Page 65 - Lighting Magazine September 2018

Lighting Will Expand With
MARKET MERGER
Market Merger
While merging East (Ameri- casMart, organizer of the Atlanta Market) and West (Las Vegas Market) with High Point (North Carolina), ADAC
(held in Atlanta), and LIGHTFAIR (dual roles of one-third ownership with show management lead- ership) may have incurred complicated corporate decisions yet to be resolved, one of the largest single categories expected to bene t is Lighting.
Overseeing this extraordinary collaboration is furniture industry veteran Robert J. Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers (IMC). In talking with enLIGHTenment Magazine on this massive
Robert Maricich, CEO of IMC, acknowledges a focus on the lighting category and also points
to survey results that conclude buyers want fewer markets and more category-comprehensive, convenient shows that address their shopping and sourcing needs.
BY MARILYN NASON
merger three days a er its successful summer Las Vegas Market had ended, Maricich commented, “We’re in the very early stages of integrating our team and systems. It’s premature to speculate on how our several markets and shows will work to- gether,” adding, “but there’s no question portable and lighting xtures are very important factors in all of them.”
As with all types of mergers of this unique mag- nitude and geographic diversity, “Our Number One priority remains consistent throughout in addressing our customers’ needs, objectives, and goals,” Maricich stated, noting that gathering cus- tomer feedback in Atlanta, High Point, Las Vegas,
SepteMber 2018 | enLIGHTenment Magazine 63