Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Atlanta Gift, Home Furnishings Market to Celebrate 60th Anniversary
October 25,
2016 by Larry Thomas in Industry, Special Events 
“The six decades linking January 1957 and January 2017 chronicle a business driven toward the future, compelled by innovation and unfailingly committed to the industry we love and lead,” said Jeffrey Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of AmericasMart.
The marketplace was founded by his father, John C. Portman, Jr., who continues as chairman and CEO.
“While the nature of the home, rug, gift and apparel industries has evolved with unimaginable speed over those 60 years, our mission sustains the course set by our founding compass: to create markets of necessity powering the growth of the tens of thousands of buyers and sellers choosing to do business here. That was, is and forever will be our passion,” added Jeffrey Portman.
The Jan. 10-17 Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market jump-starts global retailing as the first major buying opportunity of the year with new and expanded showrooms and temporaries, complemented by industry gatherings, thought-leading programming and celebrations befitting the legacy of the internationally celebrated marketplace.
Home and rug trends start with The Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show (Wednesday, Jan. 11 through Saturday, Jan. 15), staged and produced in exclusive collaboration with The Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA).
New for 2017, the market’s rug temporary exhibit spaces will be incorporated into the home furnishings and accents trade show, showcased in their own section alongside coordinating home product during the trade show dates.
Other Rug Market highlights include educational opportunities and AmericasMart’s signature celebration of innovation in rug design and production, America’s Magnificent Carpets Awards.
The gift and home furnishings market runs Tuesday, Jan. 10 through Tuesday, Jan. 17. Temporary exhibits are open Thursday, Jan. 12 through Monday, Jan. 17.