May 17, 2017

Las Vegas Market expands partnerships with non-profit groups

Las Vegas Market announced an expansion of its long-standing partnerships with three major non-profit industry associations – Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP), Museum Store Association (MSA) and Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG) – to develop an exclusive three-part Non-Profit Retail Symposium at the Summer 2017 Las Vegas Market, July 30-August 3, 2017.  The educational program, which is crafted by buyers for buyers, will address advocating to administration and selling to Millennials and will be augmented by a networking opportunity for association members and non-members alike.

“Las Vegas Market is proud to partner with these three leading non-profit industry associations to develop at-Market programming and events with tangible benefits for their members,” said Dorothy Belshaw, president of Gift Leasing and Chief Marketing Officer, International Market Centers. “As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market is meaningfully committed to helping the lucrative, but often-overlooked, non-profit retail category identify and address growth opportunities and important business issues.”

“How to Advocate to Administration” will address how non-profit retailers can meaningfully present contributions to administration, integrate best practices and “take a seat at the table” on Monday, July 31, 2pm – 3pm, in the Pavilions Seminar Room.  Julie Steiner, director of retail operations at The Barnes Shop in Philadelphia, PA, and president of MSA, will moderate.  Panelists include Susan Tudor of Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville, FL, Roseanna Galindo-Kuhn of Enloe Medical Center in Chico, CA; and Yvonne Miles of San Diego Zoo. RSVP at http://imcenters.nprsAdvocatelvm-s17.sgizmo.com/s3/.

“Selling to Millennials,” will address how to define Millennials and how to position stores and products to appeal to this misunderstood demographic. ZAG member Melinda Greene, retail manager/gift shop buyer at Kansas City Zoo in Kansas City, MO, will moderate.  Panelists are Melody Caban of Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, TX; Brandan Johnson of Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI; Karli Stroh of Integris Health in Oklahoma City, OK; Heather Barnes of Intermountain The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Murry, UT; Kaitlyn Bailey of John Ball Zoological Garden in Grand Rapids, MI; Michael Balbone of Perez Art Museum Miami; Kate Botelho of Preservation Society of Newport County in Newport, RI; Sally Miller of UH Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, OH; and Aubrey Herr of Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, MD.  The session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1, noon-1:30 p.m., in the Pavilions Seminar Room. A boxed lunch will be served. RSVP here.

A special Non-Profit Networking Reception will provide an opportunity for non-profit retail experts from across the country to meet and mingle on Monday, July 31, from 5-6:30 p.m., in the Pavilions Seminar Room.  Complimentary food and beverages will be served. Existing and prospective association members and vendors are welcome. RSVP here.

In addition to the Symposium, Las Vegas Market will host several other seminars and special events to cater to the non-profit retail community, including hosting the annual meeting of the ZAG board of directors.  Both AHVRP and MSA also will lead curated docent tours of top products for hospital gift shops and museum stores, respectively.  On Sunday, July 30, AHVRP will host “Healthcare Gift Guide: Top Picks for Hospital Gift Shops,” led by Cheryl Call of Utah Valley Hospital/Intermountain Healthcare in Provo, UT; and on Monday, July 31, MSA will host “Top Museum Store Products,” led by Ione Saroyan of the New York Historical Society Museum & Library in New York, NY. Tour groups are limited to 20 buyers and RSVP is required.  RSVP here.

Overall, Las Vegas Market is expanding its industry outreach efforts through partnerships with some 30 industry trade groups, including these three leading associations, each of which represents a unique and thriving non-profit retail segment. The Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP) encompasses 1,200+ hospital gift shop buyers, managers and director of volunteer services nationwide.  It is a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association, which is the premier professional membership society for health care volunteer services, retail operations and related support services disciplines. The Museum Store Association (MSA) is a nonprofit, international association dedicated to advancing the success of non-profit retail professionals and non-profit institutions, with more than 900 institutional and individual buyer members nationwide, including botanical gardens, children’s museums, art museums, science museums, historical societies and more. The Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization for 330 merchandise buyers from zoos, aquariums, theme parks, nature centers and other wildlife facilities, institutions and attractions across the United States.

Las Vegas Market is the nation’s fastest growing gift and home décor market and the leading furniture marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 4,000+ gift, home décor and furniture resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. The Summer 2017 Las Vegas Market runs July 30-August 3, 2017.