Las Vegas Market Presents Dynamic Seminars & Events
Furniture World News Desk on
12/11/2017
Las Vegas Market recently announced that a comprehensive slate of programming and events – including innovative trend forecasting, original and CEU-accredited educational programming, special awards presentations, expertly-curated product tours and “only in Las Vegas” industry networking events – are planned for the Winter 2018 Las Vegas Market, January 28-February 1, 2018. (NOTE: A complete schedule of seminars and events is available online at
www.lasvegasmarket.com/seminars-and-events).
“Las Vegas Market is setting a new standard of overall excellence for programming, education and events. The stellar line-up for Winter Market presents myriad opportunities to gain valuable insights into future trends, learn about current business conditions and network with peers,” said Robert Maricich, Chief Executive Officer of International Market Centers (IMC). “As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market recognizes the vital roles that accurate trend forecasting, continuing education and peer-to-peer networking play in the overall success of the industry and its people, and we’re pleased to present another compelling roster of interesting and influential programming.”
In total, Las Vegas Market will host 40+ seminars and events during the five-day Winter Market, including nine sessions addressing design, color and product trends, six curated product tours and five industry-focused special events. Exclusive highlights include the Market’s proprietary FIRST LOOK and “Best of the West in Life & Style” trend forecasts; presentation of the 12th annual Design Icon award to internationally acclaimed architect and Pritzker Prize recipient Frank Gehry; the 13th edition of the prestigious Housewares Design Awards, presented by HomeWorld Business and hosted by Las Vegas Market; and the 2018 WOW Awards Dinner by WithIt, honoring women of excellence in the home and furnishings industry.
Educational sessions address design, architecture, color, product and business trends
With a nod to Gehry’s selection as the 2018 Design Icon, Las Vegas Market is offering a suite of sessions addressing architecture and design this winter. One of the sessions in the suite is “Architecture & Design: A Hand in Hand Approach” on Monday, January 29, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., featuring Christopher Mercier, AIA, founder of (fer) studio; Adam Sebastian, AIA, architect and designer at Stitch Design Shop; and Christopher Grubb, president of Arch-Interiors Design Group. For this panel discussion, the architects will explore architectural influences, trends and developments, as well as how the relationship between architect and designer are intertwined. In an additional presentation, Mercier will present “Mid-Century and Modern Design: Designing for Today” and overview how homes designed in the 1950s and 1960s relate to the homes he is designing today while exploring how consumers view and approach home projects.
Grubb also will present “Designing for Small Spaces is a Big Deal,” discussing market trends in furnishings and décor techniques that maximize the look and feel of smaller living spaces for all generations, Sunday, January 28, 1:00-2:00pm.
Angela Harris, Founder, Principal & Creative Director of TRIO Environments, will also explore consumer influences in “Design Desires – What the Consumer Really Wants!” on Tuesday, January 30, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. In this presentation, Harris will discuss how home designs and floor plans influence the furnishings sought after and purchased by consumers in today’s marketplace.
Key color, design and product trend forecasting sessions include the 14th edition of Las Vegas Market’s proprietary FIRST LOOK trend display and seminar, curated by 20-year magazine editor Julie Smith Vincenti of Nine Muses Media. The FIRST LOOK seminar, detailing each of the four winter market trends, as well as their influences and applications, will be held on Monday, January 29, 10:00am – 11:00am.
Another exclusive trend presentation, “Best of the West in Life & Style,” will feature a panel of taste-making influencers and designers including Audrey Woollen of Urbanic Paper Boutique, Olivia Korenberg and Jenn Pablo of Two Fold LA, editorial prop stylist and producer Heather Bullard, Ginny Macdonald, stylist and interior designer at Emily Henderson Design and Kelly Nutt of Kelly Nutt Design. Moderated by Ryan Saghian of Ryan Saghian Interior Design, and co-sponsored by REstyleSOURCE and IMC, the panel will be held Monday, January 29 from 3:00-4:30pm.
Other trend-focused sessions include: “Pantone Presents: Inspiring and Expressing Color: Defining the Essential Color Trends for Home in 2018,” with Patti Carpenter, Pantone Color Institute Trend Team Contributor and Global Trend Ambassador, revealing the key color trends for 2018 and an inside glimpse into the selection of Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year, Tuesday, January 30, 1:00-2:00pm; “Taking Stock of Retail: Trends and Takeaways,” with Michelle Lamb of The Trend Curve, Tuesday, January 30, 2:00-3:00pm; “2017 Color & Design Trends for Hospitality, Retail, & Office Interiors,” by Maria Oliveira of PPG Architectural Coatings, on Wednesday, January 31, 1:00-2:00pm; and “Vintage Style for Modern Living,” a panel discussion featuring designer Cathy Robinson Hutton, owner of Houston’s Renovate, a combination design studio and artisanal design shop, and Matt White, owner Recycling the Past, an architectural salvage company based in Round Top, TX, and Barnegat, NJ, moderated by Katie Stavinoha and Lorie Woodward and presented in partnership with The Round Top Register, on Monday January 29, 1:30-2:30p
Guided exhibit floor tours in five key product categories
Guided trend tours during Winter Market include: “Healthcare Gift Guide: Top Picks for Hospital Gift Shops,” hosted by Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals and led by Julie Elliott, manager of volunteers at Lakeland Health in St. Joseph, MI, and president of Michigan Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals at Lakeland Health, on Sunday, January 28, 2:30-4:00pm; “Touring the Trends - Home Furnishing Highlights for Retailers,” a guided tour of new and expanded showrooms, Sunday, January 28, 3:00-4:00pm; “Touring the Trends with Shayla Copas,” a tour of the Pavilions at Las Vegas Market with Shayla Copas of Shayla Copas Interiors, Sunday, January 28, 3:30-4:30pm; “Curated Docent Tour - Top Museum Store Product,” hosted by Museum Store Association and led by Karen McNeely. director of retail operations at Milwaukee Art Museum, and treasurer of Museum Store Association, Monday, January 29, 10:30am-12:00pm; and 2:30-3:30pm; and two sessions of “Touring the Trends through DISCOVERIES with Ruby Lane,” hosted by Ruby Lane and Antique Young Guns U.S.A. and led by Rachael Hoffman, Antiques Blogger and Consultant for Ruby Lane, and Operations Manager for Turn of the Century Antiques, Monday, January 29, 2:30-3:30pm, and Tuesday, January 30. 3:30-4:30pm.
