American traders go global at AmericasMart Atlanta

Janelle Potier enjoyed serving heart healthy salads.

   People behind products

Although we would like to find ourselves inundated with "American Made" products in America, only a few traders at AmericasMart 's summer EXTRAORDINIQUE show sport the MADE IN AMERICA label.

Some exhibitors that we sought out are artists, writers, jewelers, and chefs who happen to be very savvy in their techniques of producing and marketing unique, quality products to be enjoyed worldwide.

First, let's start with good food...something that everybody needs. Grassroots marketing of locally grown products was showcased in AmericasMart's demonstration kitchen featuring Chefs Chris Hall (l) and Ryan Turner from Local Three Atlanta Kitchen and Bar. The chefs treated attendees to a refreshing salad with watermelon cubes and blackberries, risotto, and corn purée. 

"Since my wife is a Chemistry teacher, I have become familiar with the Maillard reaction," said Chef Hall, referring to the process he demonstrated which is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars requiring heat.

Chris Hall (l) and Ryan Turner were chefs in the AmericasMart kitchen which featured home grown ingredients.

The demonstration showcased Georgia olive olive, southern pecans, and goat cheese from Alabama. "This is very good," said one satisfied taster. 

Next, let's get busy with educating the next generation. Two writers - one from Bloomingfield, Mich. and the other from Bingham, Mass. - have different opinions on whether kids should be seen and not heard.

 

Brainard self publishes books.

Beth Brainard's Good Idea Kids, LLC has just self-published a great "Miss Manners" book. "I started as an image consultant teaching corporate etiquette and social skills, and then it occurred to me that if the folks I was consulting had learned manners at a younger age, it would be better...so I set out to write a book on manners for kids."

Brainard's "Soup Should Be Seen, Not Heard," is based on her premise that, "the responsibility for building a civil society goes to the parents, and they are really the customers for my book. Kids will like the book because it's fun and not stuffy," Brainard said. "My 35 year old son will be here on Saturday to prove that what I wrote works!"

  

Sherr contends kids say suprising things.

The other writer is Andrea Sherr who has compiled funny things kids have written anonymously and posted on her website. The book is entitled, "Heard on the Playground" and is based on the fact that kid's mouths "don't do quiet."

"Just when you think you have heard it all, something else funny comes along," Sherr said. The book is also illustrated by children. "I love what I do because it makes people smile," Sherr said. After AmericasMart, she plans to continue marketing her book in hospital gift shops and children's boutiques.

And speaking of quirky, there's Billy the Artist who wins the crazy marketing award! Sponsored by Enesco, he brought curious customers in from the outside with his skintight costumes and bags and wowed clients once inside the showroom with his Swatch watch collection.

 

Marketers dressed in "Billy the Artist" costumes lured customers into showroom.

"My art is urban primitive pop art," said Billy who painted a 30x 40 foot mural live while being animated to music in the Piazza San Marco, Venice. "It's all about creating your own reality and letting people see who you are through your art while having fun, " he said. Billy lives in New York City but was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

Billy the Artist was available to draw black and white art on personalized shopping bags.

Next, take a look at American made jewelry - one from precious metals and pearls; the other created lovingly from antique buttons. Tracy Arrington creates in Orlando, Fla. "My jewelry has a contemporary and classic look," Arrington states. "Although I have worked with various goldsmiths across the country, my muse was Sydney Lynch from Nebraska...I've always been amazed and inspired by the beauty in her work."

Arrington designs jewelry from precious metals.

"My jewelry is fresh, well made, at a fair price point, supports the national economy, and is a look that people find attractive," she stated. Arrington's creations sport 14k gold filled and sterling silver circles and freshwater, free forming, keshi pearls bought from American suppliers. "Design visions just pop up with several different variations in my mind, and then I sketch very quickly," she says of her creative process.

Buttons make pretty jewelry!

Then there's Susan Davis and her "Grandmother's Buttons. "We have a button museum where we showcase our jewelry made out of buttons," Davis said who sells buttons in 800 stores. "Each piece has an antique button or cabochon."

Davis has been making her jewelry for over 27 years and employs 18 people in and around St. Francisville, La.  It is a family owned business. "We have buttons from President Washington's inauguration....it makes the product more meaningful when you're buying from friends," she said of her American made handicrafts. 

 

Rick and Dave Gauntlett carry on a family tradition.

Brothers Rick and Dave Gauntlett of Barrington, R.I. are carrying on their late stepfather Ron's idea of making a car and truck ornament business successful.

Their company is "grillie" which they say offers better and more durable products than bumper stickers. Plus, they are made in the good 'ole USA. Their original clay sculptures are cast in metal and polished to perfection.

"Don't believe folks that say they can't find American made products," said Dave. "Just look harder or come to the 'Made in America' section at shows like this."  The Gauntletts have gone from hunting, fishing, and sailing motifs to their best selling stripped bass. Altogether, they sell 100 unique ornaments and are starting a new collegiate line.  "Please check out our website, www.grille.com, for more info," Rick said.

Twenty-four year old Shawn Button and Tyler Bender of Los Angeles, Calif. started Zero Gravity in their living room. "We started designing cases for laptops, tablets, and smart phones because I needed a cool iPhone case," said Button who originally hails from Philadelphia.

Button and Bender make products to suit their needs because the marketplace didn't offer what they wanted.

This graphic design graduate works about 80 hours a week on Zero Gravity's design and sales management, and he doesn't like to give out printing process secrets. "We sell internationally and make unique products because we're more creative than the next guy," Button said.

Ben Torrens of Holdingford, Minn. said half of the inspirational products he sells in his Think Pray Gift business are made in the U.S. "Our mission statement is to provide unique gifts to inspire thought and prayer in everyday life," Torrens said. He operates the business with this wife, Holly. Their growing customer base is New Age religious believers, however, "Our products appeal  to anyone who plants prayer into their daily life."

Torrens takes an order from Holden.

Customer Belinda Holden from Poplarville, Miss., who owns The Other Side Gift Shop, gave her testimonial on the products sold by Think Pray Gift. "I like these products because they're new and different. I was first introduced to the line in Ohio and now am able to purchase it at AmericasMart." 

AmericasMart is the wholesaler's marketplace.

©2012 Photos by Tomi Johnson and Daniel Johnson.  
Article by Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.