Las Vegas Furniture And Decorative Accessory Market A Success

Furniture World Magazine

For three days, the Sands Expo and Convention Center was filled with a bevy of bright lights, mirrors, gambling tables, leather stools and more. No, it was not taken over by a local casino. It was a meeting of buyers, manufacturers and distributors in the furniture and decorative accessory industry. The one-of-a-kind show was produced by Karel Exposition Management (KEM) and sponsored by the Home Furnishings Representative Guild (HPRG). And, quite appropriately, there was a full house. Some of the top stores and distribution centers, as well as multiple-store buyers attended. Buyers such as Bruce Gailbraith of R.C. Willey, one of the top 200 home furnishing stores in the United States, attended his first KEM market. "The show was easy to shop and the buyers were diverse, " Gailbraith said. "Both small and mid-sized suppliers attended and the presentation was good." Las Vegas show regulars were also impressed with the show's quality. "This is the third Las Vegas show I've attended," notes Ed Shaw of Stool Plus, "and it gets better every time. I'm always looking for new items and ideas and I see them here. " On the other side of the booth, exhibitors who attended past shows found the quality has improved. "Las Vegas is a growing market," said Kevin Yip of Diamond Sofa, "and so are our orders from our dealers. Great show!" The market was held Saturday, June 21 to Monday, June 23. According toLarry Karel, market director, the market attracted major manufacturers of furniture, lighting, decorative accessories and bedding, along with hundreds of buyers who came to see the latest merchandise and stay current with marketplace trends. Six companies from Baja, Mexico showcased their products -- from wood doors and wrought iron furniture to lamps, stained glass and more. The Baja Government recovered the expenses and sent back a very positive response. "The most important thing for us is the quality of buyers that we can find in a show in order to consider our participation as a successful one," explains Edda Padilla-Carlin, a representative of the Baja State Government. "In this show the companies we (the government) supported found the right counterparts that brought them good business." KEM shows typically attracts small to mid-sized buyers from the regional areas who do not always have the time or budget to travel to markets far from home. For Nader's Furniture, a large dealer, this is what makes the show attractive: "We come every year. It's good to see so many local suppliers. " Karel Exposition Management, the nation's largest producer of regional furniture and decorative accessory markets, is based in Hollywood, Florida. The current roster of KEM shows is as follows: Pomona, CA -- Nov. 16-18, 1997; Edison, NJ-- Feb. 8-10, 1998; Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Feb. 14-17, 1998; Worcester, MA -- March 1-3, 1998; Baltimore, MD -- May 17-19, 1998; Atlanta, GA -- May 31-June 2, 1998, Las Vegas, NV -- June 27-29, 1998; Edison, NJ -- Aug. 2-4, 1998; Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Aug. 15-17, 1998; Orlando, FL -- Sept. 11-13, 1998; Worcester, MA -- Sept. 27-29, 1998; Pomona, CA -- Nov. 15-17, 1998. For more information on Karel Markets, check out the Karel Page on this website.