Inaugural IFAM hits Vegas
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, February 8, 2004
LAS VEGAS — As with any new trade show, The International Furniture and Accessories Marketplace was a gamble for exhibitors showing in Las Vegas for the first time.
For some, the gamble paid off during the event, which ran from Feb. 4-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Put on by Bentley International Group, IFAM attracted about 200 home furnishings, outdoor furnishings and accessories exhibitors. Many exhibitors and buyers came from the Western states, but some were from farther away.
"So far, so good," Kristine Shacklette, a sales manager for Basalt, Colo.-based case goods importer Old Java, said after the first day. "We saw some good traffic and are really pleased as far as who is here."
Since this is the first year of the show, exhibitors don't have a benchmark to compare sales or traffic.
Bell, Calif.-based case goods importer Classic Home wrote some orders at the start of the show, said company Executive Director Thomas Andonian. Classic Home sells samples off the floor, a factor that helps offset the cost of doing business at a first-time event.
"It's not so much a risk as much as you don't know what to expect," said Andonian, who was pleased at the business he was getting during the first two days.
For others, IFAM fell below expectations, especially in buyer traffic.
"For an international furniture show, I'd expect more," said Marvin Beleck, a manufacturer's representative for Royal Sleep Products, looking down a corridor empty except for three or four people. He also operates a Factory Mattress Outlet store in Forth Worth, Texas, and was disappointed that none of the 10 bedding lines he sells were exhibiting at the show.
The show touted itself as a venue for the "hottest and newest product lines" in the industry. The idea was to lure retailers with one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories to spruce up their sales floors.
Beleck said he was not impressed with the furniture lines represented, and thought there were too many accessories.
"I haven't really seen anything that has stood out and made me want to walk into a booth," he said.
Jim Sidney, owner of Oakland, Calif.-based case goods and leather upholstery importer New Global Trading Co., said that by Thursday afternoon, he and sales rep Jim Thai only had a few people stop by their booth. They didn't necessarily expect to immediately pay off the $10,000 cost of appearing in Las Vegas, but had hoped to make more contacts.
Others, like Joe and Cathy Bartolowits, owners of Arlington, Texas-based case goods importer Classic Design, said they were pleased with the contacts they made and orders they placed the first two days.
"Traffic is slow, but we've met some good accounts," Cathy Bartolowits said. "We're pleased. The people that are here are buying."
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