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 o 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 rst time since before the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was business as usual. ose who have ventured out before have witnessed the resilience of the industry. e reimagined events and new tools introduced to support buying and selling have laid the groundwork for the strong markets of 2023.

Coming Together Safely

e 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. e Markets lled 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 a er 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, o ering opportunities for toy and children’s retailers to explore complementary gi 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 gi introductions in permanent showrooms on 19 oors in three AmericasMart buildings. In addition to general gi brands found throughout the showroom collection, dedicated neighborhoods o ered 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.

Las Vegas Market o ered unmatched cross-category sourcing. e permanent gi showroom collection – presenting toys and games, baby and children’s, books, fashion accessories, garden gi , general gi , gourmet foods, housewares, personal care, pet, seasonal, souvenirs, stationery and paper goods, tabletop, and more – was augmented by 350+ brands over six categories in the Gi & Home Temporaries housed in the connected Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas.

Beyond product discovery, buyers were at market for the experiences. Standing-room-only educational seminars provided practical business-building information and opportunities to hear from tastemakers and thought leaders. Trends came to life through IMC’s proprietary trend forecasting program, FIRST LOOK, that showcased must-have merchandise available for order at the Markets. Industry parties hosted by the Markets and exhibitors – complete with signature cocktails and entertainment – allowed retailers to network and celebrate being together again.

A sign of major recovery, industry associations and buying groups were keen to get back to Market for the Winter 2023 buying season. Leaders like American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), e Good Toy Group (TGTG), Fair Trade Federation, Museum Store Association and Zoo, Aquarium & Garden Buyers Group (ZAG) and many more hosted member-only meetings, vendor forums, and private gatherings for groups.

More Discovery Opportunities in 2023

As one market seasons wraps, the teams at Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market are already looking to the next staging in Summer 2023 and beyond to Winter 2024.

e Summer 2023 Markets - July 11-17, 2023 in Atlanta and July 30 – August 3, 2023 in Las Vegas – are the ultimate destinations to prepare for the fourth quarter holiday shopping season. e summer timeframe allows for placing orders for the special items that will complement retailers’ must-have toy o erings to grow sales. Discovery opportunities will continue to increase with even more new brands set to join the marketplaces. Packed programming schedules will prepare retailers with the business education they need as they prepare for the most important selling season of the year.

In the digital realm, IMC is reimaging the trade show app with a new tool to encourage sourcing all year long. Guided by feedback from buyers and launching this summer, the @Market app allows retailers and designers to discover new brands, capture and catalog product information and interact with sellers.

Looking forward, the Winter 2024 Atlanta Market is January 16 – 22, 2024 and Winter 2024 Las Vegas Market is January 28 –February 1, 2024. Like the 2023 season, these markets are set to kickstart the next year’s selling. e early rst-quarter-staging is an opportunity for retailers to start the year o refreshed with new ideas as they use fourth-quarter pro ts to invest for the coming year.

Atlanta Market is a dynamic and immersive wholesale sourcing destination housing the nation’s largest product mix for gi complemented by a broad selection of home décor, furnishings and apparel and home to the nation’s largest outdoor living presentation. It features three buildings with 51 oors and thousands of brands that attracts retailers and designers from every U.S. state and more than 60 countries. e Summer 2023 Atlanta Market is July 11-17, 2023 and the Winter 2024 Atlanta Market is January 16 – 22, 2024 at AmericasMart Atlanta. For information, visit AtlantaMarket.com.

Las Vegas Market is the leading home furnishings and gi market in the western U.S., presenting thousands of furniture, home décor and gi resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market’s diverse product o erings allow for cross-category commerce among these industries. e Summer 2023 Las Vegas Market is July 30 – August 3, 2023 and the Winter 2024 Las Vegas Market is January 28 – February 1, 2024 at World Market Center Las Vegas. For information, visit LasVegasMarket.com.

International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gi , home decor and apparel industries. IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. Our premium showroom spaces spanning more than 20 million square feet in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, paired with our digital tools connect the wholesale industries we serve. For information, visit IMCenters.com.