In the world of retail, going to the Atlanta Market is our shopping Super Bowl. Our customers get November and December for their shopping season, but my shopping season for Boxwood is just beginning!

I just got back from the market, and this trip included exploring and discovering new products and designers to bring to the store. For many, January is the time of year to plan for the upcoming months, and to set some goals for the year. For Boxwood, it’s a similar feeling. This is a time to look ahead and to find gifts and goods that will fit our customers’ needs and wants throughout the year.

The Atlanta Market happens twice a year, in January and July. It’s the premiere gift, decor, and lifestyle marketplace, with over 8,000 brands across all categories, including seasonal, gourmet, tabletop, outdoor, and more. A visit to the Atlanta Market takes us several days, and each day is an all-day affair! We arrive when the doors open at 9am, and we always find ourselves being the last to leave at 6pm. I am exhausted, but it's a good kind of exhaustion. Imagine going to Tysons Corner mall, but multiplying the experience by 30! There is so much to enjoy and explore – I just love it. We get to visit the brands we love, see the new trends, and meet the minds behind the designs.  

It’s such a joy to meet the designers of products that have done so well in the shop. We might not talk to them everyday, and some we have never met, but we are married to the products and are ambassadors for their businesses, so it’s fun to connect in person at the market.

One of the highlights this year was seeing an Annie Sloan booth. We work with Annie Sloan products daily in Boxwood, so it was a real treat to talk in person with Amanda Ficek, the National Coordinator. We heard about new colors and trends, and just gushed about all the things we love. It was like meeting your favorite celebrity!

Since Boxwood first opened, I’ve been working on the perfect “plan of attack” to make sure we hit all of the best stops. The first year I went was with my business partner, Leah, back when we ran Boxwood together. We came in looking like deer in headlights, and we didn’t know where to even begin. Leah and I roamed the halls, and just popped into stores as we came up to them. We were clueless! But since then, I’ve learned there is a method to the madness.

Last year was my first year back after the pandemic. I made a list of all the vendors the shop sells, and decided to use that as my map to make my way through the market. I visited each of them to place re-orders on our customers’ favorite items. It took up all my time. This year was different – I think I finally figured it out! I met with our current vendors early before the show, and even placed our re-orders, so I would have time to meet new vendors throughout the week. It was wonderful, so I guess the third time really is the charm!

It was a whirlwind, as always, and I am thrilled to introduce some fun and exciting new products to our Boxwood shelves in the upcoming months. This year was especially special, because my best friend joined me, and I was able to visit my daughter, who works in Atlanta. Seeing them was the cherry on top of an amazing week. Next time you stop into Boxwood, let us show you what we brought back!