TRADE SHOW NEWS

Physical and Digital Updates Drive Optimism for Winter 2021 Atlanta Market

Atlanta Market opens International Market Centers’ (IMC) 2021 market year with a renewed optimism powered by expansive product resources, market center physical updates and new digital tools set to optimize the market experience for buyers and sellers. The Winter 2021 Atlanta Market is January 12-19, 2021 with temporaries January 13-17, at AmericasMart Atlanta

“2020 had many challenges, but we are energized as we look toward 2021,” said IMC CEO Bob Maricich. “We are starting the year off strong in Atlanta with the products, tools and experiences that will help buyers and sellers get back to business.”

Atlanta NEXT Continues

IMC enters the next phase of its transformation of the AmericasMart campus in January 2021. Buyers will find additional remerchandising of the 1,000plus showrooms throughout Buildings 1 and 2 that further hones product categories plus physical updates to the campus. “Refinements to the overall buying experience in Atlanta are on track, even with delays caused by the COVID-19 crisis,” added Scott Eckman, IMC chief revenue officer. “We have made significant progress on the project and are excited to be one step closer to completion.”

New Digital Platforms and Tools

Winter 2021 marks the launch of new, integrated digital tools for Atlanta Market. A new dedicated Atlanta Market website is set to launch before the Winter market with enhanced planning tools. It will feature a highly improved brand and product search that is integrated with IMC’s interim B2B ecommerce tool, ShopZio. At market, the AmericasMart App will continue to offer exhibitor directory access as well as wayfinding and market planning tools.

In addition to the new website, Atlanta Market will continue to utilize the digital tools it launched this summer. The Atlanta Remote page is a hub for information about the market with links to webinars and planning tools including the Atlanta Market Magazine, Catalog Connexion database of searchable catalogs, the Market Snapshot product showcase and the Portman + Peachtree blog.

Atlanta Market’s signature educational programming is presented virtually for Winter 2021. Webinars on a range of topics including trends, business education, market preparation and the current retail and design climate will be presented before the market. At-market, attendees can expect activations like share-worthy installations, entertainment and other market moments.

For the Winter 2021, Atlanta Market showrooms are open Tuesday, January 12 – Tuesday, January 19, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and temporaries are open Wednesday, January 13 – Sunday, January 17, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Market-goers can book flights, reserve hotel rooms and parking at AmericasMart.com/travel.

The Winter 2021 Atlanta Market will follow IMC’s Together Safely protocols. Before market, buyers must register online for one of two buying sessions at AmericasMart. com/Registration. On-campus safety procedures include the required use of PPE, temporal checks, capacity limits and social distancing measures. ❖

Atlanta Market Adapts Winter 2021 Temporary Presentation

Atlanta Market announced recently updates to its temporary trade show presentation for the Winter 2021 market. The relocations of 15 product categories create new synergies and dynamic new merchandise groupings as International Market Centers (IMC) refines the market experience in Atlanta. Additionally, the moves allow IMC to continue to implement its Together Safely protocols related to social distancing and traffic management.

“The realignment of the Atlanta Market temporaries this winter reflects how modern retailers are buying in 2021: across category and with safety in mind,” said Scott Eckman, IMC chief revenue officer. “As we reinstate the temporary exhibits at Atlanta Market, we are taking this opportunity to fine tune the categories and collection locations to safely maximize the product discovery and exploration for retailers.”

In January 2021, Atlanta Market presents the industry’s largest collection of gift and home décor temporary exhibits. Thousands of exhibitors are showcased in 31 categories on eight floors across AmericasMart’s three buildings.

IMC will present the temporary exhibits in line with its Together Safely protocols that outline procedures for safer markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the trade show floor, safety measures including wider, 12-foot aisles and capacity limits for all booths will allow for traffic management and social distancing.

For Winter 2021, Atlanta Market’s 1,000-plus temporaries are presented Wednesday, January 13 – Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, January 17, 2021 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Pre-registration, which is required for the Winter 2021 market, can be completed at AmericasMart.com/attend/registration. ❖