Leasing Team Grows: Lois Richards and Michele Wayne Hired to Manage Temporary Sales

Furniture World Magazine

With the first building of World Market CenterSM sold-out for more than a year, officials recently launched the leasing effort for the temporary venues and are already touting its rapid success. Since starting its marketing and sales campaign last month to a waiting list of more than 1,800 prospects who have expressed interest, World Market CenterSM has already committed over 40 percent of the available temporary space to exhibitors for the July 2005 Las Vegas Furniture Market. There are hundreds of companies still waiting to finalize agreements and sign on, according to Market officials. Temporary exhibit space is being offered at two venues: WORLD PAVILIONSSM at World Market CenterSM which consists of 350,000 square feet in three large convention style tents – and WORLD MARKETPLACESM at the Las Vegas Convention Center which comprises 630,000 square feet of exhibition space, with provisions to add more space as needed. The country’s largest new home furnishings event, holding its first Market in Las Vegas from July 25-29 2005, will encompass 2.3 million square feet of permanent and temporary exhibition space – a 40% expansion from original plans. This includes almost tripling the size of its temporary exhibition space from 350,000 square feet to nearly one million square feet due to a high level of demand. “Anticipation is very high for the first Market. Already, buyers are pre-registering to attend. Permanent showrooms in Building A are sold out, and demand for the temporary venues has been building for nearly three years,” said Director of Leasing Babs Blair. “We’re pleased that we had the opportunity to significantly expand the amount of temporary space, giving more companies the opportunity to participate in the first Market and adding new resources for the buyers.” “The leasing effort for the temporary venues is going very well – beyond our expectations. There are many leading companies taking space in the second building who don’t want to miss the debut event, in addition to smaller manufacturers wanting to be a part of our Market. They are coming out in droves,” added Blair. To manage the demand among prospective exhibitors, Blair has expanded the leasing team. Lois Richards has been hired as Leasing Manager of Temporary Exhibits and Michele Wayne has been hired as Leasing Associate of Temporary Exhibits. Lois Richards has extensive sales experience in convention exhibit space, having worked in all facets of trade show management including customer service and sales, marketing, production, and labor relations. During her career, Richards has worked for two of the industry’s leading event and exposition companies. She served as National Sales Manager Corporate Events for Freeman Companies and Director of Sales for GES Exposition Services, which produces many of the world’s most recognized trade shows. She also has served in a senior management position for Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services and Conference Planners, Inc. She is a member of many industry associations including Professional Convention Managers Association (PCMA) and International Association of Exposition Managers (IAEM). Michele Wayne possesses eight years in the trade show industry and has established relationships with leading exhibition contractors, suppliers and vendors. She has served as Director of Marketing for two Las Vegas based trade shows – N.A.T.O. Expo, and prior to that, International Tobacco Expo. For both events, she was responsible for booth sales, directory, advertising, direct mail and seminars. Blair says that “Lois and Michele both have a great track record with leasing and managing exhibitors and temporary shows in Las Vegas. We are pleased to have their expertise on board with World Market CenterSM.” Tenants signing leases in Building B and Building C will likely have the first opportunity to locate at WORLD PAVILIONSSM which will be situated on the World Market Center campus, adjacent to the 1.3 million square foot permanent building currently under construction. WORLD MARKETPLACE(SM) at Las Vegas Convention Center will feature a number of conveniences and amenities including a continuous shuttle program each day of Market to the main campus in addition to on-site registration areas, internet lounges, food courts as well as special events. Coinciding with the first Las Vegas Market(SM) is the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® trade show. The AWFS®Fair will have its inaugural Las Vegas show at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will feature over 800,000 sq. ft. of machinery and supplies for the woodworking and furnishings industries. The AWFS®Fair is fully sold out. Las Vegas Market(SM) will showcase a wide range of new product in all segments of the home furnishings industry including furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, floral and bedding. For leasing opportunities or to pre-register for the first Market, call 888-416-8600 or visit: www.LasVegasMarket.com.