Atlanta Focus Is on U

ATLANTA INTL. GIFT AND HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET

July 11–19

Temporaries, July 14–18

ATLANTA INTL. RUG MARKET

July 16–19

AmericasMart Atlanta

240 Peachtree St.

Atlanta 30303

(800) ATL-MART

www.americasmart.com

Show Producer: AMC

Show Hours: July 11–13 and 16–19, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; July 14–15, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (select showrooms open at 8 a.m.) Temporaries, July 14–18, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Rug Market, 9.a.m.–5 p.m.

Travel Arrangements: Ambassadors Services Group, (800) 241-6405 or (404) 584-7458. Delta Air Lines, (800) 241-6760 or (404) 765-5000

Unless otherwise noted, seminars take place in the Conference Center on the 3rd floor of AM3.

Thursday, July 13

• Learn to Think Like the Retailer. (exhibitor seminar) 11 a.m.–noon. Speaker: Albert D. Maslia, managing director of retail services. Repeats at 5 p.m.
• Gift Basket Demonstration. (Elective) 1–1:30 p.m. Speaker: Elizabeth Martin. 14th floor, Gourmet Gallery.

Friday, July 15

• Competitive Intelligence: Expert Advice on Industry Trends. (Elective). WithIt Panel. 8–9 a.m. Discussion on identifying home fashion trends and color directions, along with tips on merchandising aesthetics.
• Branding Your Store (Beginner). Think Like a Brand, Act Like a Retailer: How to Make Your Store More Important Than Anything It Sells! 8:30–9:30 a.m. Among the topics covered: Get to know your customers better; how customers perceive your Brand and why that's important; how to turn your sales floor into a selling machine and more. Speakers: Georganne Bender and Rich Kizer, Kizer & Bender.
• Christmas Fantasy (Elective). 9 a.m. Presented by A&B Floral with designers Wayne Freeman and Jeff Purdy. AM1 19-A-23.
• Branding Your Store (Intermediate). 10–11 a.m. Speakers: Georganne Bender and Rich Kizer.
• Productive and Profitable — A Smarter Way to Shop AmericasMart (Elective). 11 a.m.–noon. Speaker Albert Maslia.
• When a Child is Born…So is a Grandmother! (Elective). 11 a.m.–noon. Create a Grandmother's Corner, a money-making niche. Learn the ins and outs of the baby, kids and tween industry. Speaker: Larry Lucas, One Stop Fun Shop. AM3, 13th floor.
• Cooking Demo: Paris on Peachtree. (Elective). 1–2 p.m. Presenter: Virginia Willis. AM3, Gourmet Gallery. Book signing follows.
• Pricing Strategies (Beginner). 2– 3 p.m. Covers: determining a general price image; detecting items to “blind price”; selecting the goods and services to “ballpark” price; establishing a policy for pricing sale items and more. Speaker: Tom Shay, Profits+Plus $Seminar$.
• Maximizing Profits with Home Accents. (Elective). 4–5 p.m. Explore trends in the design and merchandising of home accents. Learn tips that add to the bottom line. Speaker: Jessie LaFalce, Danielle Design. AM1, 19-A-23.

Saturday, July 15

• MBA in a Day. (Beginner). What you would learn at top-tier business schools (if only you had the time…). 8:30–9:30 a.m. Topics include: Finance and Accounting; Marketing and Promotional Strategy; Management, Leadership, Organizational Behavior & Human Resources; Entrepreneurship and Building a Business Plan. Speaker: Steven Strasler, The Center for Professional Development Inc.
• MBA in a Day (Intermediate). 10–11 a.m. Speaker: Steven Strasler.
• Productive and Profitable — A Smarter Way to Shop AmericasMart (Elective). 11 a.m.–noon. Speaker: Albert Maslia.
• Cooking Demo: Uptown Low Country. (Elective). 1–2 p.m. Presenter: Virginia Willis. AM3, Gourmet Gallery. Book signing.
• Using Technology to Increase Sales (Beginner). 2-3 p.m. The nuts and bolts of marketing technology and how this technology can increase your customer base and bottom-line. Speaker: Bobby Chandiramani, marketing director, Schandra Inc. AM3 Conference Center.
• Outdoor Entertaining: Garden Party Style…Entertaining Al Fresco. (Elective). 4:30–5:30 p.m. Presenter: Kimberly Kennedy, lifestyle contributor to CBS's The Early Show and author of The Art and Craft of Entertaining. Book signing follows. AM1, The Gardens

Sunday, July 16

• 52-Week Planner: (Beginner). Plan to Succeed and Succeed by Design...Start Your New Sales Year Today. 8:30–9:30 a.m. Step-by-step business growth in one year. Speaker: Mike Marchev, Mike Marchev & Associates, author of “Become the Exception.” AM1, 4-B-1.
• What's Your Mix? (Elective).9– 10 a.m. Mix it up with permanent botanicals and home accessories. Presented by Sullivans with designer Bert Ford. AM1, 19-A-23.
• 52-Week Planner (Intermediate). 10–11 a.m. Speaker: Mike Marchev. AM1, 4-B-1
• The Art of Shopping: Merchandising and Promoting Your Store (Elective). 11 a.m.–noon. Speaker: Debra Tenenbaum.
• Gift Basket Demo. 1–1:30 a.m. Presenter: Jimi Taylor. AM3, Gourmet Gallery.
• Creating Customer Loyalty (Beginner). 1–2 p.m. Highlighting 100 Customer service ideas, “Red Carpet” ideas to “WOW” customers, how to network effectively in your community. Speaker: Roy Prevost. AM1, 4-B-1
• The Hospital Gift Shop Explosion (Elective). 1–2 p.m. Speaker: Debra Tenenbaum.
• Business Survival: Tricks of the Trade (Advanced). 2:20–4 p.m. Covers five specific strategies to increase profits immediately. Obtain a roadmap customized just for your business! Speakers: Jim Jordan and Jon McClory, Franklin Consulting & Training.
• A Table of Profits…Tableware Marketing & Merchandise Trends (Elective). 4–5 p.m. A hands-on conference that presents the latest information and ideas on the tableware market's products, customer prospects, promotions and profits. Speaker: Tony DeMasi.

Monday, July 17

• Does Selling Rugs Have You Tied Up in “Nots”? 9–10:30 a.m. Proven methods to help sales teams understand how rugs are made; patterns, designs and materials; judging quality and more. Speaker: Steve Boodakian, Koko Boodakian & Sons and Sy Mahfuz, Persian Rug Galleries. AM1, 4-B-1.
• Gift Basket Demonstration (Elective). 1–1:30 a.m. Presenter: Karen Sullen. AM3, The Gourmet Gallery.
• Walk the Market with Phil (Elective). 4–5:30 p.m. Leader: Phil Menendian, K.A. Menendian Oriental Rugs. Presented by: ORRA. AM1, 4-B-1.

Tuesday, July 18

• Oriental Rugs 101 (Elective). 10–11 a.m. Evaluating construction for the identification of oriental rugs. Speaker: Michael Joseph, Joseph Oriental Rug Imports. AM1 4-B-1
• Tips for a Proper ORRA Appraisal (Elective). 1–1:30 p.m. Speaker: Phil Menendian. AM1, 4-B-1
• ORRA Certified Rug Appraiser's Exam (Elective). 1:30–4 p.m. ORRA members only. AM1, 4-B-1.

Wednesday, July 19

• A New Vision for ORRA — Mandatory for ORRA Members. 2–4 p.m. A roundtable discussion open to all ORRA members to address challenges, deliverables and opportunities. Speaker: Mark Kambourian, M. Kambourtian Sons. AM1, 4-B-1.