AmericasMart Expands Educational Efforts

Atlanta, GA, May 18, 2007--Fueled by retailers’ desire to achieve higher levels of learning, AmericasMart Atlanta continues to expand upon its innovative and non-traditional education initiative, AmericasMart University (AMU).

Strategically structured and designed in close consultation with experts, AMU addresses business fundamentals and arms retailers with the tools and techniques necessary to stay competitive and grow their businesses. Classes are taught by renowned consultants, strategists and experts in business planning, modeling and development. 

AMU core curriculum addresses three Topics of Learning: Retail Business Basics, Buying & Selling and Building Your Brand. Each Topic offers beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Select elective-level courses—seminar-like programming supporting AmericasMart’s product centers—are also available.

All AMU participants are eligible to earn an AmericasMart MBA. The AmericasMart MBA is awarded to participants who complete all AMU curriculum requirements—or the completion of each Level of each Topic of Learning for a total of nine classes. MBA graduates will be recognized at exclusive at-Market events and are eligible to receive incentive packages.

AMU courses featuring area rug and home furnishings information are:

Sunday, July 15

9—10 a.m.

AMU Building Your Brand – Beginner

Branding 101

Start with the basics and move up from there.  Learn what a brand is, how strong brands are built and what challenges can be expected along the way.  A look at a few brands that are doing it right…and a couple that aren’t.

Presented by Mark Speece, Co-Founder of 800 Degrees, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

10—11 a.m.

AMU Building Your Brand – Intermediate

Branding 102

Learn what it takes to build a strong brand via brand positioning, brand architecture and creative strategies.  We’ll analyze several well-known organizations’ brands and discuss why each has a different yet appropriate strategy.

Presented by Mark Speece, Co-Founder of 800 Degrees, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

12—1 p.m.

AMU Buying & Selling – Intermediate

Beyond Fuzzy Side Up: Sy & Steve’s Top Ten List

Learn what makes every sales person great!

Presented by Sy Mahfuz and Steve Boodakian, MERA Consulting Group

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

2—3 p.m.

AMU Building Your Brand – Advanced

Branding 103

Look at how budgets, product portfolios, segmentation, organizational goals and category mandates creation of optimal brand strategies…and the implications on subsequent brand building initiatives.

Presented by Mark Speece, Co-Founder of 800 Degrees, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

Monday, July 16

10:30 a.m.

Walk the Market with Phil

Take this informative tour of the Market led by Phil Menendian. Visit select showrooms and discover the old, the new and extraordinary.

Presented by Phil Menendian, ORRA, Education Chairman

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

1:00 p.m.

CRA Exam: Tips on Proper Appraisals

Phil Menendian, ORRA’s Education Chairman, will discuss steps in preparing an Oriental rug appraisal. Required for those taking the CRA exam.  Study guide and reading list for the CRA exam is available at online at www.orrainc.com. Call 804.270.3195 for more information and registration.

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

1:30—3:00 p.m.

CRA Exam: Certified Rug Appraisers Exam

This certification is generally accepted by the U.S. banking and court systems, the U.S. Customs Department, the IRS and major insurance companies. Participants will be tested on technical and historical knowledge of hand knotted rugs, as well as proper identification of rugs. This opportunity should not be missed!

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

4:00 p.m.

Re-Certification Exam for Current Certified Rug Appraisers

Re-certification should be taken every five years to keep your CRA up to date. This is a required refresher class that includes information on the current market.

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

Tuesday, July 17

10:00 a.m.

“Vojtech Blau Collection”

Vojtech Blau  was one of America’s top dealers in Oriental rugs and European tapestries. A slide presentation and commentary of the famous “Vojtech Blau Collection” that recently sold at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York will be featured. Q&A to follow.

Presented by Mary Jo Otsea, Senior Textile Expert, Sotheby’s Auction House.

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

11:30 a.m.

Afghan Marksm

Learn more about this socially-conscious brand owned by members of the Afghan Women’s Business Federation. The brand represents 27,000 weavers of heirloom quality Afghan carpets. Learn about these incredible carpets, the courage Afghan women who weave them have and why the Afghan Marksm brand appeals to the conscientious U.S. consumer.

Presented by Daniel Kennedy, NY, NY

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1

2:00 p.m.

“When They Ask You to Speak About Rugs”

An easy to follow yet thorough guide on how to contribute to your Oriental Rug company’s success by offering your clientele educational events on the fabulous hand-knotted carpet.

Presented by Sharon Kerwick, Appraiser, Teacher and Lecturer

Sponsored by Oriental Rug Retailers of America, Inc.

AmericasMart 1, 4th Floor, 4B1