Eye on the future

T he showroom doors had barely opened for the summer show when International Market Centers officials and furniture manufacturers began making plans for the next event - and years to come - at World Market Center Las Vegas.

The forward-looking plans mirrored the optimistic nature that permeated the downtown facility throughout the five-day event.

From bright colors that filled showroom floors to the smiles on people's faces as they walked through the three buildings, there were signs that the home-furnishings industry is rebounding from the hard hit it took during the economic crisis.

"While we don't have final orders tallied from Las Vegas Market, both Broyhill and Lane Furniture were pleased to see an optimistic attitude in retailers who attended. Those who came were ready to buy for upcoming events, the rest of 2012 and into early 2013," said Lisa Hanly, spokesperson for Furniture Brands International, whose Broyhill and Lane brands show at Las Vegas Market.

"Bassett saw continued positive momentum at the Las Vegas Market. The customers who visited our showroom were upbeat, optimistic and looking for great new products for both the Bassett brand and the new HGTV Home Furniture Collection," said Bruce Cohenour, senior vice president of Bassett Furniture.

Bright and bold colors was one of the trends highlighted during the market's First Look seminar. According to trend watcher Julie Smith Vincenti of Nine Muses Media and interior designer Monica Pedersen, who presented the seminar, "in-your-face colors" such as electric green, teal, yellow and neon pink will add a punch to any décor and can be found on a variety of accents and accessories.

Among the colorful items they spotlighted was the Mr. B. Riches chair offered in a royal purple by Cyan Designs.

The Texas-based manufacturer of accent furnishings, home décor items and lighting just completed its first summer market in its new showroom in Building A and was pleased with the response from buyers.

"We were thrilled," said the western regional representative for the company who asked not to be identified. "It did appear to us that buyers who came were very serious buyers, came armed to spend and very optimistic."

On the second day of the five-day show, International Market Center officials announced a strategic plan designed to bring a greater number of manufacturers and buyers to Las Vegas. The plan, set to evolve over several years in three phases, puts the emphasis on the gift and home segment. It also is designed to put complementary resources together in each building to deliver a better and more efficient experience for those attending the market.

The change is set to begin with the next market, set for Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2013.

Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers, the parent company of World Market Center Las Vegas, said roughly half of the registered furniture buyers only buy furniture. The remainder look to see what's new in the world of home decorating. Bringing accessories into their stores gives customers a reason to visit and make purchases; furniture doesn't need to be replaced as often, he said.

To implement the plan, most of Building C will be devoted to gift and home vendors, with furniture and mattress manufacturers relegated to the top two floors of the building along with finding new homes in Buildings A and B. Maricich said many exhibitors and manufacturers currently housed in Building C have expressed interest in moving, while others have already moved into new spaces. The changes should keep the buildings at about 90 percent full.

Additionally, the Las Vegas Design Center, which currently occupies the first and third floor of Building C will be consolidated into Building A, which now houses design center showrooms on the first and second floors.

"It will be more of a migration, not a light switch," Maricich said. "As we put forward our plan, those who want to be open daily will move into (Building) A."

If there is enough demand, the design center will expand upward to the third floor, he added.

He expects the transition to take six to nine months.

The first floor of Building C will be designated as c-One, a new curated collection of permanent and temporary tabletop, gift and home décor exhibitors. It is set to debut in summer 2013.

Dorothy Belshaw, president of Gift + Home Décor for International Market Centers, said seven of the industry's leading specialty tabletop supplies have expressed support of the changes.

The second phase will put a greater emphasis on home textiles, something interior designers visiting the facility said was lacking.

In keeping with the optimistic nature of the recently completed show, Maricich said the changes and infusion of capital from its partners Bain Capital Partners and Oaktree Capital Management gives him hope that a planned fourth building on the downtown campus will get built.