World Market Center Appoints Gerry Siebel as Director of Leasing

Furniture World Magazine

Las Vegas Design Center, located within World Market Center has announced the appointment of Gerry Seibel as Director of Leasing for the Las Vegas Design Center. Seibel began his career working for some of the most fashion-forward retailers in the country and spent the last 20-plus years leasing, marketing and managing many gift and design centers including most recently the L.A. Mart, a division of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. As vice president and general manager, Seibel attracted gift retailers and interior designers from across the western United States to make the L.A. Mart an important resource for gift and home furnishings. Seibel also served as vice president of The Merchandise Mart in Chicago for 12 years. During his tenure there, Seibel leased permanent and temporary showrooms in gift and residential furnishings. While in Chicago, Seibel created and launched The Menswear Collective, an upscale menswear trade event held twice a year at the Merchandise Mart and attracting men’s retailers from across the country. He handled residential leasing in Chicago and was responsible for leasing permanent showrooms at the Chic Apparel Center for men’s, women’s and children’s fashion accessories. He was also executive director for the Interior Design Studios in all Carson Pirie Scott stores. Seibel says his extensive retail background, which includes buying, marketing and merchandising roles with May Company, Gimbel’s, Carson Pirie Scott and Kaufmann’s Department Stores, lends itself immensely to his work in the design center world. “Being in the retailing world really groomed me for a career in the mart and design center business,” said Seibel. He added that he is especially excited about attracting the high-end design and hospitality resources to the Las Vegas Design Center. “The opportunity here is tremendous, and I am very excited to be part of the World Market Center team,” said Seibel, who is on the fast track to attract upscale design tenants to Building C, opening in 2008. Seibel will work closely with Las Vegas Design Center General Manager William Grenewald and Director Kathy Kroger to attract and retain tenants. Grenewald said, “Gerry and I have worked together in the past, and I am especially proud to have him on our team. His style and substance make him well suited to helping us fulfill the vision for the Design Center. He understands our mission and is already working with a wide range of prospective tenants that will round out the selection of high-end product we offer designers.” In the realm of community service, Seibel is also vice chairperson of the Gift for Life Board that benefits the American Foundation for Aids Research. Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center, located at 495 South Grand Central Parkway, is the first of its kind, year-round, to-the-trade design resource in Las Vegas. Featuring the newest products, trends and styles in furniture, lighting, floral, accessories, rugs and wall décor, Las Vegas Design Center currently consists of 70 showrooms that are located on the first and second floors of Buildings A and B. With the opening of Building C in July 2008, an additional 500,000 square feet of showroom space will bring Las Vegas Design Center to a total of 1 million square feet serving both the residential and hospitality design industries. The Winter 2008 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for January 28 to February 1, 2008 at World Market Center’s Buildings A, B and Pavilions and tradeshow at the MGM Grand Hotel. About World Market Center: World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) open year-round to the trade. World Market Center produces the semi-annual Las Vegas Market, held every January and July, and is the fastest growing home furnishings trade show in the world. World Market Center is now leasing the third building to a broad cross-section of the home furnishings industry. For more information World Market Center, and to find out about leasing or exhibiting opportunities, visit the website at www.LasVegasMarket.Com or call 888-WMC-SHOW (962-7469).