Atlanta Offers a Temporary Mecca for Retail Buyers

Retailers from all over the country will converge on AmericasMart for the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, July 11–20. The ten-day market — with temporaries running July 14–18 — along with the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, July 19–22, offers a total of 4.2 million square feet of exhibition space in one trade show event. The Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market will feature ten product centers, including Furniture, Area Rugs, Home Accents and Fine Linens, the Gardens, Tabletop, Fine Gifts & Accessories, and Temporaries. AmericasMart 3 becomes the market's newest integrated product resource, giving buyers one-stop access to five full floors of temporaries, as well as the expanded Gift & Resort Center. The market also offers services such as events, programs, and the Discovery 2001 seminar series designed to give buyers merchandising, marketing, and sales management ideas and techniques to add value to their business.

MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

• The newly furnished Home Accents Center, floor 13, makes its July debut, setting in motion a makeover that will transform the look of the AmericasMart 1 floors. The restyled floor incorporates new carpeting and lighting with hardwood floors, leather seating, and area rugs in elevator lobbies. Products showcased in the Home Accents Center will include pillows, accent furniture, linens, tabletop accessories, casegoods, and more.
• High Country lodge and the Collectible Dolls & Bears market, which were immediate successes at their January 2001 premieres, will return as new category additions to the Temporaries section.
• The Tabletop, Fine Gifts & Accessories product center features high-profile products from top manufacturers such as Lenox, Waterford/Wedgwood, Lladro, Faberge, and others.
• The Gardens offers an exhibition of indoor/outdoor gardening lifestyle products such as lighting, fountains and statuary, baskets and pottery, and tools and apparel.
• The temporaries collection at July's Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market, touted by producers as "the nation's largest single temporaries product collection," marks the first event at which AmericasMart 3 becomes a completely contained market, housing more than 65 percent of the market's temporaries in a single location. AmericasMart 3 will also feature a fully merchandised Fashion Accessories & Fine Jewelry Center and the Gift & Resort Center with its new Gourmet Gallery.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Withit — Women in the Home Industries Today. July 12, 6–8 p.m., AmericasMart 1, 15-C-308. Buyers are invited to network with industry peers at a cocktail reception.

Breakfast Club/Order 'Til Eight. Extended market hours with in-showroom refreshments and specials at participating exhibitors in AmericasMart 1,2, and 3. Breakfast Club will start at 8 a.m. on July 13, 14, and 15. Order 'Til Eight extended hours are July 14 and 15.

The Art of Christmas at AmericasMart. July 13, 6–8 p.m., AmericasMart 1, floors 16–20. This festive evening hosted by participating exhibitors in the Holiday & Floral Center features cocktails, a progressive dinner, and a product preview.

Accent 13 — The Home Accents Center 13th floor Grand Opening Celebration. July 14, 5–7 p.m., AmericasMart 1, floor 13. This gala "housewarming" cocktail buffet will showcase the new interiors and appointments of the Home Accent Center, plus new product from more than 50 showrooms.

SummerFest 2001: The Atlanta Market Summer Party for Gift for Life. July 16, AmericasMart 3, floors 1–5 and 14. A market celebration complete with cocktail reception and entertainment, capped by a silent auction benefiting Gift for Life.

BUYER AMENITIES

Express registration is available for any buyer who registered at AmericasMart during the past year and received an AMC Inc. Express Card attached to his or her admission badge. Buyers not holding an Express Card can visit AmericasMart.com or call (800) ATL-MART.

Market Headquarters in AmericasMart 3 offers everything from product resources to buyer accommodations and activities, including gourmet cart cuisine.

AmericasMart 3 will feature a number of unique amenities and activities such as an Oxygen Bar and massages, as well as henna painting and tarot card readings, in addition to the popular AmericasMart Food Village.

