One of the most striking aspects of the debut of the giant Home + Gift section of the Las Vegas Market is not just the variety, but the freshness. I discovered many new sources for decorative accessories – and yes, even lighting! – while perusing the aisles of this newly unveiled category that spans several floors of Building C.
While there are some boutique companies that also show at major venues such as Atlanta, Dallas, and NYNow (formerly known as the New York International Gift Fair), there are others who are just making their debut here in Vegas.
PublicLight USA is a newcomer to the U.S. market. Founded by young entrepreneur Torsten Erik Maehle of Germany, the product line is comprised of competitively priced LED illuminated furniture that is hardy enough for indoor and outdoor use. There are color-changing spheres that can float in the water, illuminated cocktail tables in the shape of martini glasses, and many more shapes and containers. Another popular item is a series of LED-powered drinking glasses (made of plastic) that turn on when any liquid is poured inside; the LED light turns off when liquid is no longer in the glass.
The new layout and floor plans of temporary exhibits encourage meandering aisle by aisle for new sources. For example, hidden in a home furnishings section is a fledgling company called Lightheaded™ Beds that features illuminated children’s headboards (via a backlit LED panel) that can be quickly and easily switched out with thousands of images as the children grow and their tastes change. The LED panel provides enough brightness to read in bed and can be dimmed by remote control. There is a fade out feature to gradually reduce the amount of light, allowing the child to gently fall asleep.
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| Lightheaded Beds: Dan Mower, Katie Hatch, Dennis Forchic surrounded by their patented LED backlit headboards with interchangeable panels. |
Using a proprietary process, these children’s beds by Lightheaded Beds feature backlit LED panels that can be quickly changed as the child’s tastes grow. |
As mentioned in an earlier report, the Las Vegas Market has been drawing a very diverse crowd. For example, I met a winery owner from California who deliberately chooses to travel to the Las Vegas Market instead of a venue in her state because she wants the items she sells in her tasting rooms to be different from anything her 26 winery competitors offer.
There is also a strong presence of European designers as well as many from countries in Central America attending the summer market.
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