FURNITURE & DESIGN BRIEFS

Design center names Grenewald manager

William Grenewald has been named general manager of the Las Vegas Design Center at the World Market Center.

Harvey Dondero, chief executive officer of World Market Center, said Grenewald brings a unique combination of skills in strategic planning and creative problem solving, plus strength in administration, budget oversight, public relations, leasing, sales and marketing, to his new position.

"Las Vegas Design Center is a growing resource and Bill's background will be a huge asset to its continued growth," he said.

With more than 25 years in the home-furnishings field, Grenewald has experience in design-related marketing and leasing with a broad perspective. A native of Texas and a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, Grenewald has spent most of his career in fields related to interior design and the products that designers use.

Before joining World Market Center, Grenewald was vice president and general manager of MDS Group Publishing, a full-service advertising agency, publishing and marketing consulting firm in Miami, specializing in home furnishings. Also in Florida, Grenewald was involved in the preconstruction leasing and opening of the new International Design Center in Naples, Fla. He has been involved in many show house and design exhibitions both in the U.S. and abroad.

Las Vegas Design Center, which is open year-round to the trade, features 400,000 square feet of the newest products, trends and styles in furniture, lighting, floral, accessories, rugs and wall décor. The opening of a third building in July 2008 will add 500,000 square feet of showroom space.

Green pavilion to debut at July market

Things will look a little green at what is expected to be a red-hot Las Vegas Market this July.

The summer market for the home-furnishings industry at the World Market Center will see the debut of the Living Green Pavilion, which will highlight the growing style and substance of eco-friendly furnishings. The pavilion, to be located within the temporary exhibits at the Sands Expo, is in addition to the other environmentally conscious manufacturers with permanent showrooms in the downtown facility.

"One of the most important issues in the world today is protecting the environment, and so it's no surprise that the home-furnishings industry is becoming more in tune with consumer demand and the usage of sustainable resources in their products," said Tim Branscome, World Market Center's director of international business development.

World Market Center has teamed up with the Sustainable Furniture Council to organize the pavilion, due to the organization's commitment and realistic views on attaining sustainability. Branscome said it is important to raise the profile of companies that are leading the movement in sustainability, and SFC has established meaningful criteria in terms of identifying suppliers as truly sustainable.

Included in the Living Green exhibit will be a greenhouse gallery, an incubator platform showcasing new design directions within the sustainable home-furnishings category.

"We have discovered that the producers of furniture using sustainable materials are not only pioneers, but also design innovators. The introduction and availability of various new sustainable materials appears to have stimulated a whole new community of designers who are now finding their way into the market," Branscome added.

Also slated for July is a panel discussion, "Retail Sustainability," presented by Home Furnishings Business. The discussion will explore how key retailers have incorporated sustainable practices into their business plans for the future.