What to buy, what to buy? 5 top trends from Atlanta Market

Atlanta Market is full of retailers looking to stock their shelves with the hottest items of the year (and next year). While most retailers have a solid plan for what they’ll be buying for their stores, here are a few trends you can tap into for that final percentage reserved for discovery.

Heartwarming Holiday

The “Christmas floors” at the top of Building 1 and several leaders in the category, including Roman, Tag, Transpac Brands, Mud Pie, Melrose International, Kurt Adler and Old World Christmas, had lots of new holiday products to show last week. And while there is a large variety of Christmas aesthetics across the showrooms, traditional decor and gifts or activities that promote togetherness still reign supreme.

Nativities (and gifts that lean into faith), advent calendars, figural cocoa cups and classic decor in tartan plaid and red-green-and-gold color palettes are expected to be the most sought-after goods for the holidays. Playful goods that tap into the childlike excitement of the holidays, like Mud Pie’s oversized holiday plush and plush Christmas Tree Set with ornaments, was another festive highlight at market.

Finally, handcrafted or heirloom-quality goods present a big opportunity. According to both Tag and Roman, consumers are placing higher value on higher-quality (and thus higher-priced) Christmas items that can become a part of a larger tradition, so stock accordingly.

Charming Accessories

The charm trend is still going strong as consumers continue to drool over personalized gifts. Pay close attention to the new charms on the scene, including Douglas’ new plush charms and Demdaco’s new collaboration with Ampersand Design Studio which includes colorful keychains and charm bracelets.

Fancy Fragrancers

Candles and home fragrance products consistently top the charts of bestselling categories for retailers, which is why buyers should make sure they have a few scented options for their shoppers. Manufacturers at this week’s market have plenty of fashionable options to choose from, including Serene House’s new Pistil Ultrasonic Diffuser, Maison Berger’s new Celebration Collection glass diffusers with checkerboard motif, La Jolie Muse’s candles in sophisticated, reusable vessels, and Bourbon Royalty’s new color-driven rebrand. Votivo and Greenleaf also debuted some gorgeous options for the holidays last week.

For the Hobbyist

The pickleball rage continues, as buyers found in The Darling Effect’s fashions, greeting cards from 7th & Palm, and Hill and Dale Home’s quilted totes with dedicated paddle pockets. But now customers are looking for gifts that speak to all of their hobbies, whether it’s their newfound love of mahjong or their old-school hobby of golf.

Mahjong is continuing to rise with new decorative pieces like Nora Fleming’s “Mahj-ical Mini,” themed coasters from Keva and ornaments by Old World Christmas. Audrey’s Home & Gift also debuted its first-ever mahjong tile set and accessories.

DIY crochet and knitting kits will likely remain in demand, but don’t forget gifts that simply celebrate the art of handcrafting, too, like ones featuring an image of a ball of yarn and knitting needles. The handcrafted movement is still a major trend to tap into.

Colorful Tabletop and Home

Times are still dark, and consumers are still looking for color! Though this trend has been going strong since 2020, manufacturers are still making joyful home goods. Audrey’s Home & Gift, for example, not only expanded its Atlanta showroom, but introduced 10 collections, including its vibrant Garden Party and Lotus Dream collections. There are also several colorful and exciting tabletop debuts this market.