And that’s a wrap! The Mahj Box team just spent four days at the AmericasMart in Atlanta, searching for the newest and most unique mahjong and hosting items to send to you. If you’ve never been, we’re here to tell you that it is absolutely massive. According to their website, the AmericasMart Atlanta complex contains more than 7.2 million square feet of exhibition space and is the world’s single-largest collection of wholesale home, gift and apparel showrooms. You read that right - 7.2 million square feet, and we walked it all in four days! We were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the vendors and the sheer volume of products in the showrooms. We were fortunate enough to have had meaningful conversations with several company owners and representatives who were quick to offer advice, feedback and support.
We are happy to report that Mahjong was everywhere, from small vendors and independent artists to the largest showrooms. So many of those that don’t yet have Mahjong themed items commented that the demand is high and they will be getting them soon enough. One of our favorites was The Darling Effect. They had such fun sweatshirts, hats, bags and pouches, along with a few unexpected items like slippers and hair clips. Grace, the company representative we met, was absolutely darling (maybe the company got its name because of her). We loved the products and the vibe of the line so much that we are hoping to include a product or two from The Darling Effect in a future Mahj Box.
A darling bag from The Darling Effect
We also had the pleasure of meeting Leigh Anne from Mischief Mahj. Leigh Anne’s company produces a fun deck of cards with clever instructions that will make your next mahj gathering a little more interesting. Never, ever use a joker in a pair? You can do it if the Mischief Mahj card says so. Need another joker? You may get to steal one from an exposure if you are lucky enough to draw the right card. It’s all in good fun and can add a bit of excitement to game night.
It turns out Leigh Ann and our co-founder, Karen, have some friends in common!
If you are looking for something sparkly and luxe, Nicolette Mayer Designs had some beautiful acrylic pieces. Nicolette is an artist based in Boca Raton, Florida. Her brightly colored mahjong trays and trinket dishes were some of our favorites. She also had some gorgeous acrylic boxes that would be perfect for storing and displaying a mahjong set. Nicolette works side by side with her husband, Jonathan, who was kind enough to chat with us and give us some business advice.
We love the high end feel of Nicolette Mayer's acrylic pieces
Another thing we saw lots of was companies run by women with a commitment to helping other women. Stand outs included Ethic Goods, a vendor with simple but lovely Morse Code bracelets produced by trafficking survivors in Thailand. We were so impressed by the company’s dedication to providing dignified employment to these artisans. Bonus: the company representatives we met were so supportive of our business concept and were absolutely delightful to talk to!
Pretty Morse Code bracelets by Ethic Goods
As if those bracelets weren’t enough, we fell in love with the bracelets we saw at Lotus & Luna. Similar to Ethic Goods, the bracelets were striking in their simplicity. According to the Lotus & Luna website, their unique, handcrafted products promote growth among several villages in Chiang Mai, Thailand by providing employment to artisans in these villages. Additionally, the company provides scrap and surplus material from its operations to students pursuing degrees in fabric arts. This female founded and driven company is giving back on so many levels.
Beautiful bracelets for a beautiful cause by Lotus & Luna
We also enjoyed visiting the KEVA showroom because of the unique nature of their products. They had so many fun trays, candles, coasters and more. We were especially excited about this brand when we learned that most of the products feature designs created by female artists and makers from around the world. Just in case you are wondering…YES, they have a whole line of mahjong products!
Fun and colorful KEVA products
Speaking of art, you’ve probably heard of Rebecca Meixner and Rebecca Illustrated. If you haven’t, you will! This Charleston based artist’s dreamy watercolor art could brighten the dreariest of days. Her designs were featured on everything from candles and match books to pajamas. Her unique mahjong mats are at the top of our wish list. If you have a chance, check out her inspiring story on Instagram.
Our co-founder, Cheryl, loves all things tennis, especially this mat.
As for trends, we saw bright colors everywhere. Mahjong players must be trendsetters because the colors you love in your tablescapes have made their way into housewares and fashion accessories. Pink, orange, bright blue and the like were everywhere we turned. We’re not complaining! The colors kept our energy high so we could keep on shopping!
A brightly colored yet traditional tablescape
Once we wrapped up sourcing products for the Mahj Box, we decided it was time for a little fun of our own—enter the cash-and-carry section of the mart. And oh my… did we say we were done shopping for the Mahj Box? Clearly not. We discovered several charming finds that may just make their way into a future box.
Vendors shared that the standout trend of the market was scarf necklaces—open-ended chain-link styles with oversized links, finished with a pop of color from a small scarf woven through. They were adorable (and yes, we’re still kicking ourselves for not snapping a photo). Another crowd favorite was custom bracelets, created with wide, colorful elastic bands and oversized letter charms. Initials, sororities, meaningful words—anything goes. Naturally, we made mahj bracelets. We were told these were everywhere at the Dallas market, with mahj themes leading the pack. Keep an eye on our Instagram over the next few days. We’ll be giving one of these fun mahj bracelets to one lucky winner!
Let the world know that you love to mahj with this bracelet!
Overall, market was an incredible and invaluable experience. We are so thankful to everyone who took the time to talk with us, and especially grateful for all of the guidance we received over the course of the week. Because the vendors and our fellow shoppers were so generous with their time, recommendations and advice, we are sure that Mahj Box is going to be an amazing product that you will look forward to receiving every season.