Vegas business booms
Organizers say traffic tops 2005 opening
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, February 4, 2007
Las Vegas — Ignoring the effects of the industry's prolonged sales slump, enthusiastic furniture buyers and sellers jammed the Las Vegas Market last week in record numbers as the fast-growing trade show opened its second showroom building.
Showroom traffic and order-writing were heavy — especially during the first three days of the five-day event — and the mood was upbeat.
Market organizers said attendance topped the record-setting inaugural show in July
2005 when about 62,000 came.
"This is a watershed event for the World Market Center," said WMC co-managing partner Shawn Samson. "We are humbled by the response from the industry."
WMC officials are planning for Building D, although the 1.6 million-square-foot Building B just opened and the 2.1 million-square-foot Building C won't open until July 2008. Samson said ground will be broken this year for the fourth building, which will have about 1.5 million square feet of space.
"Our plan is to execute continuous and overlapped construction of all remaining phases of development," said co-managing partner Ron Wackrow. The total project calls for eight buildings totaling 12 million square feet.
Most exhibitors were elated with traffic and order-writing, and said the market continues to gain momentum with retailers nationwide.
"In a word, this market was superb," said Gary Harmon, vice president of sales at Hamilton & Spill. "We opened well over 20 new accounts and grew our business with many existing customers."
Harmon said he saw buyers from across the United States as well as Canada, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. "The World Market Center has done an outstanding job putting the excitement back into markets," he said.
Bill Benton, president and CEO of Powell, estimated that showroom traffic was up 20% from the previous high for Las Vegas, the first market in July 2005. He said retailers weren't just looking, but were buying across all the company's categories, especially youth and jewelry armoires.
Benton expects to see more of the big High Point exhibitors show here as the market grows. Failing to recognize the importance of Las Vegas would be tantamount to the failure of some companies a few years ago to accept China as a furniture source, he said.
Ashley Chairman Ron Wanek said that in the first two days, his company saw twice the number of accounts it sees during the entire High Point Market, adding that Vegas has become the market of choice for Ashley HomeStore dealers.
Traffic and order-writing exceeded his expectations for the show, which he called the most energetic market he has ever attended, including the July 2005 show here. "Everybody was upbeat and uplifted," Wanek said.
New WMC exhibitors were equally enthusiastic. Upholstery resource Leather Italia, which had previously shown here in a temporary space, said traffic far surpassed that of any previous market.
Ready-to-assemble producer O'Sullivan also was thrilled with its first show here. "The traffic almost was overwhelming," said Gary Ramey, senior vice president of marketing.
Exhibitors reported heavy traffic from Western states, and also from parts of the Midwest.
"The people who were here bought furniture ... even though nobody is bragging about business in the fourth quarter," said David Ballard, chief operating officer of case goods importer Primo Designs.
Traffic wasn't quite as heavy at the Pavilions or Cashman Center, the market's temporary venues, but many exhibitors enjoyed strong markets there as well.
"This was a great bedding market," said Tambra Jones, executive director of the Specialty Sleep Assn., whose members occupied over 12,000 square feet in the Pavilions. "It was very busy Monday and traffic was steady since then."
Kevin McGuinness, president of leather upholstery resource Fjords, said traffic was moderate at the Cashman Center, but he was pleased with his first Vegas show.
"We already have opened eight new accounts," he said at mid-week. "That certainly made it worthwhile for us to be here."
| Acknowledgements | ||
| Editor-in-Chief Ray Allegrezza, News Editor Jay McIntosh, Leather Editor Joan Gunin, Associate Editor Thomas Russell and Staff Writer Jeff Linville contributed to this story. | ||
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