Atlanta Market Offers Opportunities for Product Exploration 

July 24, 2024  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

"Despite current economic challenges, positive results from Atlanta Market’s Summer 2024 edition provided a symbol of promise for year-end as well as early 2025,” said Jon Pertchik, ANDMORE ℠ CEO. “Atlanta buzzed with contagious energy and optimism throughout the event, with buyers from every corner of the nation and around the globe in attendance.”  

Strong Industry Collaborations Fuel Market Attendance 

Atlanta Market welcomed a diverse cross-section of buyers, including attendees from all 50 states – plus Puerto Rico, District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands – and nearly 50 international countries. This market saw a significant increase in apparel buyers, up 8% compared to last Summer, as they took advantage of the full cross-shopping opportunity available during Atlanta Market.

The southeast’s premier gift and home event drew significant attention from leading retailers, including Anthropologie, Bergdorf Goodman, Crate & Barrel, HomeGoods, Kirkland’s, Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn, Serena & Lily, Target, The Walt Disney Company and Urban Outfitters, which showcased their presence and influence across the gift and home industries.

Independent retailers and designers also benefitted from a week of dynamic, multi-category sourcing throughout the AmericasMart campus. “I’m local to Atlanta, so AmericasMart has always been the place to go for sourcing,” said Egypt Sherrod, designer and TV personality. “This is my home base when my team is looking for beautiful furnishings, but also a sense of community.”

Approximately 15 prominent buying groups and associations gathered at Atlanta Market, bringing together crucial accounts, member-exclusive meetings and specialized industry programming to enhance the buying experience.

"GC places special emphasis on the importance of Market attendance for our team and our members,” said Janis Johnson, president and founder of GC Buying Group. “Gathering GC Buying Group store members in Atlanta has been effective for our organization over the past 21 years. Access to the best market for kitchenware contributes to the success of our events and gives stores the opportunity to shop, find new products and write orders.”

Limitless Buying Opportunities Expand Business Potential

With some 70 updates to the 1,000+ gift and home showrooms across the AmericasMart Atlanta campus, cross-category sourcing was abundant this July. Exhibitors, many of whom cited groundbreaking sales, reported a renewed sense of community at the Summer 2024 edition.

As the industry navigates economic uncertainty, Atlanta Market participants remain optimistic for a robust rebound.

“Inflation, higher costs and political uncertainty are squeezing disposable income, affecting our industry’s discretionary spending,” said Randy Eller, president of Eller Enterprises. "Nevertheless, retailers who are weathering the economic challenges are actively engaging in markets, resulting in steady traffic and strong performance across multiple product lines."  

"Our Summer Atlanta Market was filled with our long-standing clients and designers alongside new faces,” said Mia McMurray, executive vice president, furniture at Classic Home. “Trade shows like Atlanta Market enable us to make a lasting impression, foster new connections and strengthen existing ones, which positions us for what is already projected to be a successful 2025.”

Many of Atlanta Market’s 1,400+ temporary exhibitors reported major sales growth this July, citing added exposure resulting from ANDMORE’s synergistic tradeshow remerchandising into seven categories across nine floors.

“You really don’t meet these kinds of buyers anywhere else,” said Diana Pfeifer Justice, owner of Grits Bits, an exhibitor in the Kitchen + Table category. “Atlanta Market is where I find and connect with all of my customers.”

HIGH DESIGN exhibitor Verona Martinez, owner of Pierre Verona Minerals, reported, “We broke records in Atlanta this week. This is the second time we’ve surpassed our expectations, so we’re extremely happy.”

In an Atlanta Market first, the temporary exhibits’ Best Booth Awards took to social media to select a “People’s Choice” winner in the gift and home temporaries. Among four contenders, Life is Rosie (children’s book and doll set) won the popular vote.

In connection with continued consumer demand, outdoor accessories stood out as a product category this July. Following Atlanta Market’s two-season restructuring and remerchandising, The Gardens presented more than 55 exhibitors offering garden/outdoor ornaments and fixtures in a redesigned space.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to rebrand ourselves at Market in a reimagined Gardens space,” said exhibitor Theresa Seclow, vice president, marketing & sales of Home Bazaar. “We’re fortunate that we’ve had great traffic, and we’ve seen a lot of our key customers this week. Atlanta brings so many classes of trade together, so we get to exhibit to diverse clients in one location.”

As an added casual and outdoor category extension, the second annual Summer Casual Market Atlanta offered an expanded presentation of 70+ permanent showrooms and 100+ temporary exhibitors to for Atlanta Market retailers and designers searching for the new and next of outdoor/patio furniture and accessories. Casual Market attendance was up 5% over last year when it first debuted in Atlanta, demonstrating continued growth in this category.

“All in all, this was a great Market for us. We exceeded our appointment numbers every day, so we’re feeling confident and optimistic about the upcoming year,” said Rory Rehmat, Castelle president.

In addition to commerce, retailers and designers enjoyed a diverse expansive lineup of programming designed to enhance sourcing at Market. Throughout the week, nearly 20 carefully curated events unfolded over five days, drawing crowds to interactive demonstration kitchens, seminars tailored to business needs and vibrant networking sessions.  

The Winter 2025 Atlanta Market runs January 14-20, 2025, at AmericasMart Atlanta.