B is for bedding
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, January 28, 2007
Las Vegas — The "B" in World Market Center B just might stand for bedding.
More than a dozen bedding showrooms are welcoming buyers in the glittering new showroom building. The impressive list features seven of the Top 15 U.S. bedding producers, including three of the Top 5: Sealy, Serta and Spring Air.
"We love bedding!" exclaimed Babs Blair, WMC's director of leasing.
Building B hosts an even stronger lineup of bedding producers than WMC's first building. The A building hosts two Simmons showrooms and also features Top 15 producers Serta, Tempur-Pedic, Comfort Solutions and Lady Americana, in addition to niche players like Natura and Comfortaire.
Between them, those two connected buildings host the strongest assemblage of bedding producers the industry has seen in many years.
"Las Vegas Market has definitely become the destination for bedding buyers in the home furnishings industry," Blair said.
Lady Americana President Kerry Tramel said, "From a retailer's perspective, this is a one-stop shop. From Top 15 producers to specialty sleep producers to up-and-coming producers, everyone is showing in Las Vegas."
Lady Americana, which is now in permanent space, is rolling out a new Casa Cristina line, retailing from $499 to $1,999 in queen, and a Viscokidz line that features twin and full-sized visco beds in vibrant colors.
With the opening of Building B, several bedding majors that had been in temporary space now have permanent showrooms. And one major, International Bedding, previously known as IBC, joins the mix in its first market showing anywhere in about a decade.
Sealy officials say their new showroom offers "a convenient location for both our West Coast and international customers to view our broad portfolio of best-in-class products." Larry Rogers, president of Sealy's new North American unit, said, "It provides a strategic opportunity for our sales force to connect with more customers."
Philip Dobbs, Sealy's senior vice president of marketing, said the Las Vegas Market "attracts tens of thousands of buyers from more than 80 countries."
Spring Air's new WMC showroom was designed by Martin Roberts and his team at Grid2. They borrowed touches from luxury hotels to design a space that is strong on hospitality.
Serta's showroom in Building B is devoted to its America's Mattress sleep shop program. This is the first time that program has been spotlighted in permanent space. Serta makes its regular product showing in its original showroom in WMC's first building.
IB officials said the strong bedding presence in Las Vegas helped them decide to show their wares at the market.
Other Top 15 producers in Building B include Therapedic, Englander and Restonic, unveiling its new Connie Post-designed retail concepts.
Post also did the new Building B showroom for Dormia, highlighting a new female-friendly store design the company is rolling out in its retail program.
Gold Bond, a leader in futons and bidding to grow its conventional bedding business, also moves into a new showroom in Building B, as does specialty sleep power Boyd Specialty Sleep. Other exhibitors include Stylution, an importer showing home furnishings and bedding, and Reverie, another specialty bedding producer.
Emerald, a full-line importer, will show a new bedding line and gallery program in its Building B showroom.
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