World Market Center, Las Vegas announced that it has chosen a group of seasoned executives to head its new Gift + HomeTM division who have more than one hundred years of combined industry experience.
The newly expanded team complements World Market Center’s existing Furniture, Mattress, Design and International sales divisions—who collectively are committed to delivering a world-class, diversified marketplace that will offer unrivaled depth and breadth across all categories of the home.
World Market Center Las Vegas will debut its first-ever gift-focused event inside of Las Vegas Market, with the launch of Gift + Home, Aug. 2-6. Attendees will now have access to a growing number of leading gift and home décor manufacturers including newly-signed exhibitors such as Russ Berrie, DEMDACO, Silvestri and Yankee Candle, plus long time Las Vegas tenants including Global Views, Midwest-CBK, Andrea by Sadek and many more. Over 300 gift and home exhibitors in total will appear at Gift + Home at Las Vegas Market, with more than 1 million square feet of dedicated space.
“It has always been our foremost goal for World Market Center to diversify our base of categories and evolve into a ‘total home’ market. With the extensive breadth of experience and talent within our new gift team, we are excited to be well on our way,” said Robert Maricich, President and Chief Executive Officer, World Market Center Las Vegas. “This seasoned team was carefully assembled not just to develop new partnerships through their extensive relationships within this segment, but to successfully establish this division as a natural extension of the Las Vegas Market through their thought leadership and knowledgeable and varied perspectives.”
The ten-person Gift + Home division includes:
Georgia Davis, Vice President, Gift + Home
Georgia Davis, the former executive vice president of the Dallas Market Center for 20 years, has served as a new business development consultant at World Market Center Las Vegas and has been instrumental in the growth of the category for the last three years. Davis now leads the Gift + Home Division and is responsible for the strategy, sales and growth of this show segment.
Randy Eller, Gift + Home Consultant:
Randy Eller operates Eller Enterprises, a consulting firm primarily serving the home accent, furniture, and giftware industries. His background includes serving as president and part owner of home decor firm CBK. Prior to joining CBK, he previously worked for Russ Berrie & Company and managed a 20-store retail chain headquartered in Tennessee. Eller will bring his 35 years of expertise in the gift arena to assist World Market Center with its growth trajectory as the new hub for suppliers and buyers.
Ron Radin, Consultant:
Ron Radin currently is Business Development for Lighting division at World Market Center Las Vegas. Radin is owner and publisher of Homestyle Publications (www.homestylesmag.com) which has produced over 30 custom magazines for lighting retailers throughout North America and has a circulation of 2.3 million consumers. Prior to this, Radin held sales/marketing positions with several lighting companies including Adjusta Post Lighting, North Shore Lighting and Casablanca Industries where he was responsible for creation of the Casablanca Lighting division.
Gerry Seibel, Director, Business Development, Gift + Home:
Gerry Seibel has been with World Market Center Las Vegas for three years as a director of design-focused events before his recent appointment to Gift + Home team, where he can parlay his extensive background in the category. He served as vice president and general manager and later vice president of show development for the L.A. Mart. Prior to those positions he served as vice president of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for 12 years and boasts an extensive luxury retail background. His current duties include leasing permanent gift and decorative accessory showrooms.
Boyd Tasker, Director, Business Development, Gift + Home:
Boyd Tasker brings a rich background in media and publishing targeting the gift and accessory marketplace having served as an executive director, sales and marketing with Whereoware; group publisher with Hoyt Publishing and associate publisher with Ziff-Davis Publishing. His current duties include leasing permanent decorative accessory and lighting showrooms.
Margaret Powers, Director, Business Development, Gift + Home:
Margaret Powers, a sales powerhouse in the gift marketplace, served as the director of leasing at MMPI for the L.A. Mart, 7W New York and The Chicago Market: Living and Giving. Powers also served as director of marketing for Hub Group and director of merchandising for Enesco Group as well as worked as the marketing and sales manager for The Hershey Company. Her current duties include leading the sales team for the Gift + Home temporaries.
Sheri Makransky, Business Development, Gift + Home:
Sheri Makransky has been with World Market Center Las Vegas for nearly four years. Her background also includes directing leasing and marketing for Venture Development Group, a Nevada-based commercial developer, as well as 18 years in retail management for companies including Polo Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor. Her current duties include leasing permanent gift, rug and decorative accessory showrooms.
Keith Davis, Business Development, Gift + Home:
Keith Davis has previously worked many years at MMPI’s L.A. Mart prior to his arrival at World Market Center. From marketing to leasing, Davis has held many positions in procuring exhibitors to the trade show complex. His current duties include sales for the Gift+Home temporaries.
Lindsay Pearson, Business Development, Gift + Home:
Lindsay Pearson was formerly the Director of Sales for the Beckman’s Handcrafted Show at the Chicago Market Living & Giving before joining World Market Center. Pearson oversaw the development and execution of all sales and marketing initiatives. Her current duties include sales for the Gift + Home temporaries.
Michelle Ovalle, Brand Manager, Gift + Home
Michelle Ovalle previously served as director of marketing, gift and home furnishings for the L.A. Mart/MMPI before joining World Market Center Las Vegas. She is responsible for developing and executing marketing programs and events, as well as leads a team of retail specialists focused on gift buyer acquisition.
“Our team understands the dynamics of the gift marketplace, which can be very fragmented, but this industry collectively will benefit from a world-class platform in a world class-city” said Davis. “We’ve assembled a team with the knowledge and relationships to attract the ideal exhibitor mix and the right buyers. Because Las Vegas is an international city, we have the advantage of being much more than a regional event but truly a destination market. Suppliers and rep showrooms will prosper from a highly concentrated event of gift and home buyers, allowing for a consolidated west coast presence.”
Gift + Home at Las Vegas Market will be held August 2-6, 2010 Attendees can book discounted rooms online now at www.giftandhomelv.com. For a list of Gift + Home exhibitors, visit the online directory at www.giftandhomelv.com.
About World Market Center Las Vegas: World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex. The state-of-the-art campus showcases furniture, decorative accessories, gift, lighting, area rugs, home textiles and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center open daily to consumers and designers. World Market Center currently hosts the biannual Las Vegas MarketTM, the preeminent total home market along with INSPIREDESIGNTM, Gift + HomeTM and Vegas KidsTM. For more information on World Market Center Las Vegas and its shows, visit www.wmclv.com. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.