World Market Center Hires Design Industry Authority Victor Pedraz as Director of Design Center

Furniture World Magazine

Reinforcing its position as a world class destination for interior designers, buyers and suppliers for the home and hospitality contract furnishings industries, officials with World Market Center announced they have hired design industry authority Victor Pedraz to lead management and expansion of The Design Center at World Market Center. Pedraz, a respected visionary with more than 20 years experience working with leading U.S. and international manufacturers, has joined World Market Center as Director of Design Center. Since opening in August of 2005, The Design Center at World Market Center has already attracted architects, interior designers and specifiers from around the country and world, offering the accredited trade two floors of open-daily showrooms. The Design Center will continue to grow as World Market Center’s complex grows to more than 12 million square feet over the next seven years and becomes the largest of its kind in the world. The second building on the campus is fully leased with 200,000 square feet of Design Center space; the third building is now leasing and will bring the total of designer showrooms to 800,000 square feet. In his new position, Pedraz will be responsible for managing the operations and business development of The Design Center at World Market Center. He will also work in conjunction with the Leasing Division of World Market Center to recruit leading domestic and international manufacturers to the Design Center floors in the third building. “We are very excited to have Victor join the team and believe he will be an asset to WMC because of his strong background and the key relationships he has with leading companies in the industry, both domestically and internationally. Victor will be able to use his expertise to bring major players in the design industry to The Design Center at World Market Center, which will reinforce our position as a world class destination,” said Gerry Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer for World Market Center. “Furthermore, Victor has established and trusted relationships with designers, buyers, architects, sales representatives and the interior design community which will be of benefit to tenants of the Design Center as we continue to grow.” As the fastest growing city in the U.S., Las Vegas has been experiencing a huge boom in both planned luxury condominium high-rise developments, as well as significant resort hotels’ expansion plans providing unparalleled access to the hospitality industry. Both of these growth sectors need new resources which are available at The Design Center at World Market Center on a year round basis, according to officials at World Market Center. Before joining the Design Center at World Market Center, Pedraz served as President of Euroreps Inc., a provider of sales, marketing, operations and product development consulting to European and American furniture and decorative accessory manufacturers in the global marketplace. In the 13 years he spent at Euroreps Inc., Pedraz was responsible for the overall operations and multi-site management of the sales teams and developed profitable methods for clients to brand and personalize their products to achieve immediate results. In addition, he introduced proven methods to existing retailers and wholesalers to ease the avenue to sell higher end products. Further, in his successful career in the home and contract furnishings industries, Pedraz has re-launched more than 100 retail and wholesale outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom as well as provided direct design services to the hotel and hospitality industries including ‘W’ Hotels and Wynn Resorts. Pedraz also worked with Florida-based DCOTA (The Design Center of The Americas) on recruiting European vendors to the U.S. “I’m thrilled to be associated with the phenomenal World Market Center project. I look forward to working with top manufacturers and industry professionals to make the Design Center a unique resource and known internationally as a mecca for high design and interiors,’” said Pedraz. The Design Center at World Market Center is focused on expanding business opportunities for home furnishings buyers, interior designers, architects, contract specifiers, purchasing agents and other members of the residential and contract hospitality design trade by offering new resources and valuable programs designed to serve, stimulate and elevate the design professional. The Design Center recently launched a reoccurring event series, called First Fridays, for local and out-of-market design professionals. This monthly signature event has proven to be very successful and features educational opportunities, unique showroom specials, hospitality and other exclusive offerings for the trade. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, The Design Center at World Market Center is the first of its kind, year-round, professional design resource in Las Vegas. Offering over 200,000 square feet of the newest products, trends and styles in furniture, lighting, floral, accessories, rugs and wall décor, The Design Center is comprised of 40 permanent showrooms featuring hundreds of leading manufacturers’ lines. For more information about the Design Center at World Market Center and to find out about leasing or exhibiting opportunities, visit the website or call 888-WMC-SHOW (962-7469). The Winter Las Vegas Market is being held January 30 – February 3, 2006 at World Market Center and the Pavilions. The temporary exhibits at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center will open on Tuesday, January 31 and run through February 3, 2003. Registration and hotel booking are encouraged and available on-line at www.LasVegasMarket.com. Victor Pedraz can be reached at vpedraz@lasvegasmarket.com or (702)599-3036.