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| International Home Furnishings and Accessories Trade Fair Exclusive product introductions fueled steady order-writing activity among major retailers and independents, among them a large number of furniture and home furnishings stores and interior designers. New programs and services introduced in the July 2008 edition of the Atlanta International Area Rug Market mark the path to January 2009, when new Market timing, new alignment with home furnishings and furniture and the brand-new Building Two West Wing will take the market and the area rug industry to a new level of energy and opportunity. While the effects of the economy and general housing downturn were clearly evidenced in July, most major retailers were here to do business in the Market, where the area rug business does its business. Exclusive product introductions fueled steady order-writing activity among major retailers and independents, among them a large number of furniture and home furnishings stores and interior designers. Area rug industry events and services designed to enhance the Market experience—including the annual Retailer of the Year Awards in the Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom—additionally enlivened July. New to the Market lineup was A Taste of Global Design, with fine cuisine from Atlanta's top restaurants served on all Area Rug floors, daily, to the delights of designers and home furnishings retailers in search of the best in area rug fashions. "AmericasMart's efforts to promote area rugs to the home furnishings retailers truly paid off and had a positive impact on our business and success at Market, " says Jeff DeSantis, founder and owner of Amici Imports, which opened new accounts and enjoyed large orders from the Taste of Global Design events. "We were introduced to a home furnishings company that needed an area rug component - which we offer - and we were able to build a partnership immediately. The concept of cross-merchandising is a smart direction and we look forward to AmericasMart's continued efforts on this front." "We have a strong area rug family here at AmericasMart, and we are committed to our exhibitors and buyers, " says Chas Sydney, senior vice president of Area Rugs. "We want to thank our exhibitors for participating and introducing new product during the July Market, and especially want to thank our retailers who attended. We appreciate their business and look forward to the success of combining the area rug Market with the home furnishings and gift Market in January 2009, further promoting cross-merchandising." With the debut of Building Two West Wing in January 2009, and the Atlanta International Area Rug Market held in conjunction with the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, AmericasMart will welcome several new and newly renovated showrooms, and unveil special events that will continue to showcase the area rug product center and promote cross-merchandising with home furnishings. The January 2009 Atlanta International Area Rug Market will take place Wednesday, January 7 through Monday, January 12. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Exhibition News :: home page |