Spring 2023 - 8

Connection & Discovery
Buyers know Atlanta Market will deliver
All photos courtesy of Kandice Matsler.
Atlanta Market at AmericasMart has
everything retailers need including
the latest product trends and crosscategory
sourcing across gifts, party
décor, tabletop, and of course, paper
and stationery products.
Kandice Matsler, creative-in-charge
(CIC) at Barque in Lubbock, Texas,
attends Atlanta Market twice a year in
search of the newest and best products
her shop can offer its customers.
Barque offers a variety of products
including paper and stationery gifts,
seasonal items, dog products and
kitchenwares.
" The Atlanta Market is my favorite
market to shop at because there are so
many vendors in one place, " Matsler
said. " It's also a great opportunity
to connect with fellow retailers and
representatives from brands we carry to
catch up and learn about what products
are trending in their areas. "
Matsler also loves the location of
Atlanta Market. Because the market
is further from west Texas than the
Dallas Market, she feels it gives her the
advantage to find something new that
other stores in her community have yet
to see.
Atlanta has great restaurants,
shopping and easy transportation
services - making the entire
experience stress-free and allowing
retailers to focus on what's important.
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With so much to see at Atlanta Market,
Matsler creates a " game plan " for her
time there - allowing plenty of time to
visit the vendors she's most interested
in while allowing extra time for new
discoveries. Her master list for market
includes vendor names, building and
booth number and a space for notes.
She uses the Atlanta Market Magazine,
mailers and emails to help build her list.
" One area I make a point to shop first
is the Temporaries - that's typically
where most of the brand new exhibitors
are, so that's usually where " the gold "
is. Once I've seen what's available
from these newer brands, it's easier
for me to assess what I'm looking for
from established vendors in permanent
showrooms, " Matsler said.
Matsler recommends tackling the
most time-consuming vendors first,
allowing you to make the best decisions
for your business early on.
" I'm searching for seasonal products
to help build an attractive display and
unique items that we can add to our
product mix, " Matsler said. " A few of
my favorite finds from the January 2023
Atlanta Market were Legally Addictive
Cracker Cookies, El Arroyo Salsa, Lolli &
Pops Crispy Rice Cakes, Hester & Cook
Birthday Paper Table Decorations and
Houdini Barware " . She also sourced
graduation gifts, teacher gifts, men's
gifts and stocking stuffers.
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Matlser also appreciates the variety of
stationery options Atlanta Market offers.
Among the dozens of lines available,
some notable ones include Avanti Press,
C.R. Gibson, Designworks Ink, Girl w/
Knife, Rifle Paper Company, Portico
Designs, Seedlings and Up With Paper.
In addition to established brands,
Atlanta Market also fosters up-andcoming
designers.
" We launched *Noted at Atlanta
Market in a partnership with the Greeting
Card Association (GCA) last year to
help bring smaller, emerging stationery
brands to exhibit at our Markets, " said
Senior Manager of Tradeshow Sales
at Atlanta Market, Becky Kohr. " These
brands are a great complement to our
temporaries as well as our permanent
showrooms during Atlanta Market. "
" (Atlanta Market) has the most options
for buying just about anything. I have
more than enough options to choose
from for almost any category or theme
I'm looking for, " Matsler said. " From new
gift products or stylish accessories to
greeting cards, packaging options and
display fixtures, it's a one-stop-shop for
all of my retail needs. "
Atlanta Market
Showrooms: July 11 - 17, 2023
Temporaries: July 12 - 16, 2023
For more information and to register,
visit AtlantaMarket.com
http://www.AtlantaMarket.com
Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spring 2023