Travel and hotel reservations. For discounted airfare information, call Delta Air Lines at (800) 241-6760, and refer to file number 166878A. To arrange for hotel accommodations, call Ambassadors Services Group Inc. at (800) 241-6405.

Friday, July 13

• "How to Shop AmericasMart Atlanta: Basic Buying Procedures for New Buyers and Online Buying with AmericasMart.com." 8–9 a.m., AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speakers: Albert Maslia and Joe Farrugia. Program offers tips for successful inventory planning and the basics of AmericasMart.com. Seminar repeats July 14, 15, and 16.
• "Basic Buying Procedures: How to Manage Your Open-to-Buy and Better Negotiate with Your Vendors." 9–10 a.m., AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Albert Maslia. Program helps buyers develop more efficient buying habits.
• "Design & Display Series: Creative Use of Ribbon as a Decorative Accessory." 10–11 a.m., AmericasMart 1, 18C10. Speaker: Paula Maburn. This design and display seminar offers ways to creatively utilize ribbon with an in-showroom presentation.
• "Trends and Fourth Quarter Buying." 10:30–11:30 a.m., AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Joyce Washnik. Buying tips from a gift industry insider.
• "Coping with Turn and Churn in Today's Retail Workforce." 1–2 p.m., AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Margie Johnson Learn tools for better recruitment and more effective training, including how to find good employees and keep them.
• "Design & Display Series: Color as an Effective Design Tool." 2–3 p.m., AmericasMart 1, 19-A-3. Speaker: Steve Cameron. Program presents easy and effective ways to highlight products using color. Presentation highlights ways to quickly change displays for maximum impact.

Saturday, July 14

• "Design & Display Series: Floral Designs for Today's Interior Decor." 9–10 a.m., AmericasMart 1, 19-B-7. Speaker: Toomie Farris. Learn how to couple the latest in florals with the latest in interior design. Presentation offers tips for cost-effective, vibrant displays. $10 registration fee includes continental breakfast.
• "It's Our Philosophy: The Art of Visual Merchandising Seminar." 10 a.m.–3 p.m., AmericasMart 3 8-W-362. Speaker: Jayne Meyer. Discover techniques to recharge creativity and improve sales, including a workshop on cost-effective, easy-to-implement display techniques. Seminar repeats July 15.
• "Signs That Sell." 11 a.m.–noon, AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Brian Dyches. Program goes through the basics of effective signage and how to test product lines via layout.
• "Providing Outstanding Customer Service." 1–2 p.m., AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Patricia Norins. Discover the customer service secrets of Disney, Nordstrom's, Southwest Airlines, Marriott, and many others.
• "Design & Display Series: Creating Drama in the Marketplace." 3–4 p.m., AmericasMart 1, 16-C-15. Speaker: Neal Warren. Learn the basics of creating dramatic product presentations.

Sunday, July 15

• "Design & Display Series: Christmas Cheer." 9–10 a.m., AmericasMart 1, 19-B-7. Speaker: Toomie Farris. Ensure a profitable holiday season with innovative design techniques. $10 registration fee includes continental breakfast.
• "Increasing Sales Through Visual Tactics." 2–3 p.m. AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Brian Dyches. Increase sales through creative merchandising.
• "Design & Display Series: How to Sell and Display Christmas Year-Round." 2–3 p.m. AmericasMart 1, 16-A-7. Speaker: Representative from Midwest of Cannon Falls.
• Program discusses elements of display and design that keep Christmas in mind.
• "13 Surefire Ideas to Increase Sales." 11 a.m.–noon, AmericasMart 3, floor 3, Conference Center. Speaker: Patricia Norins. Seminar discusses successful in-store promotions and special events.

SHOW INFO

Hours: July 11–13, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; July 14–15, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (select showrooms open at 8 a.m.); July 16–20, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.;

Temporaries, July 14–17, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; July 18, 9 a.m.–noon

Address: 240 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta 30303

Call: (800) ATL-MART

www.americasmart.com