Off to Atlanta

In a few hours we will be off to the Atlanta to participate in the Atlanta Home and Furnishings market at the America’s Mart in downtown Atlanta. I look forward to this show every year. While I am sure that some manufactures and vendors dread this shows because it is generally the biggest show and it is usually the first show of the trade show season, I find it inspiring. You get to see familiar faces, see what other vendors are doing, look at the trends, but most of all I love getting the chance to meet and see many of our customers. I like getting the chance to hear how now until January has been. I also like getting to introduce new products to them that I know they will love.

Many out there are talking about whether shows are still a viable and profitable way to sell in the giftware industry, and while I do see their point, I have to offer this in disagreement. In an age where e-news, facebook , twitter and other social networking dominate our lives and encourage us to shop in certain ways, it is still very satisfying to have face to face communication. It is still a much more enjoyable experience to walk in and out of booths, touch and feel the merchandise and then really talk to the sales people. For many smaller companies you are probably meeting the owner or artist. If you are meeting a sales rep, they can offer you endless advice for what is happening in your area. The most important thing is that you get to experience what your customers will experience when they walk in the store. They will touch the things that you touched and be wowed by the things that wowed you… Okay... Okay I can hear you all groaning… enough with the romance of the show! Sorry, I am just excited and looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces in a few days!

In Atlanta we are in 2 different places:
Galway Showroom: Building 2 Showroom: 1709
Temp Booth: Building 3 Floor 2 Booth 800


Whether you go to shows or not I hope that I get to talk to you in person or via technology!

Sophie