IMC To Host Fall Cash & Carry Event In Atlanta

International Market Centers (IMC) hosts Fall Cash & Carry, November 2 – 4 at AmericasMart Atlanta, as the final, pre-holiday buying opportunity of the year, allowing buyers immediate buying of merchandise from 300+ gift, home and apparel showrooms and temporary exhibitors in Buildings 1, 2 and 3. “Fall Cash & Carry is a hallmark for replenishment, offering buyers 3 full days of sourcing before a busy holiday season,” said Bob Maricich, IMC CEO. “IMC’s last buying event of the year enables retailers and designers impacted by industry-wide inventory challenges to obtain product necessary to continue commerce through the holidays and into the new year.” Fall Cash & Carry is a last opportunity for buyers to restock inventory instantly before the holidays, with same-day buying. Some 250+ showroom resources are available with home décor in Building 1 offering home décor and gift in Building 2. An expansive cash and carry temporary Market – featuring 60 exhibitors with no spending minimum, carrying jewelry and hundreds of gift items – takes place in Building 3, Floor 1. A full list of exhibitors can be found at https://www.americasmart.com/Markets/Fall- Cash-and-Carry/Open-Showrooms. Amenities during Fall Cash & Carry include on-site and nearby parking options, and food vendors and music in the atrium of Building 3. Showrooms operate November 2 – 4, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Temporary exhibits are open on the first floor of Building 3 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursday. For more information on the Fall Cash & Carry market, visit...

IMC Design Events Return To AmericasMart And ADAC

For a third consecutive year, AmericasMart and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) are collaborating to create the Southeast’s premier dual-venue design shopping destination, September 20-23 in Atlanta, with unparalleled product selections from leading home décor, lifestyle, furniture and rug brands. Fall Design Week at AmericasMart will run September 20-22, and DISCOVER ADAC will operate September 21-23. “Bringing together AmericasMart and ADAC for a collaborative market experience allows the design community an expanded opportunity to network with industry leaders, preview upcoming trends and buy accordingly,” said Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. “For one week, with two design destinations, Atlanta will be the pinnacle of high- end design trends this September.” All trade registrants for Fall Design Week and DISCOVER ADAC will have access to ADAC’s 65+ high design home décor, lifestyle and furniture showrooms and to AmericasMart’s 400+ Open Year Round showrooms displaying nearly 2,000 lines in home décor, lifestyle, gift and apparel. Additionally, for the first time ever, a curated selection of antique vendors will be showcased at AmericasMart. To facilitate travel between both locations, IMC will provide a free, hourly shuttle between the two campuses on overlapping market days, Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Wednesday, Sept. 22. Beyond exhibits, Fall Design Week and DISCOVER ADAC participants can draw inspiration from unique “Directions in Design” vignettes installed at both market centers. The two coordinated vignettes, which will be merchandised and curated by a leading Atlanta interior designer, will showcase the exclusive and complementary design resources available across both campuses. As an added benefit, attendees will have access to virtual and in-person seminars and networking events with some of the top industry leaders in design. A full schedule of sessions will be available in the coming weeks at Americasmart.com/Year-Round/Calendar-of-Events and...

Summer 2021 Atlanta Market Beats Expectations

Atlanta Market confirmed its place as the top Summer 2021 buying destination for the national retail and design industry with better than projected attendance and reports of record-breaking shows across its home and gift collections at the closing of its seven-day run, July 13-19, 2021 at AmericasMart Atlanta. “Atlanta Market was exactly what buyers and sellers needed right now,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “The buzz about market quickly traveled through the industry, and the brands and buyers who did not attend were really feeling like they missed out. We’re confident that their need to be a part of Atlanta Market will accelerate the growth of the Winter Market in 2022.” Pent-up demand for inventory led to aggressive buying by retailers and designers. Upticks in Key Account attendance – with nearly 100 top retailers including Anthropologie, Ballard Designs, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works/White Barn, Bealls, Belk, Buc-ees, Cracker Barrel, Dillard’s, Francesca’s, Food 52, Hallmark Cards, Hamricks, Hobby Lobby, The Home Depot, Joann Stores, Macy’s, Michael’s Arts & Crafts, Nordstrom, Old Time Pottery, Paper Source, Plow & Hearth, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Sharper Image, Swoozies, Tuesday Morning, Urban Outfitters, Von Maur and more – also sparked high-volume orders. Buyers from all market verticals – Gift, Home Décor and Apparel – were well represented with growth in all three categories over the Winter 2021 staging. Attendees hailed from all 50 states, with notable growth from the Midwest and continued recovery of international traffic with buyers from some 36 countries. Overall, the Summer 2021 Atlanta Market well outpaced the Winter 2021 staging, growing by nearly 55% in attendance and ultimately beating IMC’s pre-market projections with more than 85% of the Summer 2019 turnout. Buyers Choose Atlanta Market to Get to Business Many retailers and designers chose Atlanta Market as their first market after a pandemic hiatus or as their first market ever. “Coming back to the Atlanta Mart has felt like a homecoming,” said Jorge Gonzalez, buyer and general merchandising manager for Draeger’s HOME & Market with four stores in California. “The safety measures and the graciousness of the Atlanta Market staff has left me with a smile on my face an incredible hope for the future of our business and brick and mortar stores!” “This is our very first market as buyers and it’s been a great experience!” said Madison Clayborn, founder of new online retailer Clayborn Collection. “We found a lot of what we were looking for to start our company by coming to Atlanta Market. We’ll definitely be coming back in the future.” Tammy Lopez and Maddie Morden of Personify Shop in Duluth, GA...

