Mar 4, 2009

2009 Winter Las Vegas Market Surpasses Expectations; Delivers Optimism

Las Vegas, NV—The home furnishings punditry that had forecast dark days for the start of the year were proved wrong last month when throngs of buyers, manufacturers and designers from around the world packed the showrooms at World Market Center Las Vegas.

February Las Vegas Market outperformed many recent tradeshows and maintained its historic average of 50,000 registrations. It also saw the number of international buyers increase 19 percent from the most recent Las Vegas Market, while the Market also expanded its geographic reach in the U.S. with a 7 percent growth in buyers attending from the northeast.

“What we witnessed this month is a true testament to the strength of the partnership between World Market Center Las Vegas and the industry,” said Robert Maricich, president and chief executive officer of World Market Center Las Vegas. “Rather than be discouraged by talk of the economic slowdown, tens of thousands of buyers, exhibitors and designers were drawn to Las Vegas Market to take advantage of the opportunity to develop new and lucrative relationships that will help fortify their businesses during this challenging time and put them on the fast track for growth when the economic recovery takes hold.”

In addition, more than 6,500 new buyers visited Las Vegas Market for the first time. February Market also welcomed 100 new to market exhibitors and in all, more 1,500 manufacturers and product lines were represented. Overall buyer and designer attendance for February Las Vegas Market was off a mere 4 percent compared to the most recent Market.

“The sustained level of buyer and designer attendance is an endorsement of the strength of the unmatched platform that World Market Center Las Vegas has built and offers to the industry,” Maricich said. “Many buyers commented that our unique and fresh approach and facilities, combined with the incredible value of Las Vegas, draws them back market after market as the place where they find new optimism and opportunities.”

This winter’s Market featured more than 100 international exhibitors from nearly 20 countries, further underscoring World Market Center Las Vegas’ rank as the industry’s global hub. Tens of thousands of exhibitors, buyers and designers from around the world were able to convene in a single location, making Las Vegas Market the most convenient, one-stop shopping experience for retailers.

“This was my first time coming to Market, and the experience was amazing,” said Sonia Beigis of Lifestyle Solutions, Inc. “We did get big container orders, and I am really pleased with the overall experience. Everyone is really happy and positive. We just got four new accounts, and they were all container orders. We had plenty of repeat business as well as new accounts and contacts.”

New-to-market exhibitors included leading domestic and international manufacturers from a wide range of product sectors, including furniture, accessory, gift, lighting, rugs, and textile.

Some of the biggest names in the industry were at World Market Center Las Vegas, including Furniture Brands International divisions Thomasville, Drexel Heritage, Henredon and Maitland Smith; Hammary Furniture; and Taylor King. Market attendees also got a taste of the latest in high end, designer products and eco-friendly furnishings in Las Vegas Design Center and in the trend-setting juried sections of Living Green Pavilion, Design & Living and ConText.

Lenwood Rich, President and CEO of Drexel Heritage, said “We’re very excited to be here. We’re seeing retailers and designers who don’t normally come to High Point. We’re also seeing customers who only go to High Point once a year. This is a great opportunity to expose our brand to so many more different people because it’s all in one area. It was advantageous for the three brands to be together. It’s created a lot of buzz and traffic. Being at Las Vegas Market is a great advertisement for our brand. We’re reaching so many people who may not be aware of Drexel. They can actually see and touch it now. It’s great for all our brands.”

New permanent exhibitors in the high end floors of Las Vegas Design Center include Pearson Company, Alexander’s Collection and Jordan Spencer among others. Laura Ashley Candles & Home Fragrance, C & F Enterprises, Blissliving Home and Wildwood are just a handful of new gift, home accessories and lighting exhibitors that unveiled new products and showrooms at Las Vegas Market.

“It was a record Las Vegas Market for us and were very pleased with home retailers that have been here,” said John Haste of IMAX. “They seem to have come out and were ready to do business. They have been very aggressive in the programs that they were looking for, and they are ready to get their products in to help their stores be fresh and more appealing to their customers.”

For the first time ever, World Market Center Las Vegas generated over 10,000 pre-registrations for upcoming Fall 2009 Las Vegas Market (Sept. 14 to 17), further reflecting the optimism of the industry and proving that the world is ready to do business.

Scott Altom, a buyer with Precision Trading Group in Washington, is among the 10,000 who pre-registered for Fall 2009 Las Vegas Market: “I’m looking for new products and better pricing to stay competitive. I have been finding everything I need here. I will be back in September and have already pre-registered. I only come to Las Vegas Market. It’s more convenient for me.”

