Reconnecting with Markets: Looking forward to January in Atlanta

{Sponsored} In July 2021, buyers, makers and showrooms came together to experience the energy and enthusiasm of meeting in person at Atlanta Market at AmericasMart. After many buyers missed out on January Market due to the COVID-19 pandemic — if not also the 2020 Summer Atlanta Market — it was an even more precious week of seeing their favorite vendors and finding new ones. 

The owners of two very different shops shared what they found in July and what they’re looking for at January Market after some time away from shopping shows. 

2 Pink Magnolias is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Jennifer and Becky Stiver. They’re a Hallmark Gold Crown store in Newton, N.C., and besides the items associated with that partnership, they find almost everything else at Atlanta Market. 

LouLou Belle is a smaller shop co-owned by Lisa Komorowski & Dodi Wians and located in the downtown area of Homewood, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. The general gift shop combines the love of vintage and bohemian handcrafted goods with Fair-Trade finds. 

July Atlanta Market finds 

This year, both duos were back in the saddle searching for new finds and visiting existing partners at July Atlanta Market. 

During the past year or so, both shops saw an upward trend in customers’ requests for home-based goods such as décor, candles and personal gifts such as jewelry and accessories. Komorowski picked up several new stationery and gift card lines from the Daniel Richards showroom. She snagged the letterpress designs of Maginating, which are full of cute characters and personified objects and animals. She ordered cards from J Falkner; the line has bold colors including some neons and simple art with gold foil stamps. Girl w/ Knife’s sassy creations with lots of baby pink to soften the edgy designs also caught Komorowski’s eye.

The Stivers found success with some favorite lines and a couple of new ones. They always shop for accessories at Brighton — embossed leather handbags, bold silver jewelry — and Spartina 449, which offers florals, bright colors and beachy vibes in their accessories. SCOUT Bags, in Appelman Schauben, is a perennial favorite of theirs as well; the oversized and super-functional bags in new patterns were a must-buy for the duo. 

A newer segment at 2 Pink Magnolias that has sold very well is gourmet foods. They were able to pick up favorites and some new items to stock. Raven’s Nest Specialties’ small-batch jams, salsas and much more will be gracing their shelves as well as a new line from Just Got 2 Have It!, Good Times frozen cocktail mixes. The private-label line is one the Stivers just launched with flavor names that bring their family and town to life within the shop. 

What they’re seeking at January Market 

Both duos plan to write their Holiday 2022 orders at January Market. Coming off the rush of the holiday season is the perfect time to make those plans, according to Komorowski and the Stivers.

2 Pink Magnolias will be seeking themed items for their peppermint (red and white) 2022 season, with some vintage touches. They also can’t wait to see new designs from Spartina, Vera Bradley, Brighton and Evergreen. “Everything we need is in Atlanta. When we talk to others who have gone to other shows, the feedback  we get is that Atlanta Market has the best selection,” Jennifer Stiver said. 

Besides the holiday order, LouLou Belle will look for Father’s and Mother’s Day finds and black pieces for Halloween; rather than looking for ghosts or spiders, Komorowski tries to find items that can blend in with the rest of the products in the shop after the holiday passes in order to save on space in her small shop. They’re hoping to increase Christmas ornament sales by 10% in 2022, so they’ll search for new lines that can complement what they already carry. 

Merchandising inspiration abounds at January Market, with both duos excited to see how each line they frequent is showing off their favorite products. “You can’t go to a better place to find examples for merchandising, decorating, color combinations; that is worth the visit,” Becky Stiver said.

Komorowski was inspired for her never-ending task of redesigning LouLou Belle’s merchandising by Creative Co-Op and Sugarboo in July, but the showrooms full of holiday items are a bigger draw: it’s easy to see how to set up your store for success when you can feast your eyes upon how the rep groups combine lines and the makers themselves arrange their collections. 

Join us for Atlanta Market in January!

Showrooms: Jan. 11 – 18, 2022 

Temporaries: Jan. 12 – 16, 2022 

To learn more about Atlanta Market and to register, visit AtlantaMarket.com. 

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