Buying Groups and Associations Gather in Atlanta for July 2019 Market

Furniture World News Desk on 6/28/2019

Fourteen buying groups and professional organizations will have a presence at The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market®, July 9-15, 2019. Highlights include the first-ever summer market meeting of True Value Home & Garden Showplace retailers and the 10th anniversary of the GC Buying Group's Summer School in Atlanta.

“We are proud to host a broad range of professional organizations at the Atlanta market this summer,” said Dorothy Belshaw, executive vice president, chief marketing and digital officer for International Market Centers (IMC). “Our Buyer Services team has worked diligently to develop a market experience that will help these important groups connect with the products and resources they need to be successful. We look forward to welcoming them to Atlanta.”

The summer market meeting of True Value Home & Garden Showplace retailers features buyers for the independently owned Home & Garden Showplace stores who supplement True Value lawn and garden, seasonal and outdoor living products with personally selected gift, lifestyle and décor merchandise. Some 50 retailers from both the garden center and hardware sides of the business plan to attend the market.

“The Home & Garden Showplace Team from True Value Company is excited to attend and support the July show for the first time this year. We have attended the January market for more than ten years and recognize that we have the opportunity to meet with our retailers outside of our normal cycle by making the trip in the summer,” said Jennifer Zerwer, business manager of Home & Garden Showplace for True Value Company. “They appreciate the market’s hospitality and additional product offerings available from supporting vendors.”

Some 65 independent housewares retailers will learn about new products, sales techniques and industry trends at GC Buying Group's Summer School. They also will hear from ten vendors including assembly presenters HARIO, Louisville Stoneware, Nutribullet, Panorama Knife and Vain Foods and hands-on classroom presenters The Cookware Company, Frieling HIC, JURA and Scanpan. GC Buying Group also hosts its Annual Party in the Kitchen in the Fiesta Dinnerware Demonstration Kitchen.

Additionally, The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Georgia Chapter presents its Commercial Design workspace in Building 1, as a place for members to gather, network and work on projects while they are at market. Monograms America hosts its Gala party and Vendor Forum. The Museum Store Association, whose members are both buying at the market and exhibiting in The Museum Collective in Building 3, hosts its board meeting. Palmer Marketing hosts its Vendor Forum. The Presenter Network and Southwest Buying Group host member breakfasts.

Members of the Association for Health Care Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP), Association of Golf Merchandisers, ECGC Distributors, Hospital Gift Shops, North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) and Purchasing Power Plus will also attend the market.

About The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market: The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market is a leading wholesale marketplace housing the nation’s largest gift product mix complemented by a broad selection of home décor, featuring more than 8,000 brands across all categories. Held semi-annually at AmericasMart Atlanta, the Market attracts retailers and designers from every U.S. state and more than 60 countries. The summer 2019 market is July 9-15, 2019. For more information, visit AmericasMart.com.

About International Market Centers, L.P.: International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC) is the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. International Market Centers owns and operates nearly 20 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. For more information, visit http://imcenters.com/