by Just on the heels of returning from the summer Las Vegas Market, people always want to know how it went and was it a good show. It seems that the question regarding the success of the market is a mixed response. I think the answer lies in whom you ask.
Also, several categories must be examined independently to give the correct response. For example, you must break down the market into bedding vendors, design vendors, Top 100/more traditional channel vendors and gift vendors (which most of us don’t consider but they are lumped into overall attendance numbers).
The bedding vendors always seem to be fairly busy because this is their primary market twice a year. For them, it is worth the time, energy and money spent. Thus, it is hard to see a day when High Point could ever be a bedding market as most of the big guys, S brands and lower, don’t show there. Maybe one day, if Vegas ever diminishes in its scope, but currently there is no change that I can see on the horizon.
Some traditional wood furniture and upholstery vendors that sell predominantly the Top 100 still get a fair share of attendance. However, only a few of them are showing new products.
Thus, the thought is, is it necessary to reshow introductions from High Point Market in April? Speaking with some of my friends who work with Ashley, it gave them a second chance to place those goods that were still on their retailers’ “maybe list.” And if another vendor, not showing in Vegas was on a “maybe add to the lineup list,” you could lose the chance to get that placement.
I did witness quite a few Top 100 retail buyers visiting showrooms where goods were being reshown. Could it also just be a way to fill their time slots when they already know what’s there?
Last is the design-oriented vendors. I only see the design channel growing more and more, and especially for someone like myself who largely works Texas. As we see lots of high-end independent retailers closing their doors, the designer can buy from all the vendors that retailer used to sell and satisfy the consumer. I personally witnessed robust traffic in these showrooms.
If you have ever worked with designers, either independent ones or large firms, their needs are ever changing or evolving based on the current project or client. That said, they are always shopping for something new and different even if it is not a “new item” shown for the first time.
Nick Byers, a contributing writer for Home News Now, has been an industry sales representative for 15 years.
