January Atlanta Market provides renewed optimism
By Seaside Retailer Staff

Jan. 12-19, 2021 market has plenty to offer with new features and more than 8,000 brands.

Atlanta Market kicks off 2021 with a fresh start for retailers wanting to discover new trends, source new products and make new connections with a renewed optimism. Buyers at the Jan. 12-19, 2021 market will find a complete marketplace with 8,000 brands highlighted by reorganized temporaries, 50 new, expanded and relocated showrooms, new digital sourcing tools and proven safety protocols.

“The usual excitement for the Winter Atlanta Market is amplified by hope for a better year ahead,” says Bob Maricich, International Marker Centers (IMC) CEO. “In Atlanta, we are ready to provide an engaging and profitable market through comprehensive product offerings, new discovery tools and the return of dynamic on-campus experiences.”

Atlanta Market’s 1,000 gift and home décor showrooms – including some 250 brands only showing in Atlanta in January – continue to evolve with 50 new and expanded showrooms inspired by IMC’s Atlanta NEXT plan, which redefines product categories and updates to the AmericasMart campus. Recent Atlanta NEXT progress includes additional showroom remerchandising throughout the campus, an upgraded entrance to Building 1 at Ted Turner Drive and Andrew Young International Boulevard and continued progress on the Building 1 lobby renovation.

The 700 gift showrooms feature 36 new, expanded and relocated tenants highlighted by the winter market debut of the new Appelman Schauben and Ivystone lifestyle destination in Building 2, Floor 11. Reorganization of the Atlanta Market gift offerings continues to attract new resources to AmericasMart with eight new showroom commitments including ELC Designs, Great Scrape, Portmeirion USA), Tremont Floral Supplies and more. The 28 expanded and relocated showrooms include a new relocation by RS Covenant.

IMC continues to refine Atlanta Market’s 300 home décor showrooms to create an accessible and reenergized marketplace, highlighted by the winter debut of relocations of Sagebrook Home, IMAX and Diamond Star to Building 1 from Building 2. The 21 Winter Market updates in Building 1 include an additional new showroom -- Artists Guild of America -- and the relocations of seven more showrooms: Abigails, Authentic Models, Bethel International, Joel Robinson & Associates, Veronica Flam, Zeugma and Zuo Décor.
In addition to the new, expanded and relocated showrooms, some 100 gift and home décor brands have renewed their commitments to Atlanta Market. Renewed brands include Bougainvillea, Core Home, Daniel Richards, Folkmanis Inc., Gib Carson Associates, HomArt, K & K Interiors, Ratana, Southeast Marketing. The exhibitor directory is available at AtlantaMarket.com/exhibitor/exhibitor-directory.

Ginger Milligan, owner of Fantasy Island Toy in Fairhope, AL and co-product director of The Good Toy Group, says she’s excited about going to Atlanta Market in January after missing the August 2020 market for the first time in many years. “I am such a visual buyer and love attending market for inspiration. I have appointments set with my reps, so I can cover my store as well as The Good Toy Group. With many tradeshows postponed, [Atlanta is] even more important for 2021."

Atlanta Market’s temporaries return for the Winter Market after a summer hiatus with a new, intuitive layout and organization. Some 15 of the 31 categories feature new locations which create dynamic exploration opportunities for buyers. Of note are the co-locations of HD Home, High Design and High Design Luxe in Building 2, Floor 2; Gourmet Foods, Gourmet LUXE, Housewares, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Living Luxe, Seasonal / Gift, Tabletop & Entertaining and Tabletop LUXE in Building 2, Floor 3; and Body & Soul, Body & Soul Luxe, Children’s World, General Gift, Modern Child and On Trend Gift in Building 3, Floor 5.
The synergy of personal care, children’s and trend-driven gift in Building 3, Floor 5, has created a lifestyle destination in the temporaries. Buyers can source from well-known brands including Ty Inc., Pura Vida Bracelets, Finchberry, Inis-The Energy of the Sea, Jim Spinx and discover additional brands like Musee, Mila & Rose, Mon Ami Designs, Retrospect Group and more.

