AmericasMart Combines Apparel Shows
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 3/12/2007
On April 15, what was once nine separate apparel-related shows at AmericasMart Atlanta will become five.
The massive wholesale market that offers both permanent and temporary displays of gifts and apparel will collocate with AmericasMart Alpha, previously held four times a year, and the Atlanta Women's & Children's Apparel Show/Accessories Market, held five times a year.
"It just kind of evolved and made sense as we saw the crossover of merchandise," said Tara Tuschinski, public relations specialist for AmericasMart Atlanta.
Beginning with the April 15–18 shows, the two will be held together four times a year. The apparel and accessories market also will be held each August as a stand-alone.
"August is prom month," Tuschinski said, and many retailers come to the show strictly for prom-related merchandise for their stores.
She said each show would retain its own character. The apparel show has many of the traditional clothing lines, while Alpha "is very hip and trendy," Tuschinski said.
Still, AmericasMart research indicates that, as time goes on, retailers send the same buyers to both shows.
The shows also plan to switch from a Thursday-to-Sunday pattern to a Sunday-to-Wednesday pattern, so retailers can be in their own stores on weekends.
Alpha will continue to take up one floor of the 14-floor, 2.1 million square foot building devoted strictly to apparel, while the apparel and accessories show will remain spread out over four floors. The rest of the building is devoted to permanent showrooms.
AmericasMart Atlanta expects approximately 600 exhibitors at the combined events.
