While colors change with the seasons, furniture retailers, interior designers, and interior decorators follow another important calendar centered around three major events that shape the industry as a whole. These major markets, held in Atlanta, High Point, and Las Vegas, bring fresh styles and purchasing opportunities to those in the business. Each show has a different look, feel and presentation that caters to different kinds of furniture, and different kinds of buyers.
AmericasMart Atlanta
Next Market: September 12-14th, 2009
AmericasMart Atlanta brings together three markets focused on furnishings, gifts, and apparel into a towering trio of buildings in the heart of downtown Atlanta. AmericasMart devotes a generous area in Building 1 for an expansive selection of area rugs. The biggest names in the industry and new players are on display, including Capel Rugs, Megerian Rugs, and Shaw. The upper levels host some of the largest names in the furniture industry, including Four Hands, Palecek, Englishman's, and Southern Accessories Today.
The city of Atlanta has a rich culture and an ethnic diversity that gives you a bevy of options for excellent food. Though the entertainment options can't compete with Las Vegas, family-friendly daytime attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola, and three Six Flags theme parks allow you to spend quality time with family and friends before or after your AmericasMart experience.
While major manufacturers are present at all three markets, AmericasMart is best known for its blend of gift and accessories manufacturers, who advocate that clients like Ethan Allen have seen a sizable increase of single ticket sales after a thorough inclusion of home accessories into their catalog. Retailers and designers who are interested in diversifying their offerings flock to Atlanta in order to get the most exposure to this segment of the market.
High Point Market, North Carolina
Next Market: October 17-22nd, 2009
While High Point, North Carolina isn't the first destination that comes to mind when thinking of travel destinations, the market held here serves as the center of the furniture industry. For 100 years, High Point has served as the capital of American furniture production, and naturally graduated the premiere market for American built furniture. Spread across four low-slung buildings, your time at High Point will be less dominated by crowded elevators and escalators than other market venues.
Each building in High Point features some of the biggest names including Lay-Z-Boy and Old Hickory Furniture Co. Buyers flock to High Point to see the latest in American made furniture, but don't think that this show only displays mid and high end manufacturers. Many promotional manufacturers and importers also maintain permanent showrooms in High Point, allowing you to get everything you need under one roof.
World Market Center, Las Vegas
Next Market: September 14-17th, 2009
World Market Center is a giant exhibition space, that offers over 5 million square feet of new showrooms and exhibits. Spread between three enormous buildings, the Las Vegas World Market Center connects buyers with more than 1,500 manufacturers and exhibitors each year, including prominent international furniture manufacturers like Natuzzi and Kluft.
While World Market Center may be considered a more international show, as major buyers and sellers from Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world often attend to make major business deals. This lends to a higher prominence in off-the-wall contemporary furnishings as well as cutting edge innovations that are yet to see a sales floor.
The amenities and attractions of Las Vegas are known world wide. Entertainment options range from indoor theme parks, to casinos, dance clubs, and nightly live entertainment. This is a great option for small furniture business owners to squeeze in a day or two of vacation while making meaningful business decisions.
While each of these major furniture shows have their own special characteristics, it's easy to see why some furniture professionals choose to attend all three to gain the widest assessment of what's new in the wold of home furnishings.
