AmericasMart Teams with Ga., Fla. Retail Associations

October 13, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on October 14, 2011

AmericasMart Atlanta, the Georgia Retail Association and the Florida Retail Federation have allied for education and business growth opportunities.

A highlight of the new alliance is the Georgia Retail Association/Florida Retail Federation AmericasMart Business Center open for the exclusive use of GRA/FRF members shopping AmericasMart's 13 annual markets. Located on floor 6, showroom 677B of AmericasMart Building Two West Wing, the Business Center affords members private lounge facilities and networking opportunities, with GRA/FRF staff associates present during market to address questions and field member input regarding various business, education, service and legislative initiatives.

"This alliance affirms our southeastern heritage and celebrates the inspired innovations of those retailers who serve our region's diverse and burgeoning population,€ said AmericasMart CEO Jeffrey L. Portman Sr., noting that the new partnership occurs in the 50th-anniversary year of both AmericasMart Atlanta and the Georgia Retail Association. "Our stewardship of these unique needs is a special calling which we are pleased to accept."

"We believe establishment of this important presence at AmericasMart will give strong voice to our collective mission and will offer our membership a unique opportunity to access the marketplace€™s full resources,"said Rick McAllister, president and chief executive officer of the Georgia and Florida entities. "This critical first step sets direction for a multi-dimensional alliance yielding real benefits to our membership and to AmericasMart exhibitors alike."

As the non-profit trade associations representing the retail industry in Florida and Georgia, the newly aligned FRF and GRA are now able to offer members exclusive access to the worldwide marketplace with an unparalleled array of products in hundreds of categories.