Customized Options Abound at Atlanta Market
Find unique name drop items for your store
(Sponsored) Dani Harmadi and Brianne Martin are sisters, best friends and co-owners of Freshwater Curated Goods in Augusta, Georgia, a business they started together in 2016. In 2020 they launched their wholesale program, reaching a whole new audience within the sprawling campus of Atlanta Market.
Freshwater Curated Goods is a small-batch manufacturer of handcrafted leather goods and acrylic accessories, specializing in custom-branded products. Their thoughtful custom designs appeal to locals and travelers alike in gift shops across the U.S. and provide corporate clients and small businesses with standout branded merchandise.
“The great benefit of customizing our goods is having a unique product that no one else will have,” Harmadi said. “You get to take a great handcrafted product and make it your own, fitting it into your brand’s aesthetic. Your current customers already love your brand and what it stands for, so adding goods that keep a cohesive vibe going is an asset. This will drive sales to your store and keep your customers looking to you for unique gift options they won’t be able to find elsewhere.”
Harmadi and Martin attend Atlanta Market to take advantage of the physical representation of each brand. Being able to see, feel and smell products in person can be a game changer. Plus, meeting new people and connecting with customers creates a strong, lasting relationship.
“We find that when meeting our customers in person, we create stronger and longer-lasting relationships and we create some really awesome products together because they see the scope of what they can create with us,” Harmadi said. “We’re able to talk through our process and they have a stronger sense of who we are and what we offer.”
Their favorite part about Atlanta Market? The inspiration they feel year after year.
“We look forward to attending Atlanta Market because it never ceases to fuel us, propel us and challenge us to keep improving and expanding. We always have a huge surge of creativity while at market just by talking with other vendors and getting feedback from buyers. It’s the instant gratification of figuring out what you’re doing right and how we can improve for our customers next time,” Harmadi said.
Nate Barr, owner and designer of Zootility Co. in Portland, Maine, also showcases his wares at Atlanta Market. Over the past 12 years, Zootility’s collections have expanded to include multi-tools, buildable toys, wood stickers, wallets and custom merchandise – all made with precision laser cutters in their workshop.
Zootility’s top-selling products consist of TekPets – buildable wooden models – colorable die-cut stickers and minimalist, leather RFID-blocking wallets. With Zootility’s just-in-time manufacturing process, all products can be customized with name drops or designs tailored to specific stores or regions.
“Custom merchandise is an excellent way to drive impulse purchases and boost sales in retail stores,” Barr said. “Customers are drawn to unique items that they can’t find elsewhere, which not only encourages purchases but also leads to word-of-mouth referrals when friends inquire about where they got the item – offering a double benefit for stores.”
Barr also notes that adding customized merchandise supports made-in-the-USA products and “enables unique customizations that are best achieved by working directly with makers at trade shows like Atlanta Market.”
Barr loves attending Atlanta Market because of its location, which makes travel and convenience easy.
“My favorite aspect of Atlanta Market is the location. Whether you prefer staying downtown and walking to the market or choosing a cost-effective home rental east of downtown with access to the Atlanta Beltline’s vibrant restaurant scene, the convenience is unmatched,” Barr said. “Additionally, travel to the market is easy – MARTA offers direct access from the airport to the market building and ride-sharing services are more affordable here than in other regions.”
As a leading event in the home and gift industry, Atlanta Market stands out for its extensive selection and vendor variety, as highlighted by Barr.
“Atlanta Market offers the largest selection of products among major home & gift shows. Although the space is vast, once you focus on specific categories, the sections in the temporary exhibits become more manageable. In particular, Building 2 can be navigated efficiently with pre-booked appointments in key showrooms. For us, Atlanta Market is the largest show by total order value, number of orders and buyer diversity – its scale drives an unmatched variety of vendors,” Barr said.
Whether you’re looking to discover the latest trends, build valuable connections, or source unique products like these to set your business apart, you simply can’t afford to miss Atlanta Market.
Atlanta Market
January 14 – 20, 2025
Learn more and register at AtlantaMarket.com.
Learn more about Freshwater Curated Goods at www.shopfreshwater.com
Learn more about Zootility Co. at www.zootility.com
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