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Las Vegas Market: Best Attendance in 4 Years
February 12,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on February 13, 2013
No total numbers were provided, but Las Vegas Furniture Market reported its strongest attendance in four years at the recent winter show.
Buyer attendance was up 6 percent from a year ago; and more than 200 vendors and lines showed for the first time at the Jan. 28-Feb. 1 Market.
This past Winter Market set new company records for an overwhelming number of manufacturers and contributed to a renewed, positive outlook for the entire industry. I can truly say it was the best Las Vegas Market in my tenure of five years, said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. Were getting a multiplication of better business, people playing to win and better buyer attendance. With the strength of this Las Vegas Market, recently released positive national housing reports, and clear industry momentum, we feel this bodes very well for a strong Spring Market. What we saw at Market is an encouraging indicator of whats to come in 2013.
U.S. retail attendance was up 6 percent over a year ago building on the strongest Las Vegas Market in recent years--with thousands of buyers attending the Winter 2013 show for the first time. International buyer attendance rose 5 percent year over year, most notably with a 15 percent increase among buyers from Latin America and Pacific Rim, respectively, as well as an eight percent gain in Canadian buyers over a year ago.
Retailers from all 50 U.S. states and 74 countries were in attendance. The most notable increases came from home décor buyers, which rose 39 percent, while home textile buyers grew by 26 percent. The categories of mattress retailers and contract hospitality buyers each increased by 11 percent from a year ago. Furthermore, Las Vegas Market doubled the number of floor coverings retailers due to the strategic partnership with Surfaces Expo.
We have long nurtured the idea of a cross-over market vis a vis this total home view," Maricich said. "Without question Las Vegas Market opens up new doors and distribution channels for participating manufacturers as a result of a compelling and diversified platform that is unlike anything else in the industry.
He cited at the most recent market that one in ten buyers seeking gift and home décor merchandise classified their business type as a furniture or mattress store, which he says demonstrates the cross-over appeal of the marketplace.
Essentially, this traditional furniture retailer is coming to the market also looking for smaller gift and décor pieces to enhance their product mix and reach more customers on a more frequent basis," Maricich said. "This supports the notion that retailers have evolved their merchandising approach and are using Las Vegas Market as a means to accomplish a more diversified sales strategy. Its not product dimensional, but rather, very lifestyle, consumer-centric. Its exciting to see new interest in our industry and evolved business models in retail.
The Winter Las Vegas Market, including Gift+Home, drew more than 1,800 exhibiting companies across 5 million square feet of space in three buildings. The 2013 Las Vegas Market welcomed 200 new brands in permanent showrooms and temporary booths spanning every category of total home. Newcomers included: 27 permanent furniture tenants; five designer brands in the Las Vegas Design Center; 38 permanent Gift+Home tenants; along with 30 furniture temporaries located on the sold-out floor of B2; and 107 Gift+Home temporaries located on C4 and C5.
This Market was reminiscent of a building opening in terms of traffic, new tenancy, investment and overall energy, said Tom Mitchell, IMCs president of home furnishings, referring to 190 building permits to construct or improve showrooms in the last few months. Among the strategic moves we put into motion, the home furnishings division leased 630,000 square feet of new space in 2012, including the renewal of 51 leaseholders such as Broyhill, Emerald Home, Lane and other major sources; delivered significant showroom expansions for such market leaders as AICO and Coaster; and successfully relocated a number of key exhibitors to create a more efficient and effective merchandising mix in all buildings. We also created a new 100,000 square-foot destination in Building C for bedding resources, which enhances Las Vegas Markets position as the international hub for the bedding industry.
Buyers across all categories were enthusiastic about market week in Las Vegas.
This was my first Vegas market," said Jeff Harris, vice president of Furnitureland South, Jamestown, N.C. "I was impressed with the buildings, the layout, and the ease of shopping.
The Las Vegas show continues to be a great resource for the industry and allows us to get a lot of business done very efficiently," said Catherine David, senior vice president of merchandising for Pier 1 Imports, Fort Worth, Texas. "My time at Market this trip has been very valuable.
I've been coming to markets since the 1970s, early 1970s--so I've seen a lot," said Carlos Capó, vice president of El Dorado Furniture, Miami Gardens, Fla. "It is the best market to shop, no question about that.
It was a great market for us," said Oscar Miskelly, owner and general buyer for Miskelly Furniture, Jackson, Miss. "Bedding vendors were great as usual as well as other new vendors. As president of the FMG buying group, we had over 60 retailers at our symposium--retailers like Nebraska, Star Furniture, R.C.Willey, Steinhaufels and many other Top 100s.
Click here for the complete Las Vegas Furniture Market release.