Inside AmericasMart<\/a> in Atlanta, buyer traffic started out slow\u00c2\u00a0last week at the Atlanta Gift and Home Furnishings Market but gained speed as the weekend drew nearer and the temporary floors opened for business. <\/p>\n The long-awaited opening of Building 2 West Wing, especially the 9th and 10th floor gardens area with its two-story waterfalls focal point, drew attention. Comments repeated about expectations being met inside the building, which added 1.5 million square feet of space to shop.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We are excited to introduce a building like no other Market-oriented building in the world,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jeff Portman, AmericasMart president and chief operating officer. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Building 2 WestWing is thematically and artistically designed to not only enhance the exhibitors\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 product by creating a dynamic stage for their merchandise, but to also hopefully lift the spirits of retailers while increasing their creativity and imagination in a real-life, interactive environment.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Showrooms offering accessories and gifts stayed busier as a rule than those filled with bigger items including casual furniture and indoor\/outdoor rugs. Consistent smaller orders from established customers were more common than vendors adding new accounts.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our expectations were high because we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve all spent a lot of time and money,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Randy Meeks, Oxford Garden<\/a>. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think I am seeing that people are being a little more selective and choosy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Rebecca Price of Uwharrie Chair<\/a> also found that to be true. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A lot of our current accounts are coming back in, but people are cautious,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There is no impulse buying.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Joseph Cilio, president of Alfresco Home<\/a>, said he perceived customers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 mood as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153buying with a cautious optimism. They definitely know they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to put product on their floors, but we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not pressuring them to fill up their warehouses. We would rather they buy what they need.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n On the market\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fourth day, Barbara Simeon said she was happier than she expected to be for Jewels of Java<\/a>, which was among the casual furniture vendors who relocated their permanent showrooms to the 10th floor of the new building.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve written more orders at this show than I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve written at the last three markets here in the Mart,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Simeon said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153These challenging times bring out the real, serious qualified buyers and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m hoping it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a sign of more good things to come. It will be interesting to see what other winter markets will bring; the New York show will tell.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Exhibiting in Atlanta for the first time, Max Jensen said he was pleased with the reception to Jensen Leisure Furniture\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/a> eco-friendly ipe wood products. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve made a very wise long-term investment,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n Meadow D\u00c3\u00a9cor<\/a> CEO Lily Zhang and Wanda Technologies<\/a> Account Manager Michael Contreras also were upbeat about buyers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 response to their companies\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 first shared showroom, which displayed Wanda\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s umbrellas with Meadow D\u00c3\u00a9cor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s outdoor furniture. They also will share a booth at the Jan. 14-20 Dallas Market. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Personally, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m excited to be partnering up with a good company,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Contreras said.<\/p>\n At the Ceramica de Espana<\/a> booth, award-winning potter Alfonso Alcaide and his wife, artist Maria Soledad Dorado, demonstrated their talents by creating handmade\/ hand-painted pottery for five days during the market. The craftsmanship and colorful display caught buyers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 attention as they slowed to admire the artwork.<\/p>\n Designer Wicker and Rattan by Tribor<\/a> continued to attract designers and specialty retailers into its Building One showroom, but did not operate a secondary booth in the gardens area this year. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Weathered gray is a popular color; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the one we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re writing the most orders for in indoor wicker,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d President Trifu Boronka said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Accessories also are doing pretty well and we still have interest in full outdoor wicker.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The outdoor dining part of its South Hampton Collection was being shown in Atlanta for the first time. He reported good response to that and to its St. Thomas and Sailor outdoor collections. Customers still ask for fully outdoor wicker, then they see colors and weaves of the indoor lines and wonder whether they really need the products to be able to withstand full exposure. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now with the economic downturn, people are thinking more about their uses for the furniture,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Boronka said.<\/p>\n
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