LAS VEGAS, N.V. – (January 2, 2019) – Las Vegas Market announced today that partnerships with more than 40 industry organizations across the globe will add to the host of special programming, tours, educational opportunities and networking events planned for Winter 2019 Las Vegas Market, running Jan. 27 – Jan. 31, 2019.
“Las Vegas Market is proud to partner with the industry’s leading trade and retail organizations to offer programming and events that are truly significant to their members,” said Dorothy Belshaw, EVP, chief marketing and digital officer for IMC. “As the nation’s fastest growing gift and home décor market and the leading furniture marketplace in the western U.S., Las Vegas Market is an ideal stage to connect professionals and forge relationships between these associations, buying groups and non-profits.”
Two New Partners Coming to Winter Market
Gail Doby, professional consultant and business coach for interior designers, is hosting Boardroom III, a group of premier interior designers with total annual buying power of more than $20 million. During their five-day visit, the designers will meet with market exhibitors, explore product lines and participate in a three-day business coaching session with Doby.
"We're excited to host the first business retreat for our third Boardroom group — a mastermind of design firms with a minimum of $1 million in revenue per firm,” Doby said. “The total buying power of our attendees will be close to $20 million for the 13 companies in 2019, which is a significant opportunity for Las Vegas Market and their resident showrooms. We look forward to expanding our client's businesses over the next year as they share best business practices with each other and find new resources."
Las Vegas Market is also partnering with Kite Trade Association International (KTAI) to bring 20 makers and designers of wind-related products to Pavilion 1. KTAI is a non-profit organization based in Oregon that exists to support and promote the manufacturing, distribution and retailing of kites and wind-related products.
KTAI retail members will be gathering from 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28 to “share the market” and discuss their finds at Las Vegas Market. Additionally, KTAI members are invited immediately after, from 6 to 8 p.m., to attend the organization’s annual business meeting.
Additional Las Vegas Market Partners Hold Networking and Educational Events
Las Vegas Market again will host the Non-Profit Retail Symposium in collaboration with three major non-profit industry associations - Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP), Museum Store Association (MSA) and Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG). As part of the symposium, the Non-Profit Retail Networking Reception will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27 in the C1144 Seminar Room. Existing and prospective association members and vendors are welcome to network with non-profit retail experts from across the country. Those interested can RSVP at http://imcenters.nprreceptionlvm-w19.sgizmo.com/s3/.
Additionally, the Museum Store Association – Pacific Northwest Chapter will co-host “Focus Your Product Selection for Profitability” from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27 in the Pavilion 1 Seminar Room. Speaker Andrew Andoniadis, of Andoniadis Retail Services, will discuss when to expand, contract or eliminate product categories to enhance the profitability of your store.
Purchasing Power Plus, a premier buying network in the hospital gift shop industry, will host its second private, exclusive breakfast at Winter Market. The breakfast will feature vendor sponsors and is open to PPP members only. During the meeting, Becky Tyre, retail editor of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, will present on relevant industry trends. Founded in 1996 and today with more than 750 locations across the nation, their mission is to empower each hospital gift shop retailer and support independent gift shops flourishing among big box locations.
“Our goal for this dynamic retail community is to encourage communication and cooperation that benefits both hospital gift shop retail members and vendor partners,” said Carrie Fleishman, vice president of PPP. “In that spirit, we are happy to partner with Las Vegas Market to offer exclusive events onsite that foster networking and explore educational topics suited to our niche.”
Another highlight of Winter Market is Wild Birds Unlimited’s two-day pre-Market event with their Pacific Northwest Franchisees, which represents 27 stores and 60 attendees. Wild Birds Unlimited is the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 300 locations throughout the United States and Canada. WBU specializes in bringing people and nature together with bird feeding and nature products, expert advice and educational events.
New and Returning Industry Affiliates
To support its ongoing partnership initiatives, Las Vegas Market is developing events and activities customized to the specific needs of each of the 40+ partnership organizations participating in Winter 2019 Las Vegas Market. Industry partners include: Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP); Accessories Resource Team (ART); American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA); Black Interior Design Network (BIDN); BrandSource; Cantrex Nationwide; Contemporary Design Group (CDG); Craft Retailers & Artists for Tomorrow (CRAFT); Furniture Marketing Group (FMG); Furniture First; Furniture Leaders; GC Buying Group (formerly Gourmet Catalog); Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA); Good Toy Group; Home Staging & Redesign Association (HSRA); Home Furnishings Association (HFA); HTI Buying Group (formerly Housewares Training Information); International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA); indiCo; Kite Trade Association International; Las Vegas Spa Association (LVSA); MAI Retailers (formerly Monograms America); MEGA Group Canada; The Munce Group; Museum Store Association (MSA); Nationwide Marketing Group; Pacific Furniture Dealers; Palmer Marketing; PLATIN- Latin American Alliance; PRESENTer Network; The Parable Group; Purchasing Power Plus (PPP); Real Deals; Real Estate Staging Association; Real Local Florists; Sierra Pacific Craft (SPC); SMI – Mexico (Sociedad Mexicana de Interioristas AC); Spa Industry Association (SIA, formerly the Day Spa Association & International Medical Spa Association); TRIB Group; Wild Birds Unlimited; and Zoo & Aquarium Buyers’ Group (ZAG). For more details, and a full listing of partners, visit: https://www.lasvegasmarket.com/about/industry-partners.
Las Vegas Market is the leading home furnishings and gift market in the western U.S., presenting 4,000+ gift, home décor and furniture resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. Winter 2019 Las Vegas Market runs January 27-31, 2019. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.
About International Market Centers, L.P.:
International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC is the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. International Market Centers owns and operates nearly 20 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. For more information on IMC, visit http://imcenters.com/.
