Major Attendance Growth at Las Vegas Market in Winter 2023
Excited Buyers Return Ready to Source
LAS VEGAS – February 3, 2023 – Throngs of optimistic retailers, designers and specifiers gathered for Las Vegas Market’s first market of 2023 to place orders for new products, explore new technologies and embark on new opportunities. A 25% year-over-year increase in attendance combined with a wealth of new introductions created an unmistakable energy throughout the market’s 1,000 gift, home décor and furniture permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits, January 29- February 2, 2023, at World Market Center Las Vegas.
“The unbridled optimism of buyers and suppliers at Las Vegas Market was reminiscent of pre-pandemic market conditions and is a great indicator of our industry’s future,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “Business was brisk and new relationships forged as the right buyers and the right sellers came together to kick off 2023 on a very positive note.”
Recovery and Influence
Las Vegas Market’s 25% percent year-over-year attendance growth was driven by an influx of new buyers, the return of many for the first time since the pandemic and a strong fourth quarter. Ultimately it attracted attendees from all 50 states and 68 countries.
Some 33% of attendees were new to Las Vegas Market with 12% returning for their first market since the beginning of the pandemic. International attendance in Winter 2023 was up by 107% with the largest gains in Canadian attendance at a 350% increase. Domestically, traffic was up across all regions with the most gains in the Northeast at 73%, the Pacific Northwest at 25% and Midwest at 16%. The return to more normal conditions in California drove a 29% increase in attendees. A post-holiday surge of optimism was evident in Las Vegas Market’s registration pattern with 56% of attendees registering after January 1, 2023.
Growth was evident in all the industries Las Vegas Market represents with an 18% increase in home décor attendance, 11% increase in gift, a notable 50% increase in furniture buyers, and 40% increase in interior designers. Additionally, collaboration with concurrent trade shows in Las Vegas expanded the market’s reach with hundreds of cross-market visitors taking advantage of additional complementary sourcing opportunities.
Retailers and Designers Find Inspiration
The opportunity to discover new brands and experience products drew retailers and designers out of their stores and studios.
Monique Herrero of Lino Interiors in Long Beach, Calif shared “The Las Vegas Market was such a fun experience. I got to see all the vendors we work with in person. Ordering online can be challenging to get the exact color. This experience was so helpful, as a designer, to see all furniture finishes our vendors use. We got so much new inspiration and I can’t wait to apply it to our clients’ homes.”
Jessica Haefke, founder of monthly fitness and motivation subscription box ActLive Life based in Oostburg, Wis. shared “Going to market is always so much fun. There is an endless selection of positive-message goodies, a rainbow of colors in every direction and new businesses to explore (that) I didn’t know existed. I got my steps in for the day… and then some!”
Notable for Winter 2023 was strong participation from buying groups and industry associations across design and gift, with many returning for their first time since before pandemic disruptions. Some 15 groups participated in programming, education, meetings and more.
Diane Sulg, executive director of CRAFT (Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow), a national, non-profit association of craft artists and galleries, said, “What a treat to be back at Las Vegas Market! This was my first experience in the new Expo and it was wonderful! Each day the booths were swamped with buyers and business was brisk. Of course, we enjoyed visits to our favorite showrooms, too and they were great as always. Las Vegas Market is certainly the place for wholesale business on the West Coast!”
Allan Share, president of the Spa Industry Association, representing the spa, salon and wellness community added, "I've said this many times... Las Vegas Market should be on every buyer's list, regardless of the industry you're in. We have over 100,000 members around the globe, and many make market twice a year. Not only are the vendors top of the industry, the Las Vegas Market staff is first rate and I find myself smiling as I walk market.”
In addition to sourcing, retailer and designers attended some 40+ seminars, events and celebrations over four days of market. The World Market Center Las Vegas Courtyard was the hub of market activities, decked out in an “Apres Market,” ski-chalet-inspired style offering opportunities for attendees to gather over firepits and warm refreshments.
Connecting the Right Buyers and Sellers
The impact of Las Vegas Market was evident to longtime exhibitors and those new to the buying event, which featured 600+ permanent showrooms and nearly 400 temporary exhibits.
Strong traffic in some 100+ mattress and bedding brands confirmed Las Vegas Market as THE national buying event for the industry.
