By Nancy Meyer
The Las Vegas Market kicks off here this week with lots of new products, new exhibitors, giveaways, and business and educational seminars.
The winter edition of market, which opens Monday at the World Market Center and Tuesday at the MGM Grand, will seem decidedly “greener,” as the sustainable living exhibitors roster and educational component continues to grow.
But the big news is the opening of Lexington Home Brands’ showroom in Building B this week. Lexington’s presence lends some credibility to the World Market Center’s claim to draw more mainstream and higher-end designer names to its campus. WMC has said its third building, Building C, slated to open for the July market, will house “new companies and industry leaders across all categories,” including Lexington, Sligh Furniture, Mohawk, Mark Roberts and Pacific Coast Lighting. There are also significant showroom expansions planned among existing World Market Center tenants such as AICO, Standard and Coaster, WMC said.
Lexington will show its Tommy Bahama Home line’s new Kingstown collection that offers a sense of adventure.
“While retaining the laid-back appeal of the Tommy Bahama brand, Kingstown broadens the approach with a relaxed traditional look that can fit into many lifestyles,” said Phil Haney, president and chief executive officer of Lexington. “It is a group that embraces many feelings and will connect with consumers on several different levels.”
Other furniture product highlights include Broyhill’s expansion into slipcovers and its Square One transitional whole home collection featuring a mix of natural materials, including sea grass, raffia and bamboo. Aspenhome will introduce European Memoirs, a 100-plus piece, full-line collection influenced by European antiques.
In home office and organization, Kathy Ireland Home by Martin unveils a home office peninsula wall grouping that consists of just three SKUs instead of six. The pieces have highly functional features such as drop-front keyboard drawer, lateral file drawer, adjustable shelves and wire management, among others.
In ready-to-assemble furniture, many vendors have just wrapped up the big Consumer Electronics Show, having opened their WMC showrooms to attendees of that show. Introductions focus primarily on entertainment pieces that complement the latest in high-tech televisions, audio systems and gaming. But small office and home office is another big standout in that category.
In terms of the greening of home, World Market Center will host a week-long series, called “Brave New World: Environmental Leadership Series,” which highlights education, trends and international influences in the sustainable home furnishings movement. Best practices covering all aspects of the industry will be shared at these free seminars, to be held Jan. 29, 30 and 31 at World Market Center and the MGM Grand.
The market has teamed up with Sustainable Furniture Council and Channel Logic to co-produce the Living Green Pavilion, which has doubled in size since its debut last July. This specialty pavilion will feature nearly 30 companies covering 10,000 square feet at MGM Grand and centers on sustainable furnishings or furniture using wood, cushioning, fabrics and finishing materials that are made from renewable resources.
Knú, a newly formed subsidiary of Industrial Woodworking Corp., will be making its first showing in Las Vegas under the sustainable living banner.
Designed by Brad Davis, IWC’s CEO, Knú is showing a contemporary lineup of four desks, a bookcase, lateral file, entertainment center and privacy screen in six unique, eco-friendly veneer choices. Additionally, Knu has several dining tables, available with either powder-coated steel or highly polished aluminum legs.
This market will also see stepped-up promotions and giveaways.
As part of its promotional efforts, World Market Center will give away a total of $500,000 in cash to qualified buyers attending the market. The Fashion 500 Runway Rewards, will give 10 randomly selected daily winners $5,000 each. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the grand prize will be drawn in which one lucky buyer will return home with $250,000. Robin Leach, celebrity host and Las Vegas resident, will be on hand to host the festivities and to announce the grand prize winner.
“Each market, we raise the bar in terms of delivering exciting events and out-of-the-box marketing that creates buzz and energy,” said Dana Andrew, vice president of marketing and public relations. “As we head into 2008, in advance of the landmark grand opening of Building C in July, we felt there was no better time to stimulate retailers with an unprecedented promotion that will help fuel excitement for our winter market and positively affect the lives of 50 buyers.”
Las Vegas Market is also aiming to make it easier for attendees to get to and from the market, with its expanded, free M-Line daily shuttle service, from 6:30 a.m. until one hour after market closes, between all host hotels, World Market Center campus and the MGM Grand.
The 500 temporary exhibits, which will be located for the first time at the MGM Grand, open on Tuesday, Jan. 29. Filling the newly completed 90,000-square-foot MGM Pavilion will be the three juried show sections of Las Vegas Market: Design & Living, Living Green Pavilion and for the first time, ConText.
Next, blurring the line between the growing home decor and gift sector will be a well-rounded roster of home accent companies, located in the Vegas Accessory & Gift section at MGM Grand Arena. Finally, the Furniture show section will take center stage at the MGM Conference Center and feature a cross-section of home furnishings manufacturers from around the world.
Vladimir Kagan, the grandfather of modern furniture design, will visit Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 31, to kick off the new “Design Icon” lecture series at Las Vegas Design Center, where design legends share their stories and experiences in order to inspire tomorrow’s designers. Kagan will speak from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the World Forum on the 16th floor of Building B exclusively for Las Vegas Market attendees.