3 Things We Learned in Atlanta

ATLANTA— Last week, the Atlanta market went by in the blink of an eye for some. Many exhibitors said retail buyers arrived early and left early, reducing the intense buying period of what was once a week-plus show to just a few days. For others, hampered by Friday’s CrowdStrike/Microsoft kerfuffle, the show became much longer.

But regardless of the time spent in Atlanta, there was plenty to learn from the market. Here are three key takeaways:

Business remains difficult

It’s not a new finding, but a confirmation of the challenges the industry continues to face: a sluggish housing market, consumer discretionary spending that’s being spent elsewhere, broader economic uncertainty and an election year that grew more tumultuous over the weekend. Add to that high transportation costs.

Vendors like Napa Home & Garden and tag offered special discounts on freight during the show. Napa offered a freight promotion on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the market from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and the business was busier than usual on those days, according to marketing director Kerry Chope.

“Free transport allows people to come when otherwise the situation might have been calmer,” she said.

Container costs, which were so high during the pandemic, have continued to fluctuate, leaving sellers wondering where the threshold is, said Angelique Witcher, marketing and content manager at Accent Décor. The recent spike is part of the conversation with retailers, she said, and they’re asking themselves, “Are we pricing correctly, knowing we can’t predict (container costs)?”

Although official numbers have not yet been released, many vendors said the show floor appeared quiet. Those observations follow those of vendors in Dallas.

Portable lighting is an opportunity

Portable and rechargeable lighting is a growing category, a business once targeted at the hospitality market, particularly restaurants, and offered by high-end lighting suppliers like Zafferano and Visual Comfort.

British brand Pooky made a splash in this category at High Point Market in April, and others are now getting in on the action: Napa Home & Garden plans to launch about 16 portable lamps in January, as well as solar lanterns in various shapes and sizes. And Mikasa launched portable lighting in a wide range of styles and materials in Atlanta.

Notable new design directions

Here’s what’s happening in terms of design: Fruit patterns, including three-dimensional interpretations, are on the rise. Color values, according to Michelle Lamb of The Trend Curve, are getting lighter and the market is moving decidedly toward a mid-tone range, and in many cases, that’s a warm palette, she said.

Lamb noted that there was a lot of greenery in Atlanta, “which is kind of cool and makes the city feel fresh and new.” There were more examples of maximalism, vintage and one-of-a-kind items, and an emphasis on customization.

See also:

Discoveries from the first day at the Atlanta Market

New and remarkable: a labeled hat at the Atlanta market