Las Vegas Market heats up

Enthusiasm for the Las Vegas Market seemed to be as high as the summer temperatures last week as thousands of retailers, manufacturers and designers gathered at the World Market Center for the biannual trade show for the home-furnishings industry.

Although attendance at the July event is traditionally slightly smaller than the January show, those who visited the showrooms and those who showed their newest designs were pleased.

Introductions ranged the gamut from elaborate, traditional case goods to sleek, modern upholstery. Many manufacturers continued to expand their lines of smaller-scaled furnishings ideal for lofts and townhomes, as well as showcasing designs that are versatile and multifunctional. Integrated electrical components and wire management for today's high-tech, portable devices remained prominent. Colors remained earthy, with shades of brown accented with metallics, greens and blues. Natural materials highlighted the home accessories debuts.

"To the praise of the World Market Center, most every vendor had product that was new," said Bob Yando, merchandise manager and buyer for Walker Furniture in Las Vegas. "That's very important because it's not very interesting and very costly to look at what we've already bought."

Yando said summer markets don't traditionally feature new products, but he was very pleased with what he saw in the manufacturers' showroom. He estimated that between 75 percent and 80 percent of the vendors he visited presented new products and he was able to make several purchases.

"It was a very good shopping experience. I would think that anyone who visited this market from anywhere across America would agree. There is more vendor representation at every market, and that is of interest to us as buyers," he said.

Buyer Eldon Sullivan of Brooks Furniture & Design in Silverthorne, Colo., agreed, noting that the market is easy to navigate. "I don't need to go to other markets because everything I need is here."

William Cain, president of Chelsea House, which specializes in high-end furnishings and home accents, was very pleased with the number of visitors to his showroom in Building B.

"We opened several new accounts," he said midway through the first day of market. "Last market, we had representatives from 45 states."

Dan Setlak, vice president of sales and marketing for Tempur-Pedic, also was happy with the amount of traffic through his showroom and response from those who visited.

Ashley Furniture's Chairman Ron Wanek said his team saw "lots of interest in new product and lots of orders placed." He added the July Market was much stronger than last July for the company. "We know that it's going to be a powerful market. It's a high-quality place to come."

Jeff Cook, president of Broyhill Furniture, said, "Any previous numbers we had were blown away with this market. People are coming here not just to visit, they're here to do business."

Market officials said attendance surpassed the average of 50,000 people, with more than 10,000 retailers and buyers attending for the first time and more than 75 percent of the nation's top 100 retailers represented.

"We had very strong market with terrific traffic and very positive feedback for the first-class experience we deliver to our attendees" said Dana Andrew, vice president of marketing and public relations for World Market Center. "This summer market outpaced the expectations among exhibitors, not to mention delivered so many new facets for buyers and designers looking for the latest in products, trends and education."

In fact, response to the trade show has been so positive officials said plans for the fourth of the eight buildings to be constructed on the campus are being reworked to make it larger than originally designed.

The third building, which is slated to open next July, will measure 2.1 million square feet and be the largest building to date on the campus. The 16-story structure will cost $550 million to build and will use the equivalent of 10 football fields of grass to cover its exterior.

It will house some of the industry's most prominent and promising brands including Lexington Home Brands, Sligh Furniture, Pacific Coast Lighting, Minka Lighting, Mohawk and Hellenic Rug Imports. The ninth floor will focus on holiday, floral and seasonal accessories, and three floors will be devoted to home accessories and décor, including rugs.

Floors one through five will become part of the year-round Las Vegas Design Center, which will cater to interior designer and contract specifiers and feature high-end furniture, textiles and fabrics.

"The Las Vegas Design Center will grow to offer designers everything they need for projects of any nature or scale, from the most expensive, ultraluxe, custom-made to more popularly priced and readily available," said William Grenewald, general manager of the center. "We are targeting the major fabric, trim and wall covering houses, high-end custom case good and upholstery furniture companies, marble, tile and stone resources, kitchen appliances, kitchen cabinetry as well as custom cabinetry for everyone in the house."