Retailers queried about Las Vegas Market date change

Opinions vary on whether furniture buying plans will be affected

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, October 27, 2008

HIGH POINT — At last week's High Point Market, we asked a number of retailers whether the Las Vegas Market's recently announced date change would affect their market buying plans.

 

World Market Center officials in Las Vegas have announced that the second show in 2009 will take place Sept. 14-17, a shift from previous years when the event has been in late July. The event will take place about a month before the fall High Point Market in 2009, which is set for Oct. 17-22.

 

Here are the answers we got:

 

Patty House

 "To be honest, I haven't been to Las Vegas, but I would love to go. In September, it would be good to start seeing what's new there. I will probably do one (of each), so if I go to Las Vegas (in September) I will probably come here in April."

Patty House
Casablanca USA, Davie, Fla.

 

 

 

 

Tim Bryant

"No. I'd probably prefer to go to Las Vegas on the later date, because we go to the Atlanta market. High Point is still High Point. It's still the furniture capital of the world, so probably if we have the need, we will go to both."

Tim Bryant
Tim Bryant Interiors, Chattanooga, Tenn.

 

 

 

 

Ingrida Bublys

"The dates have been moved very close, so for me, as a buyer for the Baltic area, I have to come to two markets back-to-back. It's going to be hard. ... We'll just have to dance around it."

Ingrida Bublys
IB International
Vilnius, Lithuania

 

 

 

Gerald Nicholls

 

"It might. You wouldn't go to Las Vegas and High Point, being that close, I would think. I know I wouldn't. I have two sons in the business who are younger, and I would imagine they're pushing for Las Vegas. The only thing holding them back is (their stores feature in-store) La-Z-Boy galleries. I'm still partial to High Point because I've been coming here for years, and I can make it in seven hours."

Gerald Nicholls
Nicholls Furniture Showcase, Galion, Ohio

 

 

Gary Hughes

"I won't go to Vegas. I'm from Alabama. This is (closer). I can drive here. Everything I need is here. No (I haven't been to the Las Vegas Market)."

Gary Hughes
Greenbrier Furniture, Birmingham, Ala.

 

 

 

 

Herbert Marsh

"No. We don't go to Las Vegas now. We come to High Point two markets a year. It's hot (in Las Vegas) in September, and everyone we deal with is in High Point. Not everyone is in Vegas."

Herbert Marsh
Butterworth's Furniture, Petersburg, Va.

 

 

 

 

 

Kathleen Cushmore

"No, because I won't be going to the Las Vegas Market. I'm an East Coast girl. I'll be coming here, and I will be going to New York (for the gift show). There are a number of trade shows that are good. This, of course, is the highlight of the year, the biggest and best. And since they've made all the improvements and made it more designer friendly (it's even better). They keep you on campus, give you dinner here and there, some entertainment. They're e-mailing all of us with updates. They're doing a good job."

Kathleen Cushmore
KSC Interiors, Malvern, Pa.

 

 

Gary Badcock

"So far, I haven't gone to Las Vegas. I still come to this show. It probably won't affect (our market plans). There's just not enough there (in Las Vegas) for me yet. We deal with upholstery vendors that don't show there. Also, four shows a year is frankly too much. I do the European shows, too."

Gary Babcock
Arhaus Furniture, Walton Hills, Ohio

 

 

 

 

Brooks Griffin

"We were talking about that yesterday. We'll probably alternate, one time here, one time Vegas. We're West Coast-based, so from a logistical standpoint, it's easier to get to the Las Vegas show. But we still have a lot of important vendors here we want to see. This will force people to make a decision, though. In tough economic times, shows are one of the big things people will reconsider."

Brooks Griffin
Napastyle, Napa, Calif.

 

 

Paul Massood

"No. I'm a High Point kind of guy, as far as that's concerned. To me this is the best market going. You get enthusiasm here. Everyone is all psyched up, and everything I've heard is that people are having a good market here."

Paul Massood
Bassett Home Furnishings, Brick, N.J.

 

 

 

 

 

Albert Malka

"No. I prefer to be in Vegas. I can gamble, and (there are) nice looking women. I will still come here, too."

Albert Malka
Decore Bayarat, Montreal

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Doss

"No. We'll always come to High Point. As long as it's here, we'll always be here. We go (to Las Vegas) occasionally, but we come twice a year to High Point. We skipped Vegas this year. This has more of a hometown feel to it. If we need to bring clients, we can meet reps, who let us in the showrooms."

Nancy Doss
Designit, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

 

 

 

 

David Mount

"It won't affect what we do at all. To be honest, we try to avoid markets altogether. We prefer dealing direct with the manufacturers (by calling them and visiting, eliminating rep commissions)."

David Mount,
Habitat, Louisville, Ky.

 

 

 

 

Diane Daniels

"I never go to Vegas, so the answer is no. (The date change) is more important for the retailers and manufacturers who do premarket here. Good luck."

Diane Daniels
Daniels Home Furnishings, Cleveland

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie Brunson

"Well, I've never been to the Las Vegas Market. We mostly deal with companies around High Point - Stanley, Kincaid, Pulaski - so we probably will mostly focus on this market. I would love to go to Vegas, but because most (of our vendors are from this area) we will show support mainly for this market."

Natalie Brunson
Furniture Market Place, Charlotte, N.C.

 

 

 

Leslie Dixon

"If it was in September rather than July, I may be more apt to go, because I always go to the Atlanta market in July. Also, September is generally a little slower. But I'd probably be most likely to go to Las Vegas in January or February when the weather is (better). My personal opinion is I have no desire to go to Las Vegas. I'd come to High Point before I'd go to Las Vegas."

Leslie Dixon
From Inside Out, Dayton, Ohio

 

 

 

Bob Neal

"No, because I won't do Vegas. They have more to offer here, and we're only eight hours away. Plus, I don't gamble, not that I have anything against it. I just don't gamble. Seems like by changing the dates, they're forcing regional markets - East Coast, West Coast. But people really shopping for furniture are going to come here."

Bob Neal
Trends & Traditions, Oneonta, Ala.

 

 

 

Joe OBrien

"We're going to do one here and one there. I'll probably do my winter market out of there in January and October here. I've been doing both, four times a years, which is exhausting. This forces you to simplify, to make a decision as to where you're going to be, because as a buyer, it's physically exhausting to do all the shows. I still feel High Point is the bigger market, but progressive designing is moving out West, so it's important, too. This is just as important as Vegas, because if you are a strong retailer, you have to carry a mix of styles and price points to satisfy your customer base. Vegas is much more fun, though. I hate to say that. But High Point, in pulling in these bands, has made it (fun) for the first time, and I've been coming here for 15 years."

Joe O'Brien
Cabana Joe's, Maui, Hawaii