Rug vendors deepening Las Vegas presence
Many see WMC as their future
Lissa Wyman -- Furniture Today, July 25, 2006
AT THE MARKET - The few pioneer rug vendors showing here this week will be joined by wagonloads of colleagues who are heading West to help populate Buildings B and C.
"There's no other choice, this is the future for our business," said Nasser Rahmanan, president of Masterlooms, one of the first rug vendors to open here. He said the company's World Market Center space, shared with Jerry Aziz & Co., is already profitable.
About a dozen major rug vendors are in the first WMC building. More are in temporary space as they await the completion of buildings B, set to open in January, and C, projected for July 2008. Almost all the remaining rug majors also are in town to walk the market and make a final decision for space in the upcoming buildings.
Lee Harounian, a principal of New York-based Harounian Rugs International, said Monday he had just signed a lease for a 3,000-square-foot space in Building B. He said he expected it will give the company "a greater penetration into the West Coast market."
Leasing is in full swing for Building C, which will house a floor covering center on two floors.
The Atlanta Rug Market with January and July shows may appear to conflict with Las Vegas, but most rug executives say the two events will probably coexist.
The big question mark is the Surfaces Floor Covering Expo, which traditionally takes place in late January or early February in Las Vegas. In 2007, Surfaces will run Feb. 7-10, a week after the Las Vegas Market. The consensus is that Surfaces will rapidly fade as a rug venue.
Rug majors Nourison, Oriental Weavers and Feizy are opening at Building B in January. All three were once big exhibitors at Surfaces. Feizy, waiting completion of its new showroom, has a large space in the WMC Pavilions and has opted out of Surfaces. Nourison and Oriental Weavers, opening showrooms in Building B, say they will exhibit at both Surfaces and the WMC in 2007.
"For the time being, we plan to show at Surfaces with a reduced presence," said Alex Peykar, a principal of Nourison.
Hellenic has been out of Surfaces for a few years and Steve Mazarakis, president, said there is no chance the company will return.
"I've made my commitment to the World Market Center. We'll have a permanent showroom in Building 3. The World Market Center is where my real customers are headed."
Not every big vendor is beating a path to the WMC. Floor covering giants Shaw Inds. and Mohawk Inds. are not making decisions at this time. Both have been out of Surfaces for several years, and conduct road shows around the country.
Shaw Living, however, does have a presence at the WMC with its Kathy Ireland licensing program. Kathy Ireland has a large WMC showroom.
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Rug vendors deepening Las Vegas presence
Aug 13, 2006 -
Rug vendors look forward to Buildings B and C
Aug 13, 2006
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