IMC Reports Record Sales at Atlanta Winter Market

January 24, 2022  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

“Buyers meant business in Atlanta this week – they came ready to source with the confidence that Atlanta Market would deliver the must-have product needed for the new year,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “Based on the reports of record-breaking sales and growth in order size, it appears that buyers found what they were looking for – and more!”

Market attendance at the Winter 2022 edition outpaced Winter 2021 by nearly 70%, despite wintery weather conditions and lingering pandemic-related issues. As industry recovery continued in Atlanta, all market verticals – Gift, Home and Apparel – recorded growth, with especially strong attendance in Gift. Ultimately, buyers attended from all 50 states and 39 countries.

Excitement was palpable with buyers ready to place orders and eager to discover new brands, products and trends.

“People were here and ready for business,” said Yvette Shipley of embroidery, invitation and customization shop Ibettink in San Antonio, TX. “We were looking to do business with new vendors and lines and Atlanta Market always has the ‘new.’”

“We’re back from Atlanta Market where the key word of the weekend was ‘energized’,” said designer Andrea Wilson of Wilhouse Designs in Hunstville, AL. “Market is a not only a chance to source unique pieces for our clients and gain inspiration for upcoming projects, but it also provides a beautiful opportunity to recharge those creative juices and breathe new life into our entire design process.”

“Atlanta Market did not disappoint, the energy is back!” said Renae Bender, director of Retail at Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, NV. “The market is back to ‘normal’ as far as the energy and being the ‘it’ place to source what’s new and exciting and those rare finds.”

Meg Veno, creative director and founder of Life’s Patina Co, a mercantile, café and historic farm venue in Chester Springs, PA, shared “We’re heading home with our hearts full of inspiration and our order sheets full of orders…As a team, we always look forward to this “girl’s trip” (of sorts) and it never disappoints. We finally get to meet amazing vendors we follow on Instagram or have seen in magazines in person, discover totally new vendors who make incredible products and hear their unique stories, soak in all the inspiration around trends, vignettes and displays … our hearts are full to have been able to experience Atlanta again after a year’s hiatus”

Across Atlanta Market’s 2,000+ permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits – including 200+ that were new or expanded this January – sellers reported healthy orders from enthusiastic buyers sourcing from 8,000+ lines.

“The energy at Atlanta Market was electric,” said Fred Pannek, president of Mud Pie. “We saw buyers from the gift, décor and apparel industries flood in from all over the country to see, touch and feel the new product. Mud Pie achieved record-breaking days in Atlanta, where buyers spent roughly 30% more per order than last year.”

“This was the busiest January Atlanta Market I have seen in several years,” said Dan Loughman, Roman president and CEO. “Our show sales were the highest in 17 or 18 years with average order sizes significantly larger than in the past and we opened dozens of new accounts. It was great to see Roman customers at market again – for some it was the first time in two years.”

“This market was magnificent,” said Frank Thomas, principal of Frank Thomas Art and Design. “It’s amazing how far clients came to visit us at Atlanta Market. We wrote so many orders and almost sold out – I wish I would have brought more product to market.”

Exhibitors took to social media to share their enthusiasm for the market. Brad Rosenkampff, managing partner/ CPO of The Link Companies (representing 79 lines) shared “… Despite obvious health challenges, a few cancellations and then snow – it was a MONSTER show. Record breaking and well beyond expectations. We are extremely excited about this amazing start of ’22.”

Augmenting strong order writing from independent stores were key accounts and buying groups that returned to the market in force.

Key accounts confirmed at Atlanta Market included Aarons, Amazon, Anthropologie, Arhaus Furniture, Ballard Designs, Bassett Furniture, Big Sandy Superstore, Chair King Backyard Store, City Furniture, HSN, QVC, RC Willey, Rue Gilt Groupe, Slumberland Furniture, The Roomplace, Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Weekends Only, Weirs Furniture Village and more. Many of these high-volume buyers were using the market to discover new brands.

First-time temporary exhibitor Arrkeicha Danzie of Good Boy Goodies, who joined the market as part of the Georgia Grown pavilion, reported placing an order with 12 Ace Hardware stores and meeting with a buyer for Buc-ee’s 40+ locations. “All my expectations for Atlanta Market were exceeded. Being here and meeting people from so many different states gives me the opportunity to expand my footprint. I got a lot of great feedback and compliments on my product.”

The 11 buying groups Atlanta Market hosted further amplified buying.

“MAI Retailers’ estimated buying power is over $25 million and a quarter of our members are larger stores who came in on Sunday and stayed the whole week,” said Amanda Bollenbach, MAI executive director and owner of Daisy Day Brands in Walton, FL. “Our stores get together and share what orders have been written, so we were essentially crowdsourcing hot product for more than 50 buyers.”

Atlanta Market attendees were eager to participate with in-person programming presented over four days of market. The eight seminars and cooking demonstrations featured standing-room-only crowds with buyers actively engaging in the sessions.

Juniper celebrated the launch of JuniperMarket, IMC’s new B2B ecommerce marketplace, with a packed Market Kickoff Party. Buyers who signed-up for JuniperMarket while onsite in Atlanta received a $10 lunch voucher, a JuniperMarket swag bag, and qualified to win one of five daily $5,000 cashback give-aways. To further bridge IMC’s physical and digital markets, JuniperMarket is offering all winter 2022 Atlanta Market retailer and designer attendees a ‘Better Together Atlanta Market Special,’ with $100 back for spending $1000 on the platform before February 1. 

The next Atlanta Market is July 12-18, 2022, at AmericasMart Atlanta.