by As the summer Las Vegas Market kicks off, retailers, suppliers and manufacturers will gather for conversations that can’t be replicated online
LAS VEGAS — This weekend, the summer edition of Las Vegas Market kicks off. For the first time since July 2023, I won’t be in attendance, and I have to be honest: I have FOMO. Ironically, not going this summer reminded me why markets matter so much.
As an editor, I’ll still receive press releases and product announcements, but what I can’t get in my inbox are the incredible people of the furnishings industry. Every six months, I look forward to seeing familiar faces, meeting new ones and having the kinds of conversations that can only happen when an industry gathers in one place. The same goes for the events that bring people together throughout market. (If you’re attending, don’t miss the second annual Bedding News Now Best in Bedding event, which will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 27, at WorldView.)
Those who have attended both January and July markets know the summer edition is typically slower. After all, visiting Las Vegas during triple-digit temperatures is, unsurprisingly, a tough sell. But what isn’t a tough sell is the importance of building relationships. In fact, smaller crowds during the summer market often create even more opportunities for meaningful conversations.
In an age when retailers can announce new collections on their websites and interviews can be conducted on Microsoft Teams, markets are still incredibly valuable. That said, this is an interesting moment for the retail furnishings industry. Economic headwinds persist, and recent sales growth is modest, according to the latest Monthly Retail Trade Report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Budgets are tightening, and consumers are becoming more selective about how and where they spend their money. Investing the time and money to attend market can feel like too much of a gamble. Is it worth it? From my perspective as a journalist, yes.
Whether companies decide to attend every market is ultimately a business decision. But from a reporting standpoint, markets remain one of the best places to understand what’s happening beyond the headlines. They provide an opportunity to hear candid conversations among retailers, suppliers and manufacturers about what’s working, what isn’t and where they see the industry heading. Those conversations don’t always become stories right away, but they often reveal trends that will matter in the weeks and months ahead. By connecting the threads from conversations over several days, a clearer picture of the industry starts to emerge. Markets give the industry context.
As I follow this week’s market from home, I’ll be paying close attention to the overall mood of the market, what retailers are saying about consumer demand for the second half of the year and the latest product introductions. What’s resonating with consumers? What isn’t? Has optimism shifted since January’s Las Vegas Market?
While I’ll miss seeing everyone this July, I will be keeping up with the news from afar and sharing what I learn in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, if you think there’s a story Home News Now should be telling, I’d love to hear from you. My inbox is always open at kathryn@homenewsnow.com.
I’ll see you in January.
