AmericasMart To Feature Thought Leaders At January Show

Furniture World News Desk on 12/23/2015

AmericasMart® Atlanta announced it will present an engaging and inspirational program of design, retail, media and culinary thought leaders and tastemakers at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market® (Showrooms: January 12-19, Temporaries: January 14-18) and The Atlanta International Area Rug Market® featuring the National Oriental Rug Show (Wednesday, January 13 – Saturday, January 16).

Style arbiters appearing at the Market include “Southern Style Now” author Robert Leleux, celebrity wedding and style expert Anya Sarre, PANTONE® Color Institute Vice President Laurie Pressman, global trend ambassador Patti Carpenter, and a litany of designers and influential retailers including Eddie Ross, Jaithan Kochar, Gerrie Bremermann, Michelle Nussbaumer, Shaun Smith, Beth Webb, Brian Patrick Flynn, Barclay Butera, Young Huh, Krista Nye Schwartz, Tami Ramsay, Kristin Alber, Karin Bennett, Amy Wheeler and Marty T. Garrison. Super Design Campus Live also returns to AmericasMart with an expanded three-day summit featuring educational presentations, networking events and guided showroom tours.

Media influencers including “Property Virgins and “Flipping Virgins” host Egypt Sherrod, “Good Morning America” Gift Expert Tory Johnson, Executive Editor of “Luxe Interiors + Design” Arlyn Hernandez, Editor in Chief of “Home Accents Today” Jenny Heinzen York, Susanna Salk and Stacey Bewkes of the “At Home With” video series, and Becky Tyre of the “Retail Details” blog also share their expertise at the Market.

Atlanta’s renowned culinary scene is celebrated with the AmericasMart Loves Local series in the Riedel Gourmet Demonstration Kitchen throughout the Market. Influential culinary trendsetters including celebrity chef, cookbook author and television personality Richard Blais and celebrity Chef Marvin Woods of Asante stop by the kitchen to showcase some of the dishes that have made Atlanta a foodie destination. Buyers also enjoy mixology classes lead by the bartenders at Atlanta’s newest hot spot, JP Atlanta.

Leading rug trade association ORRA presents two educational events for its members and guests on Thursday, January 14. The organization’s plans for the future are discussed in “New Era Beginning for ORRA, Rug Education Association, Members” followed by a discussion of member rug designs in “Knot to be Missed”

The Education Center, AmericasMart’s celebrated business educational programming, presents a series of mini workshops throughout the Market. The 15 to 30 minute informational sessions include “Using Social Media for Success” presented by Linley + Lauren of the LP2 Boutique Agency; “What Retailers Need to Know Now” presented by EVP of Strategy and Analytics for Target Data Scott Bailey and retail expert Mercedes Gonzalez; and “Technology Tips & Tricks” presented by Brian Ewing and Tara Ronel of SnapRetail.

AmericasMart celebrates the home, gift and rug industries through a series of at-Market events including Party on Peachtree on Thursday, January 14 and America’s Magnificent Carpets® Awards and the January 2016 Market’s signature event – the Colors of The Year Launch Party – set for Friday, January 15.

New buyers get tips on navigating the AmericasMart campus, finding specific product and exhibitors, and more at a series of New Buyer Breakfasts Thursday, January 14 through Saturday, January 16.

The Market center also hosts the PANTONE® Design Exhibition throughout the Market and the Museum of Introductions, the rug and home industry’s exclusive showing of new product introductions in a sophisticated museum setting, January 13 through16.

A full list of Market programming can be found at www.AmericasMart.com/January.