Made In America debuts at AmericasMart

In an effort to help boost the U.S. economy and introduce retailers to companies whose products are American made, AmericasMart will unveil a Made In America category as AmericasMart presents the nation’s only global wholesale trade event of 2012: The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market Jan. 11-18 (Temporaries: Jan. 13-17), with the Atlanta International Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show taking place Jan. 12-15.

AmericasMart may be the first – if not only – wholesale Market in the U.S. that actively promotes Made in America products. The Made in America category is part of The Temporaries – the Market within the Market – where more than 2,500 temporary exhibiting companies, are staged in Buildings 1, 2WW and 3 and constantly evolve to meet the customers’ needs and the latest retail trends. The Temporaries offer cutting-edge trends and new products that are from entrepreneurs or nascent companies. For the January Market, The Temporaries will introduce five new categories besides Made in America: Emerging Artists, Modern Baby and Contemporary Kid, Luggage & Travel Accessories, Paper Boutique and HIGH DESIGN LUXE.

However, the spotlight will certainly be shining on the exhibitors who will comprise the Made in America segment. Made in America exhibitors will be showing a diverse collection of products, including folk art, frames, candles, pottery, furniture, decorative signs, glassware, tumblers, jewelry, textiles, garden art, wall décor, wind chimes, sculptures, fashion accessories and much more.

Given the challenges of the economy, many consumers have become acutely aware of the impact of buying local and buying American. The reality is that purchasing products made in the United States (or made in your local community), can make a difference in the employment scenario for a friend, neighbor or fellow American. Companies that produce their products in the USA want retailers to know it and retailers are actively seeking American made items to add to their stores.

Embracing the Made in America mission is easier said than done as retailers, especially the mom and pop shops that comprise a large portion of the U.S. retail world, would love to offer Made in America products (especially since their customers are demanding them) but do not know how to find such products and manufacturers. In addition, the Made in America vendors/manufacturers may be limited in their ability to reach retailers who could sell their products.

AmericasMart is determined to solve the sourcing dilemma and serve as a Matchmaker for companies making Made in America products and retailers who want to sell them. By coming to the January AmericasMart Market, retailers from all 50 states and more than 90 countries will be exposed to the products of at least 75 vendors – all of whom are ready to make sell their products and have them distributed to major department stores, regional stores as well as sole proprietary shops.

On the other side, vendors will have the unprecedented opportunity to have their products exposed to thousands of potential retail buyers. A success at the January show may be the push a small company needs to grow, expand its distribution and create more jobs.

The designation Made in America assures retailers that the product – and most of its component parts – are made and assembled within the USA. At AmericasMart, to qualify to be in the Made in America Temporaries, a product must be assembled in the USA using 75% or more component parts produced in the U.S. Although it is a new category, the response from vendors and potential buyers has been overwhelmingly positive. AmericasMart expects the number of Made in America vendors to double or triple for AmericasMart’s July Market.

Among the American companies showing their products at The Tempories: Made in America segment are: