Jan 15, 2016

Las Vegas Market expands responsibilities for Gift & Home leasing team

Las Vegas Market announced today that veteran gift and home décor leasing executives, Joy Jansen and Leanna John, are assuming expanded roles for select gift, lifestyle, gourmet housewares and specialty tabletop floors in Building C, beginning with the Winter 2016 Las Vegas Market, running January 24-28, 2016. The changes come following the previously announced departure of Cassie Catania, who has left the company to pursue interests outside the industry. Jansen will assume responsibility for floors C-ONE and C11, centering on gourmet housewares and specialty tabletop suppliers. John will maintain responsibility for floors C8 and C9 and also will assume Jasen’s previous responsibility for C10, focusing on gift and lifestyle vendors. Jansen and John both will continue to report to Terence Morris, senior director of gift leasing.

“Las Vegas Market has experienced significant growth –in quality of resources and showroom occupancy – both of which can be attributed in large part to Joy and Leanna’s contributions,” said Dorothy Belshaw, president of Gift & Home Décor, International Market Centers. “Based on their demonstrated abilities, strong industry relationships and knowledge, we have decided to reallocate account management responsibilities and place our continued expansion into their capable hands. As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market is continuing to building strong relationships with individual exhibitors and multi-line sales agencies — areas where Leanna and Joy have excelled.”

Jansen has been with IMC for more than three years as gift and home leasing manager; initially responsible for expanding the Handmade temporary exhibits.  During the last two years, she has been instrumental in launching the Lifestyle Collection on C10 and bringing it to 85% occupancy, signing major brands including Vera Bradley, Hester & Cook, LAFCO, Nest Fragrances and Jellycat. Her related industry experience includes work for other trade show firms for more than six years, including handling the handmade and gourmet categories for George Little Management’s West Coast gift shows; and also working for Merchandise Mart Properties, where she launched the Beckman’s West handcrafted show at the LA Mart, and managing the gourmet and gift sections of the California Gift Show.

John joined IMC in December 2014 as gift leasing manager, bringing a wealth of industry experience to the position. She previously worked for Atlanta-based Urban Expositions for five years, serving as group show director managing sales and day-to-day management for the California Gift Show and San Francisco International Gift Fair.  Other industry sales and marketing experience includes work for a web and e-commerce development company which promoted services to gift and resort industry retailers at more than 40 trade shows annually.  

Las Vegas Market is the leading furniture, home decor and gift marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 2,700+ 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 Winter 2016 Las Vegas Market runs January 24-28, 2016, at World Market Center Las Vegas.