(Las Vegas) September 9, 2005 - World Market Center Las Vegas, the home furnishings industry’s most anticipated new permanent market, will debut to the home furnishings industry and interior design trade next year.
World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom complex serving the United States and international markets. The first phase – a 1.3 million square foot facility – will have its grand opening with a week-long market, scheduled for July 25-29, 2005. Spanning 7.5 million square feet when fully developed, Las Vegas Market will be the industry’s largest and most comprehensive permanent venue in the West.
“All segments of the industry will share a cohesive, state-of-the-art, master-planned market,” said Dave Palmer, general manager of World Market CenterSM. “The campus will showcase complementary product categories including furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home office, bedding, floral and more – making Las Vegas a total resource for home furnishings and design.”
250,000 square feet of unique showrooms and products
Phase One, currently under construction, is a fully-leased building of permanent showrooms with approximately 250 tenants. These tenants represent a broad cross-section of home furnishings manufacturers and importers in a variety of product categories.
The initial phase will also include a Design Center on the first two floors, which is open year round to members of the retail and design trade. The Design Center will feature 250,000 square feet of unique showrooms and products, and is a new and exciting west coast venue for licensed designers and their clientele. In addition, the Design Center will serve as an ideal destination for special trade events, as it is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and architecturally distinctive interiors. The building and entire campus is designed by Jerde, a world renowned architectural firm.
A partial list of the Design Center’s dynamic showrooms will include: casual furniture leader Brown Jordan; the high end contemporary goods of Ambiente/IBG; unique rug and lighting manufacturers such as Masterlooms, Capel and Pecaso Lighting; and a wide range of leather and upholstery companies like Omnia Italian Designs, Pastel Furniture, RC Furniture and Canadian-based Stylus Furniture.
Our approach is to ‘connect the categories.'
“We are very proud to have such an impressive and diverse exhibitor line-up in Phase One,” said Babs Blair, director of leasing. “Our approach is to ‘connect the categories,’ which makes the experience more complete for buyers as well as exhibitors who are seeking new, expanded markets.”
The top six floors are made up of furniture and bedding showrooms, yet World Market Center also features home accent, accessory, lighting and rug exhibitors located on the first four levels – creating a complementary mix of product under one roof. The companies range from industry and brand leaders to first time exhibitors.
“If you always concentrate on the top tier exhibitors, you may be missing the smaller, progressive company who offers unique product lines,” said Blair. “For that reason, we must not only offer the name brands, but also give buyers the opportunity to find that perfect ‘diamond in the rough.’ We believe that’s what a successful buying trip is about – being able to find new products to offer your customers. World Market CenterSM will provide that experience.”
World Market Center also features nearly 400,000 square foot temporary area called World Pavilions. World Pavilions will be adjacent to Phase One, and will host another 250 high quality temporary exhibitors. Many of these exhibitors are expected to take space in Phase Two, which is currently in the leasing stage, and opens in 2007.
“World Pavilions allows smaller exhibitors the opportunity to introduce new product lines and categories as well as gives Phase Two exhibitors a presence at our first market,” said Blair.
World Market Center officials say a tremendous opportunity exists for Las Vegas Market to serve as an international destination. As a natural market venue, officials point to renowned Las Vegas’ infrastructure and amenities, among important factors of the market’s long-term sustainability.
“It’s not just that we believe buyers will come in masses to our first market, but that we believe they will continue to come over time because we have the right mix of exhibitors and amenities,” said Palmer. As such, World Market Center is uniquely positioned to be the leading international market in the United States in the 21st century.
Las Vegas – the convention and hotel capital of the world – is a one-of-a-kind host city for World Market Center. The project is being developed on 57 acres near downtown Las Vegas, at the intersection of the city’s two major freeways, Interstate-15 and U.S. 95. In relation to the, World Market CenterSM is only about a 10 minute drive from the world famous Las Vegas Strip, and less than 15 minutes from McCarran International Airport.
Las Vegas provides over 130,000 hotel rooms, more than any other city in the country; the world’s top restaurants and entertainment; the best infrastructure for trade shows and conventions; a $1 billion monorail system which will eventually connect the Strip to downtown and World Market Center; affordable and plentiful airline access from all major destinations in the United States; and the type of business and leisure environment that buyers and exhibitors enjoy.
“World Market Center is redefining the market experience for buyers and exhibitors alike,” said Palmer. “Combining the many benefits of Las Vegas with an efficient, integrated and diversified market experience – World Market Center is poised to be the total resource for the region, and eventually, a global destination for the home furnishings industry.”
Leasing applications are being taken now for Phase Two. For information, contact Babs Blair or Russell Blair at 888-416-8600. Email bblair@lasvegasmarket.com or rblair@lasvegasmarket.com.
Contact Name: Dana Pretner
Contact Phone: 702-380-0919 x109
Contact E-mail: dpretner@lasvegasmarket.com
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International