FAIR VALUE; BUYERS AND VENDORS AT THE ATLANTA GIFT SHOWS OFFERED MIXED REVIEWS OF THE TWO EVENTS.

HFN: The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network, July, 2005 by Bernard, Sharyn

Byline: Sharyn Bernard

ATLANTA-Retailers at the International Gift & Home Furnishings Market here have moved beyond the "cautiously optimistic" phase and were upbeat about both the economy and the gift and tabletop business in general.

Meanwhile, at The Gift Fair in Atlanta, co-hosted by George Little Management and Urban Expositions, exhibitors felt the traffic was down at the show, which is held near the AmericasMart complex but not related to the International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.

Vendors at the AmericasMart reported strong sales and a continuation of the emergence of the market here as a dominant, national event.

"This is a destination for the major players," in addition to independents, said Steve Cohan, senior...