Dutch American Import Company Is Acquired by Wayne Carver

A Message from Dutch American’s Jake Schep

Hello friends,

With 2021 here, we have news that we are excited to share with you! Dutch American Import Company (DAI) is pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement with Wayne Carver, a leader in the personalized gift and souvenir business in our industry.

Strategically, the acquisition of DAI by Wayne Carver makes great sense, especially since both are family-owned businesses and share many of the same philosophies around great customer service and quality products. Wayne Carver’s owner, Warren Slabaugh, operates his business with his children, wife, and long-term dedicated employees. We connected on similar values and the level of commitment and pride in the industry that are often advantages of family firms.

With over 60 years in this industry, Gerda, Marshall, and I have been honored to be involved in the business started by my parents in 1958. We consider many of our DAI customers close friends, and we’ll truly miss you, but feel confident that you’ll be well taken care of by the team at Wayne Carver.

In the coming months, you’ll be hearing either from your sales rep or a new contact to help with any questions you might have around the transition. It is our hope that you won’t even notice the merger from a service standpoint, and that in the long term, you’ll see even more value with exposure to additional products and services.

Lastly, I will still be available assisting the company with the transition. If you need my help, feel free to contact me. Thank you for the trust you have placed with DAI and our team over the years. We’d all love to continue to hear from you – you can always reach us through our personal emails. Cheers to a new and better year!

All my best,

Jake Schep

Atlanta Market Has Named Five People’s Choice Winners

Atlanta Market has named five People’s Choice winners in its Winter 2021 Market Snapshot. Showroom winners were: Costa Nova’s Livia stoneware collection; Glo Pals’ Light Up Cubes; Hillhouse Naturals’ Eucalyptus collection; and Wildwood Home’s Mignon Sconce. The People’s Choice winner from the Gift and Home temporaries is Moonglow’s Charmed Simplicity Necklace. Winners were on display in January at AmericasMart Atlanta.

“The Winter 2021 Market Snapshot winners represent the best of Atlanta Market: distinct lifestyle products, trend-driven home décor, contemporary tabletop, fashion-forward accessories and unique gifts,” said Dorothy Belshaw, International Market Centers (IMC) chief customer and marketing officer, in a press release. “As these and all the Market Snapshot finalists show, the depth and breadth of the lifestyle and home décor offerings in Atlanta are unmatched this winter.”

Market Snapshot showcases products from across Atlanta Market’s home décor and gift collections on social media, in buyer communications and on the market website. The Winter 2021 finalists also included: 2 Saints Inc.; 3 Kids Kompany; Abigails; Achla Designs; Bassett Mirror Company; Beatriz Ball; Bodrum Linens; Celadon Art; Christopher Radko; Color Box Design & Letterpress; Cooper’s Small Batch; Country Home Creations; Creative Co-op; Dune Jewelry; Finchberry; Fortessa; Gabby; Georgetown Home & Garden; Global Views; Grainwell; Headbands of Hope; Hillhouse Naturals; Lili Alessandra; Matouk; Mixologie;

Mud Pie; Napa Home & Garden; Nora Fleming; Santa Barbara Design Studio; Scheurich USA; Seasons Jewelry; Sullivans; Tovolo; Uttermost; Vietri; and Whiskey River Soap Co.

IMC Launches Market Insights

Monthly Webinar Series

International Market Centers (IMC) has expanded its business education programming with a new free monthly webinar series that launched in January. “Market Insights” presents timely, actionable and exclusive content to IMC’s market universe and beyond as an extension of the programming it presents in connection with the Atlanta Market, IMC High Point Market, and Las Vegas Market.

“Market Insights confirms IMC thought-leadership in business education for the home, gift, and furniture industry by expanding our presence throughout the year,” explained Dorothy Belshaw, chief customer and marketing officer, in a press release. “As sourcing shifts to a physical/digital hybrid throughout the year, so does our programming. Postpandemic, we will return to immersive in-person events, complemented by robust virtual offerings.”

Presented as high-level conversations about issues that are impacting businesses now, the Market Insights webinars allow buyers to prepare throughout the year, maximizing their time for product discovery at market and supporting their year-round sourcing. Additionally, relevant webinars will offer CEU credits to maintain certifications from design societies and professional organizations.

Planned for Market Insights was a live presentation of the PANTONE 2021 Color of the Year by Laurie Pressman, vice president of the

PANTONE Color Institute. Scheduled were insights into the Color of the Year and how it relates to home furnishings, décor, gift, apparel, lifestyle and all aspects of living.

Other confirmed Market Insights sessions for the first quarter of 2021 included Rebecca West, author of Happy Starts at Home, sharing products for making home a sanctuary on February 17, and a photography webinar with photographer and design consultant Linda Holt on March 10. Registration for the webinars will be available on the markets’ websites in the weeks prior to each session.

“During the pandemic and while markets were disrupted, we offered relevant webinars to help designers and retailers get back to business,” said Belshaw. “Our audience confirmed the efficacy of those sessions and have indicated that they want to continue to tap IMC’s thought leadership as they work through recovery.”

IMC Announces Changes to Brand Marketing Team to Support Physical, Digital Marketplaces

International Market Centers (IMC) has announced changes to its brand marketing team. Sarah Mount has been promoted to a new digital marketing leadership role within IMC’s Digital Innovations division, IMC_di; and Renee Loper-Boyd expands her marketing leadership role to encompass IMC’s physical gift and home furnishings markets in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and High Point. Mount and Loper-Boyd will report to Karen Olson, senior vice president of marketing and strategy.

Following the recent launch of IMC_di’s Juniper suite of digital solutions, Mount has been promoted Continued on page 20 to vice president of digital marketing. LoperBoyd, who has been the vice president of marketing for IMC’s gift and home markets in High Point and Las Vegas since 2015, has been promoted and assumes additional responsibilities for the company’s gift and home markets in Atlanta and Open Year Round activities at AmericasMart Atlanta.

Additionally, Eleanor Hunt is being promoted to director of marketing, and Sarah Ziegler to marketing manager for the Atlanta gift and home brand team. And Julia Roach will be promoted to senior marketing manager and will oversee all categories – gift, home décor, and furniture – for Las