Adding to the excitement surrounding the summer Atlanta Market, International Market Centers (IMC) announced the much anticipated return of in-person events and celebrations with a schedule of industry parties, culinary demonstrations and expanded amenities set for the July 13-19, 2021 staging at AmericasMart Atlanta. “With market attendance and activity returning to more ‘normal’ conditions, we are delighted to resume the live education, networking and industry celebrations that are a hallmark of the market experience,” said Dorothy Belshaw, IMC executive vice president, chief marketing and customer officer. “We will celebrate industry reconnection in Atlanta Market style with an opening night party, daily networking events and the relaunch of our one-of-a-kind Demonstration Kitchen. We also will introduce a new series of free buyer amenities to address current market transportation needs.” Kick-Off Party and Demonstration Kitchen Reopening The Market Kick-Off Party on Wednesday, July 14 offers a long-awaited opportunity for the industry to gather again. Open to all market attendees, the Kick-Off party will feature entertainment and complimentary light bites and drinks beginning at 3 p.m. in the Building 3, Floor 2 atrium. The celebration continues Thursday through Saturday with free daily happy hours from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. in the atrium. Atlanta Market’s popular Demonstration Kitchen in Building 2, Floor 8 reopens with a live demonstration and book signing by tastemaker and author Danny Seo, publisher and co- principal of Rue magazine and editor-in-chief of Naturally Danny Seo who will prepare a new dessert recipe from his Naturally Delicious Desserts cookbook on Thursday, July 15 at 11 a.m. Also playing in the Demonstration Kitchen are a series of videos featuring all-star Atlanta chef, restaurateur and “Top Chef” fan favorite Kevin Gillespie preparing his char sui pork dish and a classic mai tai cocktail. Additional in-person experiences include at-market installations featuring a tribute to the 2021 Greeting Card Association LOUIE Award finalists in Building 2, Floor 2; a vignette of Market Snapshot finalists in Building 1, Floor 1; and instagrammable moments throughout Buildings 1, 2 and 3. A Welcoming Experience from the Market and the City A new free shuttle to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and expanded free buyer parking make it easier for attendees to come to-and-from market. The airport shuttle leaves AmericasMart from the new bus terminal at Building 1 every hour on the hour from 1 – 7 p.m., July 14-17. Free buyer parking is available close to the AmericasMart campus in the Peachtree Center Garage (0.2 miles from Building 1 at 161 Peachtree Center Ave.) and American Cancer Society Building (connected by bridge to Building 3 at 112 Baker St NW) July 13-19 on a first-come first served basis until...

IMC April Market Insights To Explore Health & Wellness Trends In Home Furnishings

With signs pointing to increased consumer interest in and spending for all things health and wellness in 2021, International Market Centers (IMC) presents a one-hour panel discussion “2021 – The Year of Wellness: Healthy Home Products & Trends That Can Drive Sales” as its April 7, 2021 Market Insights webinar. “Many industry experts think health and wellness will be a significant influence in the home furnishings and gift industries for years to come,” said Dorothy Belshaw, IMC chief marketing and customer officer. “The relevant trend information in this webinar is a perfect primer for retailers and designers attending IMC’s upcoming markets in Atlanta, High Point and Las Vegas.” “2021 – The Year of Wellness: Healthy Home Products & Trends that Can Drive Sales” explores opportunities for retailers and designers in wellness, and the products that help consumers achieve a sense of well-being. Presented in partnership with Gifts & Decorative Accessories, the panel discussion features Patti Biro, spa, personal product and wellness brand consultant; Angela Harris, CEO and principal of design and visual merchandising firm TRIO, Inc.; designer Lisa Kahn, founder and creator of the “Finding Sanctuary” wellness network; and Allan Share, president of Spa Industry Association. Lenise Willis, Gifts & Decorative Accessories editor in chief is the panel moderator. The webinar is Wednesday, April 7 at 10 am PDT/1 pm EDT.  Attendees will earn 1.0 CEU credit. IMC’s “Market Insights” webinars present high-level conversations about issues that are currently impacting business and allows buyers and suppliers to prepare for market throughout the year. With timely, exclusive and actionable content, the series is an extension of the programming presented by Atlanta Market, IMC High Point Market and Las Vegas Market. The next Market Insights session is “Back to Business: Attracting Buyers to In-person Visits” on May 12. IMC’s upcoming markets are Las Vegas Market (April 11-15, 2021), Spring Cash & Carry at AmericasMart Atlanta (May 4-6, 2021), High Point Market (June 5-9, 2021) and Atlanta Market (July 13-19, 2021). The Open Year Round showroom resources are open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at AmericasMart and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Las Vegas Design Center. Buyers also can source and shop – anytime and everywhere – via JuniperMarket, a new digital marketplace powered by IMC, which launches in summer...