WHFA Retailer Resource Center Met Retailer's Needs In Las Vegas

Furniture World Magazine

When the Las Vegas Winter Market opened its doors on Monday, retailers were ready and so was the Retailer Resource Center. WHFA, along with NHFA, welcomed record-setting attendance in both of its locations at the World Market Center and Mandalay Bay. Already a veteran from the first Las Vegas Market, WHFA offered retailers the same services enjoyed in July 2005 like free business seminars, free coffee and an internet cafe, but ramped up its services for Winter 2006 by adding a daily lunch special, additional seminars, and more networking opportunities. Each day, the seminar room filled up fast, leaving standing room only. Many retailers arrived early to hear their favorite speakers and stayed for multiple seminars. The Fast Forward seminar on “Secrets of Power Negotiating”, presented by Michael E. Sloopka, Selling Solutions, was a tremendous success for the up-and-coming group. Many retailers made the Retailer Resource Center their home base for their market experience often coming back to visit vendors in the trade show space, for free coffee, or to check their email in the Internet Café. The addition of daily lunches served in the RRC for only $5.99 proved to be a great value to the retailer and was sold out daily. At Mandalay Bay, the story was no different. Retailers packed into the Mandalay Bay Events Center, eager to do business with vendors in the trade show and catch a glimpse of CitiFinancial Racing No. 90 car that was on display. “We estimate that WHFA’s RRC alone welcomed more than 5,000 retailers through its doors. We enjoyed a great market this winter and are grateful to our members, sponsors and partners for this shared success,” said Bradley. “The home furnishings retailer responded well to our line-up and is asking for more, so we will continue to be here to provide them with relevant services and resources they can take home to their businesses.” WHFA will continue to add new and expanded services to its RRC as retailers continue to discover The Resource Center and their needs continue to evolve. About WHFA: The Western Home Furnishings Association is member-owned and the western affiliate of the National Home Furnishings Association, providing programs, services, and networking opportunities to western home furnishings retailers since 1944.