Special events include networking receptions and exclusive industry awards
Not-to-be-missed networking receptions at Winter Market include: “Non-Profit Retail Symposium: Networking Reception,” in collaboration with the Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resources Professionals (AHVRP), Museum Store Association (MSA) & Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG), Monday, January 29, 2018 5:00-6:30pm; “Networking Reception for Spa Buyers, Managers & Directors,” hosted by Spa Industry Association (SIA) & Las Vegas Spa Association (LVSA), Tuesday, January 30, 5:00-6:30pm.
Exclusive industry awards events include: the “2018 Design Icon Presentation and Award Ceremony with Frank Gehry, Tuesday, January 30, 3:00-4:00pm; the “2018 WOW Awards Dinner” hosted by WithIt and Platinum Sponsor IMC, Sunday, January 28, 6:00-9:00pm; and the “2018 Housewares Design Awards,” presented by HomeWorld Business, hosted by Las Vegas Market and sponsored by Whitford, Tuesday, January 30, 5:00-7:00pm.
Full slate of educational sessions address business issues and opportunities
Other key seminars at Winter Market include “Meet the Makers” luncheon with special guests Kura Perkins and Bree Hay Hendry, sisters and co-directors of Art Hide and Amigos de Hoy; Diane Sulg, CRAFT President & American Craft Week Founder, and Carol MacNulty, senior consultant to Aid to Artisans, discussing the maker movement and how artisans are now able to enter the market place on a larger scale, Tuesday, January 30, 12:00-1:30pm. This panel discussion is presented as part of Las Vegas Market’s innovative partnership with the leading non-profit economic development firm Aid To Artisans.
In conjunction with the Housewares Design Awards, a special panel discussion, “Secrets to Award Winning Design” will feature Steve Cozzolino, Owner & Founder of Cozzolino Studio; Mary Moore, Founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse; and Jason Belaire, IDSA, West District VP of ENFOQUEdesign; moderated by Peter Giannetti, Editor in Chief of HomeWorld Business, Tuesday, January 30, 11:00am-12:00pm.
Two educational sessions will address the growing casual and outdoor category: “Outdoor on the Rise: Casual Living’s 2018 Universe Study,” presented by Waynette Goodson, Editor in Chief of Casual Living and Exterior Design, Sunday, January 28, 2:00-3:00pm; and “Casual Living Panel Discussion: The Business of Outdoor Design” a panel discussion moderated by Goodson, Tuesday, January 30, 11:30am-12:30pm.
Nine Artexpo seminars and events tie-in with first-time collocation
Additionally, there will be a full slate of special educational programming, tours and events in conjunction with the Winter Market launch of the co-located Artexpo Las Vegas, presented by Las Vegas Market in partnership with Redwood Media Group (RMG). Key sessions in conjunction with the Artexpo debut include: “Artexpo Opening Night Event,” Saturday, January 27; “On the Horizon in the Art World,” “Marketing Smarts For Designers and Gallery Owners,” “Dream to Launch: Making the Internet Work For You,” “60 Tips In 60 Minutes,” and “Start With The Art,” all on Sunday, January 28; “Take an Art Tour With Us” and “Artexpo Fashion Show” on Monday, January 29; and “Art Talk: Meet the Successful Artists of Today” on Tuesday, January 30.
LVMKT offers unparalleled buyer amenities
Las Vegas Market also is offering a complete range of buyer amenities to enhance the overall shopping experience. Highlights include fully-equipped Internet lounges for buyers, designers and media; a dedicated international lounge; and a Hospitality Suite in Building A, sponsored by ASID (Associate of Interior Designers) and Interior Design Society (IDS). Onsite hospitality includes morning “grab-and-go” breakfasts on Sunday and Monday in the Courtyard and The Pavilions, sponsored by Home Furnishings Association; complimentary afternoon bars in the Pavilions and on alternating Gift and Home Décor floors; complimentary happy hours on the Casual and alternating Furniture floors; Evening Courtyard Receptions in the Grand Plaza; and nightly entertainment and after-parties at various nightclubs. Las Vegas Market also offers a campus shuttle and complimentary shuttle to/from host hotels; paid onsite valet parking; buyers’ lounges; mother’s lounges; and convenient café and food kiosks.
More about Las Vegas Market: Las Vegas Market is the nation’s fastest growing gift and home décor market and the leading furniture marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 4,000+ gift, home décor and furniture resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. The Winter 2018 Las Vegas Market runs January 28 to February 1, 2018. 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 12.2 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/.