Las Vegas Market reports strongest attendance in four years

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/15/2013 12:02:06 PM

Las Vegas - The winter 2013 Las Vegas Market, held Jan.28-Feb. 1 at World Market Center, was the best attended market in four consecutive years, driven by an influx of new retailers, exhibiting lines and strategic initiatives, according to a market press release.
"This past winter market set new company records for an overwhelming number of manufacturers and contributed to a renewed, positive outlook for the entire industry. I can truly say it was the best Las Vegas Market in my tenure of five years," said Robert Maricich, ceo of International Market Centers (IMC), which owns and operates Las Vegas Market.
U.S. retail attendance was up 6% over a year ago, with thousands of buyers attending the winter 2013 show for the first time. International buyer attendance rose 5% year over year, most notably with a 15% increase among buyers from Latin America and the Pacific Rim, respectively, as well as an 8% gain in Canadian buyers over a year ago.
The winter market attracted retailers from all 50 states and 74 countries. Market officials reported that several key and complementary categories performed exceptionally well at the recent show, with home décor buyers rising 39% and home textile buyers growing by 26%. The categories of mattress retailers and contract hospitality buyers each increased by 11% from a year ago. Las Vegas Market also doubled the number of floor coverings retailers due to the strategic partnership with Surfaces Expo.
The winter show, including Gift+Home, also drew more than 1,800 exhibiting companies, including 200 new brands in permanent showrooms and temporary booths. Newcomers included 27 permanent furniture tenants, five powerhouse designer brands in the Las Vegas Design Center, 38 permanent Gift+Home tenants, 30 furniture temporaries and 107 Gift+Home temporaries.