The Winter 2021 Market offers expanded opportunities for buyers to source immediate goods with a strong Cash & Carry collection, now offered in Building 2, Floor 4. The nearly 50 brands offer jewelry, accessories, apparel, shoes, children’s and gifts for immediate purchase. Highlights include The 29:11 Story, All That Glitterz, Be Mine, Meico, Rant & Rave, Silver n' Accessories and more.

Some 40 brands make their Atlanta Market debut in January. Highlights across the categories include Boo Boo Ball USA in Children’s World; Charlotte & Emerson in On Trend Gift; Joyin in Season/ Gift; Maison Maison Design in HD Home; The Pen Piper in Emerging Artists; Second Nature Jewelry in Handmade Jewelry; That Elderberry Lady in Gourmet Foods, and Xplorer Maps in General Gifts. A full list of temporaries is available at AtlantaMarket.com/exhibitor/Temporaries.

Atlanta Market presented much of its signature educational programming virtually before the Winter 2021 market. The first East Coast installment of IMC’s proprietary “Ahead of the Curve” trend program featured panelists discussing emerging design trends and new product inspirations.

During Market on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m., IMC launches its Market Insights monthly webinar series with a live presentation of the Pantone 2021 Color of the year by vice president of the Pantone Color Institute Laurie Pressman who will highlight key color trends. Recordings of all the webinars are available at AtlantaMarket.com/News-and-Trends/Webinars-and-Education.

Buyers can explore IMC’s new JuniperMarket via “Preview Pods” that will provide a dynamic visual overview of the new B2B e-commerce marketplace, allowing prospective users to preview the new purchasing platform and understand its connectivity to IMC’s physical markets. Visitors will receive Juniper “swag” and be entered to win iPads and other prizes. Registration for JuniperMarket – either at the pods in Building 2, Floor 2, or as part of Market registration – grants buyers immediate access to the platform when JuniperMarket launches in spring 2021.

Market attendees are encouraged to post about their Atlanta Market experience via Instagrammable backdrops located in the lobby of Building 2 and multiple locations in Building 3. Snaps from the market week can be seen by following the hashtag #ATLMKT.

Atlanta Market provides trend and market content through a variety of channels for the Winter 2021 event. Some 40 new products and best sellers are finalists for the Winter 2021 Atlanta Market Snapshot. Found among the permanent showrooms, in temporaries and in the 650 brands presented by 70 Atlanta Market exhibitors on ShopZio, the finalists represent must-have items from the home décor and gift collections. People’s Choice winners will be announced the first day of Atlanta Market.

The Market’s social media channels – @AmericasMartATL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – will document trends and market moments. Augmenting Atlanta Market’s content is a series of market ambassadors who are showcasing trend discoveries using the hashtag #ATLMKT2021.

Atlanta Market’s Winter 2021 planning tools are available online and in print. The Atlanta Market Magazine expands its print edition with an interactive virtual format that allows readers to gain additional information and reach out to exhibitors via embed “hot spots.” The AmericasMart Buyer’s Guide also will offer a supplemental interactive virtual edition. The AmericasMart App allows attendees to navigate the campus with turn-by-turn directions; save must-see exhibitors, events and specials; set up a budget for market and track spending; take notes; get real-time information about market happenings and get exciting news through social alerts. All these tools can be accessed via the new AtlantaMarket.com.

The Winter 2021 Atlanta Market will follow IMC’s Together Safely protocols. Before market, buyers must register online for one of two buying sessions at AmericasMart.com/Registration. On-campus safety procedures include the required use of PPE, temporal checks, capacity limits and social distancing measures.

Atlanta Market’s showrooms are open Tuesday, Jan. 12 to Tuesday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Temporaries are open Wednesday, Jan. 13 to Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 17, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.