Winter Las Vegas Market officials reported significant attendance increases amongst retailers across all categories, interior designers as well as international buyers - especially those from Canada, Latin America and the Middle East.
According to Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers, parent company of World Market Center Las Vegas, Winter Las Vegas Market 2012 was the strongest in three years. "Given the depth of the recent recession, our success speaks volumes about improving consumer confidence and a resurging economy," he said. "According to our statistics, the recession is officially over in the eyes of the furnishings industry. The energy at Winter Market was palpable. Buyers were buying, and ultimately, that's what counts."
Statistics from the five-day (January 30-February 3) Winter Las Vegas Market included:
14% increase in attending companies as compared to Winter Market 2011
27% increase in Latin American buyers and a 33 percent increase in Middle Eastern buyers compared to Winter Market 2011; almost twice as many Canadians attended than at the Summer Market 2011
23% increase in buyers as compared to Summer Market 2011
83 of the industry's top 100 retailers attended
31% increase in interior designers as compared to Summer Market 2011
4,000-plus new U.S. buyers attended for the first time; 1,000-plus new International buyers
According to Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers, parent company of World Market Center Las Vegas, Winter Las Vegas Market 2012 was the strongest in three years. "Given the depth of the recent recession, our success speaks volumes about improving consumer confidence and a resurging economy," he said. "According to our statistics, the recession is officially over in the eyes of the furnishings industry. The energy at Winter Market was palpable. Buyers were buying, and ultimately, that's what counts."
Statistics from the five-day (January 30-February 3) Winter Las Vegas Market included:
14% increase in attending companies as compared to Winter Market 2011
27% increase in Latin American buyers and a 33 percent increase in Middle Eastern buyers compared to Winter Market 2011; almost twice as many Canadians attended than at the Summer Market 2011
23% increase in buyers as compared to Summer Market 2011
83 of the industry's top 100 retailers attended
31% increase in interior designers as compared to Summer Market 2011
4,000-plus new U.S. buyers attended for the first time; 1,000-plus new International buyers