Gold Pearl Earring

Direct From Market: Atlanta

08.01.10

January 8, 2010 — Freezing cold temperatures, impending snow and other travel travails failed to keep retailers from making their way to AmericasMart Atlanta to attend the gift market and replenish depleted inventory. Early indicators portend a more robust market, as retailers report having good-to-better than expected holidays and fourth quarters and many showrooms, especially on the upper floors of the Gift Mart have been bustling with buyers since Tuesday. There was even a noticeable better than usual amount of activity on the lower floors on the first official day of the market.

Matt Bousquette, chairman of the board at Enesco, told us that more than 80 percent of his customers came off of fall 2009 with better than expected results, meaning they had both lower inventory levels and more cash to buy with. As a result he is seeing not only good traffic but higher tickets per buyer. Bousquette predicts that the next nine months will see a focus on everyday special occasions and on price/value.’ We believe it is going to be a good Christmas,” said Bousquette. In the long term, he emphasizes “brands versus stuff,” predicting that companies who have strong consumer brands well continue to do well, while those who sell commodity goods from China will experience consolidation. How this plays out as this new decade progresses remains to be seen.

Source: Gifts & Decorative Accessories