Las Vegas Market officials reported strong order-writing activity at last week’s summer market, which they said represented about 60% of summer pre-pandemic attendance.
“Las Vegas Market has continued its positive recovery trajectory despite recent setbacks in the nation’s response to the pandemic,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Center (IMC) CEO. “This week again proved that Las Vegas Market is the preferred Western location for discerning buyers and brands to come together to get business done.”
Las Vegas Market attracted buyers from all 50 states with notable increases from the Northeast (32%), Southeast (19%), Southwest (10%) and TOLA (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas) (11%) regions. International traffic from 42 countries saw 60% growth over the April 2021 Las Vegas Market, IMC reported, and buyers from 42 countries. Gift category attendance registered 11% growth over April attendance.
The 2021 summer market was held about a month later than its traditional timing.
Exhibitors across the market’s gift, home décor and furniture segments reported strong order-writing from buyers completing fourth-quarter sourcing and getting a jump on 2022 orders.
“Everyone that came in had the intention of buying, and orders have been really big with retailers buying deeper,” said Sande Womack, principal of New Era Sales Team (NEST) which represents 55 lifestyle brands, including a new expansion into gourmet foods. “Our whole marketing campaign for this market was planning and pre-booking for 2022, but we had a lot of people come in seeing if they could still get Christmas 2021.”
Vendors in the temporary exhibits at the new EXPO at World Market Center reported a productive market.
“Our goal when we came to Las Vegas Market was to build some accounts that are out west, people that we cannot see in the south,” said Lori Newell, founder of Birmingham, AL-based Crave Candles. “We’ve opened accounts in Utah, Montana, California, and one here in Las Vegas.”
The Summer Las Vegas Market marked the return of in-person events for the market– with masking and social distancing protocols in place. Live seminars included IMC’s proprietary First Look and Ahead of the Curve programs and sessions.
The First Look display showcased four emergent trend themes: Early To Rise, Special Effects, Home & Away and ’80s BEATS.