Derek Miller, chief sales officer of Serta Simmons Bedding, which returned to Las Vegas Market this winter with two new showrooms including a dedicated space for its Beautyrest and Tuft & Needle brands said, “This year we are launching a variety of new product lines that offer industry-leading performance, and it was a privilege to showcase these collections at the Winter Las Vegas Market. The energy was palpable, our showrooms were packed, and we received outstanding feedback from our retailer partners on our new collections. We look forward to continuing to work with the Las Vegas Market team as we introduce new innovations to our partners and, ultimately, sleepers.”
Steve Rusing, Tempur-Sealy president of US Sales, commented, “The Winter 2033 Las Vegas Market was even busier than 2020. It was on a whole different level: the retailers are back. Our traffic year-over-year was up 36% which set a new record.” He reported that retailers were “in good spirts” with interest in the new Tempurpedic Breeze Mattresses and Ergo Smart Adjustable bases.
The buying energy carried through to the complementary furniture and home décor brands using Las Vegas Market’s permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits to reach the influential West Coast design community and other new accounts.
Ed Teplitz, president of home furnishings brand Theodore Alexander, which opened a new showroom in the Las Vegas Design Center said, “Our expectations were exceeded in all areas, including written sales, foot traffic of both existing and prospective customers, and positive comments from all market visitors. Our goal in opening this showroom was to introduce our Theodore Alexander brand to the west coast designer and retail communities and we are off to a very strong start.”
First-time exhibitor Robert Pierce of home décor brand Crystamas tapped Las Vegas Market to reach new audiences. “Most of our clients are on the East Coast and in Canada so we opened up a whole new market showing at Las Vegas Market. It reenergized us and inspired us to get out to shows again.”
The consensus in the gift segment of the market is that Las Vegas Market has hit its stride as a prime location for discovery.
For Bonnie Glushon, president of Sales Producers representing 30 gift brands, the strength of the Winter 2023 Market was an indicator of the importance of Las Vegas Market to the gift industry. “The show was fantastic; everyone was here to buy. They were very happy, very positive and very energized. We opened in Las Vegas in January 2017 and have doubled our space because we believe Las Vegas Market is the future of the industry.”
Stephen Young, president of the eponymous sales agency that opened a new showroom to bring 60 new brands to Las Vegas Market commented, “The response to the new showroom was spectacular! We saw almost all our current customers. What we were not prepared for was the number of new customers – next market we will bring even more staff to serve them.”
Kathryn Solow, National Sales Manager at fair trade handmade and sustainable gift brand Matr Boomie, said, “It was an excellent show. We've been attending Vegas market for the last three seasons, and it just gets better and better.” Solow reported buyers “in extraordinarily high spirits” that were excited to be sourcing again and very interested in finding sustainable and fair trade products.
Five Shows, One City
Las Vegas Market kicked off city-wide sourcing opportunities for the design and construction industries. Cooperation with four other concurrent markets -- Design & Construction Week’s (DCW) NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) and The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS); The International Surface Event (TISE): SURFACES, StonExpo, and TileExpo; and The National Hardware Show (NHS) -- brought new categories of buyers to Las Vegas Market with significant growth in architects, builders, contractors, developers and hospitality specifiers as well as floor covering, hardware and home improvement retailers.
Exhibitors at World Market Center felt a lift from the crossover. Dan Minor, president of furnishing brand Charleston Forge commented, “The Las Vegas market had the benefit of having four additional shows in the city that are related to our industry. I believe this caused increased traffic from new clients that may not attend Las Vegas Market. We were pleased with traffic and also written business. I would count this Winter market as a Home Run!”
The Summer 2023 Las Vegas Market is July 30 – August 3, 2023 at World Market Center Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Market is the leading home furnishings and gift market in the western U.S., presenting thousands of furniture, home décor and gift resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market’s diverse product offerings allow for cross-category commerce among these industries. For more information, visit LasVegasMarket.com.
About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries. IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. Our premium showroom spaces spanning more than 20 million square feet in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, paired with our digital tools connect the wholesale industries we serve. IMCenters.com.
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Media Contacts
Chelsea Peabody Bohannon, 404.220.2141 or cbohannon@imcenters.com
Cathy Steel, 203.340.9251 or cathysteel@cathysteelassociates.com
