Q: With the increased size of the World Market Center in Las Vegas, are you finding more variety in terms of product, styles and price points than you've seen in the past?
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 4, 2007
"Absolutely, just from the standpoint that more people are showing here, so you're going to see more product and more variety. And with Building C going up, it's only going to grow in that sense."
Jeff Hosking, PMD Furniture Direct, Columbus, Ohio
"This is my first market here, but this has the best selection I've seen in my career. San Francisco is where we did our market before, but the area, the convenience and the quality of the building are superb. This is something I can go to every time. I'm like a kid in a candy store. I should have done this in 2005. I didn't realize what this was. I'm finding all new lines, and there are so many to pick from — new looks, new prices. I love it."
Gary Bode, Colony House Furniture, Lynden, Wash.
"Yes. And it's really easy to get around. I'm enjoying that a lot. There's a lot more to see. I've actually looked at more lines and picked up two new lines, (which is a lot for me). My store is very small."
Margo Lawler, Mountain Home Furnishings, Winthrop, Wash.
"Yes. There are a lot more accessories here now, and the variety of vendors, who, over the years disappeared from San Francisco (are here). The spaces are larger now. You can see entire product lines. So it's not only a matter of more vendors. We're seeing more vendors can now show more stuff. I've never been to High Point, and now I'll probably never go."
Steve Tucker, Tucker's Valley Furniture, El Cajon, Calif.
"Oh yeah, absolutely. For starters, it's easier to shop, and every category has been fleshed out. I start at the top and work my way down. Definitely there's more stuff here, and as this fleshes out there's less reason to go anywhere else. I'm part of a large buying group (Furniture Leaders), and we're trying to focus on vendors that display here. This is our market. The amount of time in an eight-hour day that you spend on elevators and shuttles is significantly reduced (vs. other markets). ... I had 13 appointments on Monday. In High Point, that's impossible."
Philip Johnson, Johnson Hardware & Furniture, Sidney, Mont.
"Oh yes. We're doubling our size next year, so I'm looking at furniture. For me, it was a (whole different market). It was overwhelming the first time. Now it's definitely overwhelming. We're high-end. At some of the larger showrooms, I think there's more variety (and in all price points)."
Brenda Buschkoetter, Impulse Gifts & Home Décor, Jasper, Ind.
"Yes. I'd say double. It's getting better for the high-end retailer. I'm seeing more ... but it still doesn't come close to High Point. It's been fun to see some different vendors, though. There are some West Coast vendors here you just don't see in High Point ... and it's nice to see some fresh designs and new looks. Still, there's not as much high end from the West Coast as I'd like to see."
Jim Gabbert, Gabberts, Minneapolis
"Definitely. It's far beyond what your trading area wants. The import companies, especially the new ones, are bringing in product we're not used to seeing."
Jim Heikes, Factory Direct Furniture, Hutchinson, Minn.
"Yes. More of the vendors we carry are here because of the added space this time, so that's made it much more worthwhile to come. Cochrane is here in a much more expanded space. We're waiting for La-Z-Boy. We don't go to High Point."
Harv Schreur, Country Sales Furniture, Milaca, Minn.
"Yes, although I'm limited because I'm a mattress retailer. It seems to me everyone in the specialty sleep category was in one spot in the Pavilions (at the World Market Center) last time. Now they're spread out because of the new building. But in each showroom, I'm seeing more because there's more room. I'm primarily a Sealy dealer, and I got to see totally new promotional Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster, where last market they wouldn't have had room to do that. And it was really hot in the Pavilions (last time). In July, it was miserable. (This time), everyone was able to show a lot more new product."
Tracy Director, Director's Mattresses & More, Beaverton, Ore.
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