On the bright side

The bright, sunny outlook that color experts predicted for 2012 seemed to find its way to the home-furnishings industry as numerous manufacturers reported increased traffic and sales during the recently completed Las Vegas Market held at World Market Center Las Vegas.

Tangerine Tango, Pantone's color of the year, popped up in showrooms throughout the three buildings on the downtown campus. And the upbeat attitude the orange color represents was reflected throughout the five-day industry trade show.

"I think this was the best market we have had since we opened our Vegas showroom," said Stan Terry, president of New Century Pictures.

Although he had no empirical evidence to support his claim, Terry said there were more visitors to their showroom than since it opened six years ago as one of the original tenants.

"We had more traffic and customers were here to write orders. We had more orders and fewer quotes," he said.

"It was definitely our best market yet," agreed Brian Simanian, general manager of Melrose Gallery & Antiques of Los Angeles, which was making its second appearance at the show. "We had a lot of great response to our chandeliers of any color and size and our mirrors of any size. Orders are being placed."

"Las Vegas continued to repeat its reputation as a strong winter market, particularly with the Western half of the U.S. Retailers seemed to be more open-minded to value at all price points versus price alone," said Bryan Edwards, aspenhome vice president of sales. "Aspenhome showed value with solid wood bedrooms and entertainment solutions from $199 to $2,999."

Although World Market Center doesn't release exact attendance figures, Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers, the parent company of World Market Center Las Vegas, said the number of visitors exceeded expectations. Additionally, there were more than 200 new exhibitors.

"This market we had over 1,000 tenants exhibiting during the show. Since August 2011, we signed 236 new exhibitors to Las Vegas Market as well as 21 expansions of existing showrooms. New to Las Vegas Market included notable powerhouses like Bassett, a true bellwether in the home-furnishings industry. The company understands the value of having a strong presence at markets on both sides of the country in order to serve more retailers, demonstrating the new synergy created by IMC's merger of markets in Las Vegas and High Point, N.C.

"The growth of Las Vegas Market exhibitors for winter market speaks to the market's overall value as a place where business is done," he added.

Maricich and many manufacturers credit the positive response to an overall uptick in consumer confidence as well as the number of new products being introduced.

"Las Vegas Market is where retail buyers and designers get the first peek at industry intelligence and pick up on the season's hottest design trends, drawing from thousands of products and manufacturers from around the world," he said.

"Sealy experienced the busiest Vegas market to date thanks to the introduction of the new Optimum by Sealy Posturepedic line, Posturepedic Gel Series line and new Sealy brand mattresses. We received a tremendous response from retailers and are thrilled for consumers to see the product when it rolls out in the first half of 2012," said Jodi Allen of Sealy.