New April Buying Week at AmericasMart Atlanta Included Gift & Home for Cross-Category Experience

The first-ever April Buying Week at AmericasMart Atlanta reportedly experienced steady order writing and engaged buying from key accounts across its three co-located markets: Atlanta Apparel, Formal Markets and Spring Gift & Home Market. Over the four-day market, which ran last week on April 1-4, attendees explored nearly 1,300 exhibitors spanning gift, home, casual and outdoor furnishings, apparel, accessories, and formal categories.

“April Buying Week marked a significant milestone for ANDMORE®, aligning key sourcing seasons for apparel and formal Autumn/Winter 2025 collections, with the added advantage of access to gift and home resources, creating a more comprehensive and efficient buying experience,” said Caron Stover, ANDMORE senior vice president of Apparel.

The opportunity for cross-category sourcing gave apparel and formal buyers the chance to explore gift and home resources not typically accessible during regular market visits. This exposure to new resources allowed fashion-focused retailers to diversify their offerings and foster new relationships with gift and home brands, adding meaningful value to their market experience.

Exhibitor Frances Northcutt with Rewined Candles, noted, “Every store order we [wrote] at this show has been a new customer from the apparel market. Whereas at the gift and home Atlanta Markets, we typically see reorders and touch base with our longstanding customers. That new business piece is really crucial, so that has been very positive. If AmericasMart continues to combine the markets in the future, we will definitely keep coming back.”

April Buying Week featured 20+ events and activities, ranging from trend vignettes to educational seminars and networking opportunities. Attendees enjoyed daily complimentary breakfasts, specialty happy hours, and interactive installations that highlighted emerging brands and seasonal trends.

The in-person, pre-market Mon Cheri Academy educational session – part of an ongoing monthly educational series – was well-attended, with formal buyers learning about better business practices from morning until evening. Buyers also heavily attended the Boutique Hub crossover sourcing educational panel on Tuesday, engaging in thoughtful discussion with insightful questions.

Additionally, with the sourcing event happening on the heels of newly imposed tariffs on U.S. imports, the National Bridal Retailers Association (NBRA) was on-site providing educational resources for retailers and exhibitors.

“The three main purposes of the NBRA are to focus on public policy, media outreach, and consumer education. During Market, we welcomed anyone affected by tariffs – whether within the formal industry or beyond – to connect with us, learn more about the issues, and discover how to take meaningful action. We provided sample letters and direct contact information for legislators, encouraging both buyers and exhibitors to speak out via mail, email, phone calls, and more. The more legislators understand the economic and social impact of our industries, the stronger and more influential our collective voice becomes,” said Sandra Gonzalez, owner of SPARKLE Bridal Couture in Sacramento, California, and vice president of NBRA.

Looking ahead, ANDMORE’s next markets will continue to build on the momentum of April Buying Week, with Spring Cash & Carry, running May 5-7 at AmericasMart Atlanta. Spring Cash & Carry provides access to some 350+ permanent showrooms for order-writing and immediate delivery resources. Buyers can explore home décor, casual and outdoor resources in Building 1, gift offerings in Building 2 ,and apparel and accessories in Building 3. Showrooms will be open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information and a comprehensive list of participating showrooms, click here