Vincent Galasso of Lo Forti Fine Prints agreed. “This is probably one of the most professional shows we have done in the last 30 years. The buyers feel welcomed, appreciated and are treated first class. Every attention to detail – from the buses in the morning to giving out umbrellas when it rains to wonderful wine and cheese and hors d’oeuvres – is terrific. The environment is lively and fresh and the buyers feel exhilarated. This is a great run show.”

Innovative Web Event Took Trend Spotting to New Level
World Market Center Las Vegas provided an exclusive preview of future home design trends during the February Las Vegas Market when three of the country’s top designers presented their favorite picks during the market’s first-ever interactive webcast and live panel discussion. Ahead of the Curve, an intimate design dialogue, featured Barclay Butera, Amy Lau and Joe Nye, and was moderated by Today show style guru Susanna Salk.

After scouring 5.1 million square feet of showrooms, the design experts discovered many distinct and notable trends, including Chinoiserie, Soft Color Palettes, Exotic, Gentleman’s Lounge, Historical References Reinvigorated, Natural Materials, Palm Springs Outdoors, Sustainable Furnishings, and Whimsical Wicker.

Salk remarked at the start of the event, “There is an incredible sense of discovery here (at World Market Center Las Vegas). We were all so delighted because we were able to go back and forth between small showrooms and large manufacturers. Las Vegas Market presents an engaging range of exhibitors in an efficient environment that isn’t available anywhere else in this country. At Market we were able to explore, educate ourselves and edit our collective thoughts into a manageable portfolio of trends that reflected what’s new in the world of home furnishings.”

‘Thrive, Not Just Survive’ Was the Name of the Game; Seminars and Retail Resource Center Drew Record Crowds
Winter Las Vegas Market was infused with new tools, resources and business strategies aimed to help retailers and design professionals network and remain current during the down economy. “Because World Market Center is committed to being an environment of optimism and new opportunity, February Las Vegas Market delivered in putting creative people together in a networking environment where they could share ideas and have conversations with like-minded people about better ways of running their business,” said Maricich.

Case in point, the WHFA and NHFA’s Retailer Resource Centers, in Buildings B and C, saw a 50 percent increase in traffic as attendees participated in the diverse educational seminars and business services designed to help them overcome the challenges of the present environment.

WHFA’s partnership with World Market Center Las Vegas to create a new “Education Concierge” during Market was highly successful and well-utilized.  The goal of the education concierge was to streamline educational information and elevate the market attendee’s experience.

The Sustainable Furnishings Council also attracted a tremendous amount of attention and attracted many new members at February Las Vegas Market. With expanded educational offerings and complementary exhibits, the SFC drew record crowds with topics revolving around ways for retailers to make their businesses more eco-oriented, including Sourcing & Operations, Marketing, and Sales.  

SFC Executive Director Susan Inglis said, “The high attendance at our seminars was very encouraging. We have always gotten great support and response in Las Vegas, and this was our best ever – a significant accomplishment in the current environment.”

World Market Center Las Vegas’ week-long educational platform offered attendees multiple opportunities to get connected to relevant speakers and innovative strategies to improve their business. The Business Survival seminars series featured perspectives and panels from leading business authorities. The Brave New World Environmental Leadership Series highlighted education trends and international influences in the sustainability home furnishings movement. The Trend Series featured design authorities who forecasted what’s next in color, lighting and trends.  Designer Days programs inspired professionals with insights and icons in the field of design. 

Roger Thomas, First Las Vegan to be Recognized as a ‘Design Icon’
The Las Vegas Design Center honored Roger Thomas, the executive vice president of Wynn Design and Development, as its Winter 2009 Las Vegas Market Design Icon – a seminar series in which design legends share their stories and experiences to inspire tomorrow’s designers.

Thomas, the third recipient of the Design Icon series tribute, was the first Las Vegan to receive the Design Icon honor from World Market Center Las Vegas. Thomas has become a household name, synonymous with the elegant and whimsical settings for which the Wynn properties are known.

Thomas’ accomplishments include a Who’s Who of design landmarks, including Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Macau and Encore along with Wynn Diamond Macau, opening January 2010. His characteristic imprint can also be seen in the interiors of the Golden Nugget hotels in Las Vegas and Laughlin and the Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

Following his acceptance, Thomas shared highlights of his life as a designer and his sources of inspiration, as well as his insights into the business of design. Thomas attributed his success to being in the right place at the right time and developing strong client relationships.

A cocktail party was held in Thomas’ honor following the Design Icon award presentation and question and answer session.

The Fall 2009 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for Sept. 14 to 17 to align with exhibitor business cycles, alleviate industry show conflicts and take advantage of favorable Las Vegas hotel rates.