors with Bri, our guide from AmericasMart. In an oddly stoic gesture, I did not eat breakfast to save room for all the delectables. What a misguided decision that was. I immediately ate too much toffee at our first stop. Pecans, sugar, nuts and butter, sounds like breakfast food to me. Toffee to Go’s Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee melted in my mouth and made me smile. http://www.toffeetogo.com/ This day was starting off just as I had hoped.

At Strawberry Patch, we snacked on Vidalia® Onion Cheese Grits Bits. Diane Justice makes these cheese bits with real Vidalia® onions, and you can taste their gentle sweetness. After tasting the other entries, we quickly decided that these grits bits were worthy of a prize. http://www.gritsbits.com/

With a bit of trepidation, we approached Mother Shucker and we had a pleasant surprise at her booth. Old Mother Shucker is not at all old ,and she has a comedic presence that just makes you want to stay and listen. Lucky for us, her sense of humor was matched by her delicious original cocktail sauce and I have been dreaming about making a Bloody Mary with her mix ever since. This cocktail sauce is worth the trip to Columbia, S.C., and back. http://www.oysterbarcolumbia.com/

After enjoying Miss Jenny’s Habanero Bread and Butter Pickles http://www.missjennyspickles.com/, Raven’s Nest Specialties’ Original Raspberry Jalapeno Jam http://www.ravensoriginal.com/ and Sugar Marsh Cottage’s http://www.sugarmarshcottage.com/ Bittersweet Chocolate Fleur de Sel Toffee Bits, and all of the other specialty foods, I think I ended the day having completed the food pyramid! Delicious and exciting food, what more could a food judge ask for?

(Elisa Gambino is the owner of Via Elisa Pasta Sauces. http://www.viaelisa.com/ Her sauces can be found in Whole Foods Markets throughout the southeast and Florida.)

Caravan Recommits to AmericasMart

Posted on September 3, 2010 by ksantry

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.

AmericasMart Exhibitor Uses Unique Method of Pre-Registering Buyers, Capturing Info

Posted on September 2, 2010 by ksantry

With thousands of buyers walking the floors and popping in and out of showrooms, exhibitors may not always have the opportunity to gather all the appropriate information, know who is coming or guarantee that a buyer will stop by the showroom. One Holiday/Floral & Home Décor exhibitor found this to be true and decided to proactively address the challenge. Creative Connection by Teters decided to capture buyer information in a method that was rewarding for both the company and the buyer. They created a promotional event to giveaway three iPads at the July Market. Creative Connection not only gave them away at Market, but also drummed up attention and excitement pre-Market with postcard mailings, emails and personalized invitations from sales representatives. This enabled Creative Connection to know who and how many to expect at Market, efficiently plan for their arrival and arrange meetings before they walked through the showroom doors.

“The goal of the promotion was to generate interest among prospective July Market attendees by encouraging them to pre-register for their visit to our showroom,” says Jon Dennis of Creative Connection.

And, the hard work paid off! Nearly 450 buyers pre-registered for the grand prize drawing to win one of the three iPads. Three lucky buyers walked away with a 64-gigabtye iPad. But, Creative Connection did not leave out the others. Those who did now win an iPad received a complimentary backpack just for dropping by the showroom.

When developing marketing plans and fresh ideas to attract current and new buyers to your showroom try out-of-the-box thinking with promotional giveaways and appealing incentives to pre-register for Market. It worked for Creative Connection; it can work for you!

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

Posted on September 1, 2010 by ksantry

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.

Smart Car Giveaway

Posted on August 26, 2010 by ksantry

It’s an endless supply of major giveaways at Market this weekend! The Smart Cars outside of the apparel building are going to three lucky prom or bridal retailers* this Market, thanks to Xcite! Xcite is giving one car away a day Friday-Sunday. The drawing will take place daily at 5:30 p.m. in their showroom, 10-S337. Prom and Bridal retailers, don’t miss out on the chance to drive away in a brand new Smart Car!

*Must be prom, bridal or special occasion retailer to enter

AmericasMart is not affiliated with Xcite or the giveway.

Win $25,000 at Market!

Posted on August 24, 2010 by ksantry

Have you heard about Jovani and its BIG giveaway? You’ll want to hear this. They are giving away a whopping 25 grand! One lucky retailer will walk away from Market with an extra $25,000. All you have to do is stop by the Jovani showroom on the special occasion floor 10 for more details and to secure a raffle ticket.

The tickets are already piling up! It appears that hundreds have already stuffed the box with their hopefully “lucky” ticket.

Don’t miss out on this very special, very big giveaway!

AmericasMart is not affiliated with Jovani or the giveaway.

Faviana Enchants the Lives of Prom Goers, Starting with the August Atlanta Apparel Market

Posted on August 18, 2010 by ksantry

Renowned special occasion gown designer, Faviana is making the prom dreams of Atlanta high school girls come true, and it all begins at Market next week. Faviana has partnered with an Atlanta-based organization called Enchanted Closet to be part of its mission to give girls that might not have been able to purchase a gown the opportunity to find their perfect prom dress.

Faviana has committed to donating a percentage of its sales at the August Atlanta Apparel Market to Enchanted Closet, along with providing several of its top gowns. Faviana will be promoting the organization and encouraging all buyers to help the cause throughout Market. Also, Bonita Johnson, head of Enchanted Closet, will be at Market in Faviana’s showroom speaking about the organization and seeking volunteers and more donations.

As an organization that is 100 percent run by volunteers, Enchanted Closet relies on industry leaders to contribute and provide dresses and/or financial assistance to ensure that all local girls’ have the “one” gown they desire for prom. And, it’s well on its way with the help of veterans like Faviana.

Visit the Faviana showroom to find out more information about the Enchanted Closet and find out how you can become involved.

For more details on the organization, visit www.enchantedcloset.org.

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