LAS VEGAS-With a significant increase in attendance and overall order writing, as well as an influx of new showroom tenants and temporary exhibitors, International Market Center execs are calling the recent Winter Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market, “the most successful market since its launch for all participants.”
The event saw the first in a series of strategic moves, including re-merchandising gift and home floors in Building C to enhance category representation and launching new floors and categories.
“Excitement and optimism at market were palpable, with buyers and suppliers buzzing about the transformational changes introduced this winter,” said Dorothy Belshaw, president of Gift & Home Decor, International Market Centers. “We recorded an unparalleled 25 percent gain in gift and home decor buyer attendance, with select categories, such as textiles and home decor, posting increases of up to 30 and 40 percent, respectively. These year-over-year increases are directly correlated to the specialty home decor collections introduced on B3 and C3, and occupancy growth on gift floors during the past two markets.
“A combination of thoughtful resource expansion and targeted and compelling communication with prospective attendees enabled us to enrich both the exhibitor and buyer constituencies in tandem.”
Winter market highlights included the debut of C3 and its concentration of more “better” home decor resources.
“We came to C3 from Building A because we definitely needed more space, with the success we have had here with the West Coast market,” said Chris Hyun, president of Leftbank Art, in a statement. “We saw an opportunity to expand on C3 and to be with great companies, in great surroundings and to build a great community. The World Market Center delivers a western states audience plus Mexico and Canada, and gives us market share we don’t see elsewhere.”
Show organizers said the reorganization and categorization of temporary exhibitors this winter also resulted in improved layout and traffic flow. Buyers from all 50 states and 74 countries were spotted in the aisles, according to IMC.