ATLANTA / LAS VEGAS – (December 2, 2020) – Leaders from 11 major trade associations and buying groups – representing nearly 12,000 buyers of home decor and gift – recently gathered virtually with International Market Centers’ (IMC) Buyer Services team in a series of timely discussions that will inform and enhance the groups’ participation in markets through pandemic recovery and beyond.
“Through partnerships forged over many years with these trade organizations we have developed relationships which are open and honest about the current status and future direction of our businesses,” notes Dorothy Belshaw, chief customer and marketing officer. “IMC is proud to offer a platform for discussion and remains committed to supporting our buying group and trade association partners as they create the important programming and opportunities to best serve their members.”
Leaders from the industry partner organizations identified three main objectives for the coming year: enhancing their value propositions, expanding discovery and learning opportunities for members and maximizing vendor relationships. Participating organizations included American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), CRAFT Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow, MAI Retailers, Museum Store Association (MSA), National Alliance of Floral Associations, Spa Industry Association and Zoo, Aquarium and Garden Buyers Group (ZAG) and more.
IMC is committed to working with buying groups and associations to meet their goals and best serve their members, even during the current challenging times. The Buyer Services team, led by Cindy Henry, is working with organizations to create compelling and exclusive experiences that add value for members. While traditional gatherings, such as at-market events, are disrupted, IMC is offering hybrid virtual events / in-person buying models, meeting rooms set with social distancing measures and staggered times for group sourcing on the floors. Additionally, its enhanced digital product discovery tools are helping group leaders identify new vendors that are a match for their members.
“Like everything during a pandemic, the at-market experience for these groups is going to feel a little different, but the result is the same – identifying from our vast product collections the products and market services that best suit their specific needs,” adds Belshaw. “The leadership summits enable us to connect with all of our industry partners and to facilitate helpful connections between organizations. Now more than ever, we are committed to listening, learning and adapting our offerings to meet the needs of these important voices in our industry.”
Some 60+ gift and home decor buying groups and trade associations are involved with IMC’s markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas each year. Programming ranges from group visits to market to member meetings to multi-day conferences and vendor presentations. For a sampling of industry partners visit AtlantaMarket.com/Market-Info/Industry-Partners and LasVegasMarket.com/Market-Info/Industry-Partners.
Atlanta Market is the industry’s premier gift, décor and lifestyle market. Housing the nation’s largest gift product mix complemented by a broad selection of home décor, it features more than 8,000 brands across all categories. Held semi-annually at AmericasMart Atlanta, Atlanta Market attracts retailers and designers from every U.S. state and more than 60 countries. The Winter 2021 Market is January 12-19, 2021 (temporaries January 13-17). For more information, visit AtlantaMarket.com.
Las Vegas Market is the leading home furnishings and gift market in the western U.S., presenting 4,300+ furniture, home décor and gift resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of furniture, home décor and gift lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. Winter 2021 Las Vegas Market runs January 24 – 28, 2021, at World Market Center Las Vegas. For more information, visit LasVegasMarket.com.
About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries, bringing buyers and sellers from all over the world together through physical markets in Atlanta, High Point and Las Vegas. With the launch of the IMC_Digital Innovations division in January 2020, IMC offers the premier omnichannel solution for the home, gift and apparel industries that seamlessly connects physical and digital wholesale commerce. For more information on IMC, visit http://imcenters.com/.
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