FEATURED CONTENT
Primed for Exploration:
Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market Flourish Post Pandemic
by Chelsea Peabody Bohannon Confidence and excitement for new opportunities are guiding the gift industry as it kicks off the 2023 retail year at markets across the nation. Atlanta Market, presented in mid-January at AmericasMart Atlanta, was bustling with buyers from all 50 states and nearly 60 countries. Las Vegas Market, staged the last week of January at World Market Center Las Vegas, continued the trend. The consensus from buyers and sellers is the feeling of a return to a “normal” market season this Winter with new product introductions, brand debuts and packed event calendars. Even crowded aisles and elevators were a welcomed sight as indicators of an industry once again gathering to fuel the small business economy. For the many attendees returning to markets this Winter for the first time since before the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was business as usual. Those who have ventured out before have witnessed the resilience of the industry. The reimagined events and new tools introduced to support buying and selling have laid the groundwork for the strong markets of 2023. Coming Together Safely The successful Winter 2023 Markets continue International Market Centers’ (IMC) post-pandemic recovery trajectory. While trade show events were disrupted during COVID-19-related shutdowns, IMC’s hybrid Markets – with permanent showrooms and trade show exhibits – were able to continue (IMC resumed hosting Markets in June of 2020). Precautions and protocols enabled customers to convene and conduct commerce during the pandemic. The Markets filled an important role for cross-category buyers during industry disruption, allowing retailers to continue to source when their traditional shows were unavailable. Jumpstarting 2023 Buying and Selling Some three years after the last “normal” market cycle, the Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market buying events are thriving. Brand resources are back to pre-pandemic levels with steady growth in new exhibitors, offering opportunities for toy and children’s retailers to explore complementary gift and lifestyle products. Inspirational displays showcased trendsetting merchandise for retailers looking to discover the next must-have brand. Buyers were able to see, smell, hear, and taste new products as they learned brand stories from makers, founders and representatives. In Atlanta, buyers explored new gift introductions in permanent showrooms on 19 floors in three AmericasMart buildings. In addition to general gift brands found throughout the showroom collection, dedicated neighborhoods offered easy sourcing of kids and toys, gourmet and tabletop, outdoor living, and seasonal/ holiday merchandise. Atlanta Market’s 1,100+ temporary exhibitors – staged like a traditional trade show – presented children’s and toy, artisan products, apparel, gourmet, jewelry, outdoor living, stationery, spa products, tabletop, and more. 42 tfe February 2023