Jan 16, 2009
Las Vegas Market Spotlights Sustaining & Gaining in ‘09

Las Vegas—Eco-friendly home furnishings exhibits and complementary educational programs planned for the Winter Las Vegas Market (February 9 – 13) illustrate how simple—and stylish—reducing our carbon footprints can be.

The glass-enclosed Living Green Pavilion showroom, a popular attraction at Las Vegas Market, has moved to prime real estate on the World Market Center Las Vegas campus, Building B, Suite B-220, which will resemble a sustainable Shangri-La. From upholstery to case goods, bamboo products, accessories, lighting and bedding, the products at the Living Green Pavilion are diverse, earth-friendly and even affordable.

That’s because consumers are buying responsibly now more than ever before. Earth preservation has hit the mainstream and is here to stay. And as interest and production increases, prices go down. It’s a critical step in moving sustainable products out of “specialty niche” and into the greater marketplace, says Margaret Casey, Director of Programming for World Market Center Las Vegas.

“As consumer demand for this product rises, retailers have to be ready to meet demand,” says Casey, who is also a board member with Sustainable Furnishings Council. “We’re focusing on growing as a credible destination for sustainable and eco-friendly furniture and furnishings.”

Jeff Hiller, a founding board member and current Marketing & Education chair of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, adds, “The creation and promotion of venues such as the Living Green Pavilion at World Market Center Las Vegas’ Las Vegas Market, the most successful of its type in residential furnishings, raises awareness and brings together a wide range of eco-friendly options to make the shopping experience infinitely easier. The strong performance of the Living Green Pavilion last July shows the Market is very much on track.”

At Market, attending buyers may see a representative of Harden Furniture informing buyers about the benefits of wood grown in the company’s own carefully managed forest or Greenington Bamboo showcasing natural furniture that is sleek and contemporary. Further down, passersby will admire the lamps, shades and accessories made from fallen leaves at the Eangee Home & Design showroom.

Bevara Design Home displays an array of modern and responsible home furnishings, from eco concrete tabletops to plantation teak daybeds. Exhibitor Strobel recently contracted with Sears as the retailer’s sustainable mattress provider.

Ecologically mindful design is the way of the future. According to a 2008 consumer study, nearly half of consumers are very interested in global warming and have started doing what they can, primarily buying green products. Ordinary consumers are increasingly buying everyday items like recycled copier paper, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and green cleaning supplies.

Though in the past sustainable home furnishings options have been limited, that’s changing rapidly. The Living Green Pavilion is proof of that, and it’s being recognized across the globe.

“The Sustainable Furnishings Council very much appreciates World Market Center Las Vegas’ commitment to doing more each Market in the way of promoting our industry’s efforts to become more sustainable,” says Susan Inglis, executive director at Sustainable Furnishings Council. “The growth of the Living Green Pavilion in spite of the economy has been impressive and we see more and more variety in what is being offered.”

Programming Provides Eco Cues to Buyers, Designers
In addition to the latest offerings, World Market Center Las Vegas focuses on educating buyers and sellers on ecological issues.

A variety of environmental education seminars are scheduled throughout Winter Las Vegas Market, such as “Ab Fab Nursery” with HGTV’s Paige Rein, which focuses on earth-friendly nurseries; “California’s New Composite Wood Regulations,” with Angela Csondes from California Air Resources Board and designer Dann Foley demonstrating how industry professionals can best keep pace with new products and sources. In addition, the Brave New World Environmental Leadership Series highlights education, trends and international influences in the sustainable home furnishings movement.

“The educational programming is perfectly compatible with the Living Green Pavilion and will help you understand the importance of these issues,” says Hiller. Many of the seminars will be located adjacent to the Living Green Pavilion on the second floor of Building B.

As a complementary element to the Living Green Pavilion, other adjacent juried showcase sections include ConText and Design & Living. Combined, the trio represents a comprehensive array of the home furnishings industry’s most discriminating creations.

The Winter 2009 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for Feb. 9 – 13, 2009 at World Market Center Las Vegas.

About World Market Center Las Vegas
World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. With the opening of Building C, World Market Center now stands at more than five million square feet of space, exceeding the size of any trade merchandise mart in the United States. When fully built, at $3 billion, 12 million square feet and 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The state-of-the-art campus showcases furniture, decorative accessories, gift, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC), open year-round.




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