Atlanta NEXT Initiative Makes First Phase Changes for AmericasMart Atlanta

November 13, 2019  by Jane Chero in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The newly remerchandised floors set to debut at The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market, Jan. 14 -21, 2020, present a cohesive buying experience both during and between markets.

“A major focus of Atlanta NEXT is to create a more compelling and thoughtful experience for the retailers and designers who use AmericasMart as a resource year-round,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “Redefining the Open Year Round offerings creates an easy-to-shop design center experience. These resources combined with those at ADAC, creates, by far, the richest offering of design resources in the Southeast.”

The first phase of the remerchandising features 30 new, expanded or relocated showrooms and 20 renewals. In total, AmericasMart’s Open Year Round home decor offerings encompass 130 showrooms presenting nearly 350 lines across all home accent categories.

On the Open Year Round floors, major expansions and relocations include Antique Curiosities, Caracole, Elk Lighting, Forty West Designs, Inc., Jeffan International, Leftbank Art and Mainly Baskets. New showrooms are Adaste Home Inc. (décor and accessories), Laura Park Designs (accessories, décor, bedding and wallcoverings), Lily's Living (décor and accessories) and Sweet Gumball Inc. (wall art, décor and accessories). The floors also feature amenities that augment the daily shopping experience including the Designer Workspace with a resource library and concierge service, and a seminar space where educational and networking events are presented throughout the year.

On the Atlanta NEXT updates, Cameron Ward, Caracole director of trade sales & customer service, said, “Given the tremendous response from the design community, we are thrilled to expand our trade showroom at AmericasMart. This expansion provides us with a strong platform to both service and present the breadth and depth of our brand with the trade community at large.”

In addition to updates on the Open Year Round floors, the Commercial Design category on Floor 5 is 75% occupied and includes new showroom Sherwin-Williams (commercial paint) plus a relocated and expanded location for C+H Interiors. Additional updates of note throughout the building are expansions and relocations for John Robshaw Inc. & John Matouk & Co., Montes Doggett and SmithHonig / Boho Luxe Home. New showrooms are Balta US (rugs), Duke Imports, Inc. (softgoods and bedding) and Monahan Papers (accessories, stationery items, fabric and wallcoverings). New meeting space for market buying groups also opens on Floor 3 and Floor 8.  

Additionally, 20 home décor exhibitors found across Building 1 have renewed their commitment to the Atlanta market: Antiques & Interiors, Ashore, Inc., Bobo Intriguing Objects, Bojay, Codarus, David Allen Accessories, Farmhouse Pottery, Gold Leaf Design Group, Hester & Cook Design Group, Hillhouse Naturals Farm, India's Heritage, Intrepid International Trading Co., Kassatex, Orchids Lux Home & CMA Home – Allegria, Pasha Furniture, Saddleman's of Santa Fe, SDH Enterprises, Taylor Linens and Yves Delorme, Inc.  

“The reorganization of the merchandise in Building 1 makes it easier for designers and retailers to plan their visits to AmericasMart,” added Julie Messner, senior vice president of Furniture and Home Décor Leasing. “Better identifying and grouping the product mix helps buyers better decide where and how to spend their time whenever they visit.”

The official launch of the partnership between AmericasMart and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) began in September with the successful staging of the first-ever dual-venue design market combining Fall Design Week and DISCOVER ADAC. Together, the sister centers showcased 500+ resources and presented 33 seminars, tours, gatherings and celebrations to thousands of designers, retailers and design enthusiasts.