Six days ago, several thousand buyers, reps, and vendors arrived in Atlanta with fear in their eyes. Would the first show of the 2009 season fall flat? Would anyone show up? Would money be spent?
In a word: Yes, yes, and yes. Atlanta Gift was a success.
By Thursday morning, the look of fear had passed; by Friday, smiles of relief abounded. As I told Marc Rice of Fox Premiere, the financial meltdown occured after the summer show circuit; this was the first time reps and buyers were able to look each other in the eye, connect as people–not accounts–and ask each other “Hey, how are you feeling? You okay?” From there, things fell into comfortable cadence as an industry’s players recognized that the only way through this is together, and together we will go.
Kim Higgins (225 Unlimited) and I talked about the inescapable conversations regarding money and late payments. In her words (which I agree with completely), “If an account just talks to us, lets us know they can pay even a little of what they owe now then the rest later, things can be worked out. If they just dodge phone calls and avoid us, it makes everything worse.”
True, the ghost town that was Department 56′s showroom at the top of the 16th floor escalator in Building 2 was hard to miss. Adorned with beautiful Christmas ornaments near the entry, the showroom could have accommodated aircraft without bumping into a single buyer. Still, other showrooms were full, vibrant, and busy. According to most, there were more orders, albeit smaller ones…lots of note taking…and truckloads of determination to make 2009, come hell or high water.
The next major show–Dallas–is next week, which should be solid (the show has a significant regional following). New York, however, shoulders an additional weight–by the time it opens on January 25th, both retailers and consumers will have received their December credit card statements, an action likely to stall spending at store level. Provided buyers can back their steely determination with an ability to ignore printed numbers, then forge ahead, the third buying weekend in January has the potential to stand strong.
It’s a different world right now, and it’s going to be a long haul before we’re completely clear. Those who approach retail as a hobby will be long gone a year from now, as will reps who rest on their laurels and vendors who refuse to work with their accounts. In the end, attendees of next winter’s Atlanta show will be survivors–stronger, smarter, and more savvy business owners than ever before.
You can do it.
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