LAS VEGAS–Total attendance at the Las Vegas Market in July rose 7 percent over the July market in 2007, setting a new record for the home-furnishings trade show.
According to a statement from the World Market Center, the increase in attendance included a 15 percent gain in the number of retailers who came to the show, and a 93 percent jump in the number of attending designers. In addition, the market welcomed 320 new exhibitors, and 120 companies that already had showroom space in the market expanded their amount of show space. The opening of the new Building C had much influence on the increase in attendance, new exhibitors and the space expansion for existing exhibitors, the statement said.
Robert Maricich, president and chief executive officer of World Market Center, called these increases “remarkable ... considering the very difficult environment in the home-furnishings industry.”