AmericasMart has added several educational seminars for retailers to its schedule of events for the upcoming Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, which is scheduled for January 9 to 16.
On January 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. AmericasMart will present a panel discussion, “From Brick-and-Mortar to Click-and-Order.” It will be held in Building 1, Floor 5, Lighting & Decor Lounge. Speakers: Jenny Heinzen-York; Sherry Calhoun, owner of Gracious Me!; James Merida, owner of Bountiful; and Alison Anderson, owner of A. Dodson’s.
The panel will discuss adding an e-commerce component to an independent store as an option to navigate the increased retail competition. The panel discussion will present a look at what taking this step means for an independent retailer— not only the benefits but also the investments required and possible pitfalls to watch out for.
Also on January 10, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., AmericasMart will present, “Don’t Struggle with Social: Finding, Hiring and Seeing Success with a Social Media Manager,” moderated by Crystal Vilkaitis. It will be held in Building 1, Floor 5, Lighting & Decor Lounge.
Vilkaitis will discuss hiring a strong social media manager with tips on how to attract the best candidates and getting them on board, determining their hours and pay, defining the tools they should be using to ensure they reach a store’s customer base and measuring their success.
On January 11 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Pantone will present, “Inspiring and Expressing Color: Defining the Essential Trends for Home Furnishings in 2018.” The seminar will be held in Building 1, Floor 14, D-9, Vignette Gallery.
Laurie Pressman, vp/Pantone Color Institute, will delve into the 2018 Pantone color palettes and get an inside view into the selection of Pantone’s color of the year and the role of this special shade within home furnishings.