News
February 8, 2017
The LA Mart, Urban Expositions team up to sponsor special Made in America buying tour
The LA Mart, the West Coast’s premier resource for gift, home, holiday, furniture, fashion, design and lifestyle products, and Urban Expositions, long-time producer of the LAMKT show (formerly the California Gift Show), have joined forces to present a timely and helpful guided buying tour of highly marketable Made in America new products available from exhibitors showing in the California Marketplace Temporaries, and showrooms in the LA Mart. Led by well-known retail consultant and author Karl Busche, and free of charge to interested buyers, the USA-focused, curated product tour will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 from 3-4 p.m. at the LA Mart.
“With more and more interest from consumers wishing to purchase American-made products, we are so pleased to partner with Urban Expositions to offer this exciting opportunity for our valued retailers to easily discover merchandise to serve the growing demand to ‘Buy American’,” said Frank Joens, senior vice president/general manager, LA Mart.
With years of in-depth retail experience, tour leader Karl Busche has worn several hats during his career, including working with two major department store chains and America’s first television shopping network (HSN) as well as participating in the launch of Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Being involved in the creation of merchandise assortments for more than 100 retailers has given Busche a unique perspective on retailing today.
For his event during the LA Gift & Home Market, Busche will kick off the program with a brief introduction on how to successfully create Made in America ‘merchandise stories’ in specialty retail shops to help maximize sales. Following the presentation, Busche will lead a curated tour of select companies in LA Mart’s 2nd floor California Marketplace Temporaries and the LA Mart’s permanent showrooms featuring fresh Made in America resources.
Each tour participant will receive a copy of the book “Making Made In U.S.A. Work For Manufacturers, Retailers and Customers” written by Karl Busche and Jhana Jordan, Buyer Relations Director, Urban Expositions.
The Made in America seminar/curated tour is offered free of charge to all registered buyers. Buyers may pre-register for the 2017 Winter LA Gift & Home Market at either venue’s website – www.lamart.com or www.la-mkt.com
