Nov 1, 2023

ANDMORE’s Bob Maricich named ‘Industry Icon’

Bob Maricich, chairman and CEO of ANDMORE, received the Industry Icon Award from Trade Show News Network (TSNN) at its 2023 TSNN Awards at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“I am honored to be the 2023 TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree,” Maricich said. “When ANDMORE was founded, my intention was to create an exceptional company of enduring value. Through periods of growth and innovation as well as disruption, we have upheld that promise. ANDMORE is proud to provide opportunities for buyers and sellers to connect, grow and prosper through physical markets, design centers and digital channels like no one else in the industry. I accept this honor on behalf of the whole ANDMORE team and our unwavering commitment to putting our customers first.”

The annual award recognizes leaders who have made a major impact on the trade show industry.

“Every year we choose someone who exemplifies true leadership, and for the 2023 TSNN Awards, we were thrilled to honor Bob Maricich as the Industry Icon Award winner,” said Rachel Wimberly, president of TSNN. “Bob was celebrated at the gala awards dinner Oct. 28 in front of more than 140 trade show professionals in Puerto Rico.”

Maricich was celebrated for his leadership of ANDMORE since its founding in 2011 as International Market Centers. Under his leadership, the impact and influence of ANDMORE has flourished, now serving more than 350,000 global wholesale buyers through its physical markets, design centers and digital channels. More than 2,200 exhibitors showcase their products in permanent showroom spaces and its 24 annual buying events present an additional 7,000 temporary exhibitors in 2 million square feet of trade show exhibit space each year. It presents some 30-plus apparel, furniture, gift, home décor and lifestyle markets and buying events — in permanent showroom space and trade show exhibits — in Atlanta; High Point, North Carolina; Las Vegas; and New York.

In Las Vegas, he led the renaissance of World Market Center, including strategic positioning of Las Vegas Market to make it the premier furniture, décor and gift sourcing destination in the west, and the construction of the 315,000 sq.-ft. Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas to address the lack of downtown Las Vegas exhibit space. In Atlanta, the acquisition of the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC), AmericasMart Atlanta with its Atlanta Market and Atlanta Apparel portfolio and the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, spurred capital investment to reimagine and reinvigorate the famed complexes and markets. In High Point, ANDMORE has continued to expand its footprint, growing its impact to 17 properties and making strategic capital investments to improve discovery opportunities. More innovations include the acquisition and expansion of Shoppe Object in New York as well as development of digital tools to better connect buyers and sellers.

Maricich’s many honors include the “American Heritage Award” by the Anti Defamation League, “Man of the Year” by the Tri-State Home Furnishings Association, the “American Heritage Distinguished Service Award” from the American Home Furnishings Alliance, a “Furniture Industry Icon” by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association, “The Atlantan Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in Atlanta” and “Atlanta Magazine’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders in Georgia.” In 2021, Maricich was inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.