The Atlanta Shoe Market to Host Over 1,800 Brands at Its February Event + More Show Details
Atlanta will once again be the hot destination for the shoe industry this season, as The Atlanta Shoe Market (TASM) prepares to host more than 1,800 brands from at least 18 countries at its upcoming event on Feb. 15-17 at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
The twice-annual trade show has been expanding continuously each season, with particularly rapid growth occurring in the past few years following the pandemic, even as other national and regional industry events have downsized.
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“We definitely have a vibrant show,” said TASM executive director Laura Conwell-O’Brien, who noted that pre-registration among retailers is up 13 percent this season. “It’s so heartwarming to walk the floor and go to the opening-night party and see everybody happy. It [proves] we still have a very viable industry, which is what is important.”
What’s New
After adding a new exhibit space to the show in August, TASM will once again utilize The Grand Ballroom in the adjacent Renaissance Atlanta Wavery Hotel. It will mainly house brands that are newer to the show, including Allbirds, The Sak, Snibbs and Inkkas. Additional new and international brands will also be featured in the Fashion Plaza, a space that was introduced early last year and is located at the entrance to the Grand Ballroom.
Some retailers have missed out on visits to these new areas of the show because of packed schedules — or they simply weren’t aware of the extra additions.
To incentivize buyers to go discover these brands, Conwell O’Brien is introducing the “Walk the Floor Challenge,” a contest whereby retailers have the opportunity to win $500. Each retailer will be given a card on which they can collect stickers from vendors in The Grand Ballroom and Fashion Plaza spaces. “Whichever retailer has the most stickers at the end of the show, on Monday at noon, will win $500 in cash,” said Conwell-O’Brien.
TASM is also introducing another change to help maximize buying opportunities for retailers.
Conwell-O’Brien said she’s received requests for years to extend the length of the show, and while she doesn’t favor adding another day to the schedule, TASM will open the showroom floor one hour earlier and keep it open one hour later, for appointments only. “That way, it’s not mandatory for the exhibitors to be there,” she said, “but the retailers have a couple more hours be able to see a few more people.”
Other amenities for attendees include a new Retailer Lounge in The Grand Ballroom, which will feature charging stations and refreshments, as well as couches and chairs for relaxing. TASM also operates another Retailer Lounge in the Cobb Galleria Mall, adjacent to the Shoe Court booths.
After Hours
In terms of evening festivities, TASM’s popular opening-night party will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. The casino-themed cocktail party is complimentary for show attendees and accessible by shuttle bus from the convention hall. It will feature a full buffet and cash bar, as well as live entertainment by Powerhouse Band.
And on Sunday evening, the Two Ten Women in the Footwear Industry group (WIFI) will again host a networking event from 6-7 p.m., in the Retailer Lounge on the mall level of the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Learning Opportunities
The National Shoe Retailers Association (NSRA) is offering robust educational programming for retailers around the TASM weekend.
On the second day of the show, NSRA will again host its Retail Workshop, where Alan Miklofsky, former owner of Alan’s Shoes in Tucson, Ariz., will lead a timely conversation about “How to Use AI for Everyday Business Tasks.” Topics will include leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and time savings and to streamline internal and external communications. Using live demonstrations, attendees will be able to gain hands-on experience with AI tools that can simplify a store’s daily operations.
The seminar is complimentary to show guests and will take place from 7:15-8:45 a.m. on Feb. 16, in the Renaissance Waverly Hotel’s Highlands Room.
But before the trade show starts, NSRA is holding its NextGen Conference targeted to future or soon-to-be storeowners. The full-day event, on Feb. 14 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, aims to offer guidance to those navigating the succession process at their independent retail business.
“We help give them the confidence to start having those difficult conversations with, maybe, a parent or grandparent about how are we going to make this transition?” said Mark Denkler, president of NSRA.
The conference, which costs $350 for the full day, will be guided by retail consultant Pete Mohr and cover such topics as assessing business value and identifying key performance metrics and successful tech tools. It also will offer multiple opportunities for networking, and attendees at the full-day conference have the chance to join the NextGen Leadership Program that provides ongoing support through virtual meetings.
“We started the NextGen program in 2009, and some of that first group has sort of ‘graduated’ and is now running their businesses,” said Denkler. “They’re the who’s who of the independent world. And hopefully the new class will become the who’s who of another generation.”
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