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Las Vegas Market Hosting Webinar for Non-Profit Retailers

Furniture World News Desk on 10/17/2017


Las Vegas Market recently announced that it will present a free non-profit retailer webinar, “Selling to Millennials,” on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, from 12 noon to 1pm (CST), as part of its ongoing collaboration with the Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resources Professionals (AHVRP), Museum Store Association (MSA) and Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG). The interactive webinar will address how to define Millennials, discuss how to position stores, and tackle the tricky issue of how to source products that appeal to this misunderstood demographic.

“As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market is committed to helping our 30+ association partners – before, during and after Market – to succeed in business. This webinar offers a unique opportunity to demystify Millennials, which are the next big demographic driving retail sales today,” said Dorothy Belshaw, president of Gift Leasing and Chief Marketing Officer, International Market Centers. “This free webinar will explain some key characteristics of this unique consumer sector, including how they use technology to make buying decisions, how they prefer a simple and unencumbered lifestyle, and how they respond when experience trumps product.”

The webinar is free and open to all AHVRP, MSA and ZAG members, as well as non-members. International Market Centers will give away one scholarship covering airfare and hotel to the Winter Las Vegas Market, scheduled for January 28 to February 1, 2018, to one webinar attendee. To register, please visit: http://bit.ly/2yHeD1P.


Moderator Melinda Greene, Gift Shop Manager/BUYER of the Kansas City Zoo, will lead a discussion about Millennials' shopping and buying habits with a group of industry-leading panelists, including AHVRP member Karli Stroh of Integris Health and MSA member Melody Caban of Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Some of the questions and topics to be addressed include:

  • What does the Millennial shopper look like? Cell phone out? Checking prices? Immediate behaviors upon walking into store?

  • Have you changed the way your store is set up or do you have any merchandising ideas to capture the Millennial shopper?

  • What are Millennials shopping for? Items of value, nostalgia? What new item have you brought in? Do you have any items or categories that have gone away?

  • Do you have programs set up in your retail locations that provide customers a chance to give back?What types of programs and what has been the outcome?

  • What social media avenues have you used to attract customers to your store? Has this been successful?

  • Once the customer leaves the store, do you have follow up tactics? Do you ask for e-mail, or send a customer satisfaction survey?

  • What are challenges you have seen with the Millennial shopper; what tips can you offer on how you overcame the challenges?

  • What can be learned from Millennial behavior that can be applied to evolving shopping attitudes?

  • What are ways you have successfully employed Millennial employees? Have you updated policies? Made new accommodations?

  • What are we learning about what to anticipate after Millennials for the Z/Gen Alpha generations?


Las Vegas Market is working closely with key industry associations and groups to present ongoing informational sessions to assist industry leaders in the decision-making process. At the recently-concluded Summer Market, Las Vegas Market hosted a three-part Non-Profit Retail Symposium, presenting exclusive content crafted by buyers, for buyers, in partnership with AHVRP, MSA and ZAG.

More about AHVRP: AHVRP encompasses 1,200+ hospital gift shop buyers, managers and director of volunteer services nationwide. It is a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association, which is the premier professional membership society for health care volunteer services, retail operations and related support services disciplines. MSA is a nonprofit, international association dedicated to advancing the success of non-profit retail professionals and non-profit institutions, with more than 900 institutional and individual buyer members nationwide, including botanical gardens, children’s museums, art museums, science museums, historical societies and more. ZAG is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization for 330 merchandise buyers from zoos, aquariums, theme parks, nature centers and other wildlife facilities, institutions and attractions across the United States.

More about Las Vegas Market: Las Vegas Market  is the fastest growing gift and home décor market in the U.S. and the leading furniture marketplace in the western U.S. With a record 4,000+ lines, the Market will feature its largest ever number of resources, with greater breadth and depth and exclusive collections across all categories, including major launches for the bedding industry. Market-exclusive programming includes FIRST LOOK trend forecast seminar and displays and Ahead of the Curve seminar and tours, as well as signature special events the third annual ANDYZ design awards. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.

More about International Market Centers, L.P.: Las Vegas Market is produced by International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. International Market Centers owns and operates 12.1 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit http://imcenters.com/.