The Summer 2021 Atlanta Market exceeded attendance expectations and reported 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,” says Bob Maricich, International Market Centers 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 decor 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.
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 and 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 and incredible hope for the future of our business and brick and mortar stores.”
Atlanta Market’s exhibitors felt the impact of buyers getting back to business with a surge in order writing. Buyers sourced from 8,000+ lines showing gift, gourmet, home decor, juvenile, lifestyle, personal care, stationery, tabletop and more including 1,000+ in the temporary exhibits, which doubled over the Winter 2021 staging. The market’s 1,000+ gift and home decor showrooms featured nearly 60 new, relocated or expanded brands.
“It was great to be back in full force with all our product partners and territory managers in the showroom,” said Cody Ables, CEO + Founder of CODARUS (representing 13 home décor lines) “It was so nice to see accounts we have not seen at market since January 2020.”
"Atlanta Market this week felt like old times,” said Paul Adams of PARC Packaging. “We have not written this much business in years."
Atlanta Market also was an opportunity for brands to return to in-person events. “This was our first time exhibiting in a trade show in 18 months!” said Henry Cornell of M. Cornell. “We greatly missed the personal interaction with customers during that 1.5 years. There simply is no substitute for personally meeting customers. Atlanta is back and we’re so grateful!"
The staging of at-market events by IMC, exhibitors and industry organizations created a buzz around the market.
The Market Kick-Off party was a standing-room-only event where attendees mixed and mingled, many for the first time in more than a year.
The Winter 2022 Atlanta Market is Tuesday, Jan. 11 – Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 with temporary exhibits Wednesday, Jan. 12 – Sunday, Jan. 16.
