AmericasMart Summer Market Seminars Announced

A keystone in delivering the ultimate buyer experience, AmericasMart® Atlanta will offer business-focused learning opportunities in its Education Center programming at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market® (Showrooms: Tuesday, July 8 – Tuesday, July 15, 2014; Temporaries: Thursday, July 10 – Monday, July 14, 2014).

Buyers will benefit from specialized, retail-specific programming on topics such “Six Ways to Sell Gift Cards – Proven Strategies that Work” presented by the Georgia Retail Association and Florida Retail Federation, and “Retail by Design: A Blueprint to Store Event Success” and “Retail by Design: A Blueprint to Buying to Merchandise” presented by AmericasMart advisory board member Melissa Haberstroh, president of Burlap Horse LP. AmericasMart and burton+BURTON host a lively breakfast discussion about merchandising for a hospital gift shops at the “Breakfast with The Burtons” special event.

Haberstroh also will also cater to the other side of the Market experience with a seminar geared toward exhibitors: “How to Think Like a Retailer – And Sell Them Better.”

Exhibitors and buyers alike will benefit from a series of four seminars by social media expert Tucker Berta. Berta shares tips for launching a social media campaign in her seminar “Your Social Debut: Introduction to the Basics of Social Media Marketing for Business.” She coaches more advanced users in “Stepping Up Social: Strategies for Social Media Marketing for Business.” Both seminars are offered twice during the Market.

AmericasMart continues its partnership with the Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc. (ORRA) at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market® (Wednesday, July 9 – Saturday, July 12, 2014) with a series of seminars for current rug retailers and buyers interested in exploring the product opportunities.

Rug expert Phil Menedian, director of education for ORRA Programming, moderates a discussion of numerous pieces in “Knot to be Missed,” reviews current appraisal techniques in “Enhancing Your Rug Appraising,” and leads a tour of AmericasMart’s four-floor rug marketplace in “Walking the Marketplace.”

Rug buyers also have the opportunity to sit for the CRA Examination, moderated by Menendian and ORRA Education Committee members. The exam will be in two parts: written and identification. Examinees will be tested on historical and technical knowledge of hand- knotted rugs as well as proper identification of 35 Oriental rugs by sight.

A full list of The Education Center Events includes:

WEDNESDAY JULY 9

3 p.m.
How to Think Like a Retailer – And Sell Them Better Melissa Haberstroh
Building 1, Floor 10

THURSDAY, JULY 10

1 p.m.
Your Social Debut: Introduction to the Basics of Social Media Marketing for Business Tucker Berta
Building 1, Floor 10

1:30 p.m.
Knot to Be Missed Phil Menedian Building 1, Floor 4

3 p.m.
Stepping Up Social: Strategies for Social Media Marketing for Business Tucker Berta
Building 1, Floor 10

3 p.m.
Enhancing Your Rug Appraising Phil Menedian
Building 1, Floor 4

FRIDAY, JULY 11

8:30 a.m.
Breakfast with The Burtons AmericasMart and burton+BURTON Building 1, Floor 10

9:30 a.m.
CRA Examination Phil Menedian Building 1, Floor 4

1 p.m.
Six Ways to Sell Gift Cards- Proven Strategies that Work Georgia Retail Association and Florida Retail Federation Building 1, Floor 10

2:30 p.m.
Walking the Marketplace Phil Menedian
Building 1, Floor 4

4 p.m.
Retail by Design: A Blueprint to Store Event Success Melissa Haberstroh
Building 1, Floor 10

SATURDAY, JULY 12

2 p.m.
Your Social Debut: Introduction to the Basics of Social Media Marketing for Business Tucker Berta
Building 1, Floor 10

3 p.m.
Stepping Up Social: Strategies for Social Media Marketing for Business Tucker Berta
Building 1, Floor 10