WMC reports 2,000 visitors from 70 countries
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, August 22, 2005
Las Vegas — This city has a history of drawing visitors from around the world, and that pattern continued at last month's furniture market here.
The World Market Center said it registered about 2,000 international visitors from 70 countries. That's a fraction of the estimated total attendance of 62,000, but could be a sign of more to come.
"From everything I have heard, Las Vegas is working to be a world market," said Karl Eulberg, vice president of sales for Kathy Ireland Home by Martin Furniture. "They are going to Milan (Italy) and Cologne (Germany) and promoting this market as a true world market more than High Point has ever done."
International buyers and manufacturers came to the first market here from as near as Mexico and Canada and as far as Asia and the Middle East.
Metal beds importer Fashion Bed Group had visitors from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Italy. Company officials attributed the international traffic to the ease of air travel to Las Vegas and the entertainment options available.
"It's more accessible for overseas travelers," said Dan Greer, president of Fashion Bed Group's Eastern division. "It's easier to get a flight to Las Vegas (than High Point), there are more hotels and it's fun."
Case goods importer Emerald Home Furnishings had visitors from the Philippines, Australia, Puerto Rico, England and the Middle East.
"There was a real good cross section of traffic," said President David Beckmann.
Ray and Sid Kandola, partners in City Furniture & Appliance, a 17-store chain based in Prince George, British Columbia, travel regularly to shows in High Point, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Singapore and Malaysia. For them, Las Vegas is convenient because of its proximity to British Columbia.
"We have been here before and it's easier to get to than High Point from the West Coast," Ray Kandola said. Still, they plan to keep going to High Point at least once every 18 months, although that may change if more big suppliers come to Las Vegas.
"We will see who starts showing here," Ray Kandola said. "They don't have big showrooms like High Point, so they can't show a lot here yet."
The World Market Center partnered with Messe Frankfurt to produce Interior Lifestyle USA, a display that included exhibitors from the Heimtextil and Ambiente trade shows in Europe. An international pavilion at the Las Vegas Convention Center also featured exhibitors and representatives from foreign trade shows.
