Dec 5, 2008

World Market Center Las Vegas Expands Gift Resources

(LAS VEGAS) — World Market Center Las Vegas welcomed two new team members to focus on the growing gift and decorative accessory categories.

Michelle Ovalle joined World Market Center as Brand Manager, Gift and Specialty Categories and Margaret Powers is Leasing Manager, Gift and Decorative Accessories.

“Dedicated resources for these essential categories was vital due to growth and future development,” said Dana Andrew, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. The recruitment and addition of Ovalle and Powers also supports an effort to create a stand-alone gift and decorative accessories show in Summer 2010.

Ovalle is responsible for developing marketing programs specifically with the gift buyer and showrooms in mind. Ovalle is managing marketing plans for specialty categories to include Gift and Decorative Accessories, Lighting, Textiles and Rugs. She served as director of marketing, gift and home furnishings for L.A. Mart / MMPI and director of marketing, Rampage Clothing.

“Michelle’s background and experience in marketing, tradeshow management and promotion development will be a tremendous asset to the development of this vital industry segment,” Andrew said.

Powers is responsible for leasing permanent gift and decorative accessory showrooms. She worked as marketing and sales manager for The Hershey Company and Director of Leasing at MMPI for L.A. Mart, 7W New York and The Chicago Market: Living and Giving; director of marketing for Hub Group; director of merchandising for Enesco Group. She joins the leasing team of Julie Schwartz and Sheri Makransky.

Phillip McKay, Sr. Vice President, reinforced World Market Center’s commitment to the gift segment and said this is part of a broad plan to create the total home resource market, with a stand-alone gift market planned for the future.

“Margaret’s experience with gift showroom management is invaluable,” McKay said, adding, “we are truly excited about the expansion of the accessories area to include more gift and decorative accessory products, which will appeal to the growing buyer base of our Market.”

Many new tenants in this category will be housed on the fifth floor of Building C. Products such as small collectibles, pet products and tabletop will be among the sub-categories expanded to include more gift lines, McKay said, adding that regardless of the economy, gift products will always be necessary and important.

“People may put off larger purchases, but gifts continue to sell,” she said.

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.

The Winter 2009 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for Feb. 9 – 13, 2009 at World Market Center Las Vegas. Attendees can register and reserve discounted rooms online now at www.LasVegasMarket.com.