International Market Centers (IMC) is reporting that momentum and anticipation for the April 2021 Las Vegas Market – running April 11 to 15 at World Market Center Las Vegas – is growing, with buyer registration pacing at 80 percent above Summer 2020 levels. Based on historical trends, IMC expects an exponential increase in daily registrations in the six weeks before market.
“We are looking forward to welcoming buyers and suppliers back to our Las Vegas campus in April,” says Bob Maricich, IMC CEO. “These strong pre-registration numbers show excitement surrounding our market, reflect demand for fresh, in-stock product and signal recovery for our industry.”
Las Vegas Market’s West Coast buyer audience continues to rebound with nearly 67 percent of the pre-registrations coming from the West Coast and 25 percent of those coming from California. Midwest (12 percent), Southwest (9 percent), Southeast (6 percent) and International (3 percent) retailers and designers round out the remaining pre-registrations. In total, there are 30 countries represented in registration for April Market.
“Our customers are always excited when we come back from Las Vegas Market. They want to see the things we’ve found, and with the variety of resources, we always find something new!” says JoAnne Strandberg, owner of Culinary Apple in Chelan, Washington. “The market is a great buying experience as well as a great platform for networking opportunities and we are looking forward to going again in April.”
“I’m excited to attend Las Vegas Market with our new accessory buyer this April,” notes Jackie Brookshire, President of American Furniture Warehouse in Englewood, Colorado. “The market is the easiest place to connect our new buyer with existing vendors. I’m also looking forward to seeing product in person again!”
Exhibitors are also enthusiastic about the pre-registration levels and leveraging the opportunity to secure appointments with key buyers.
“We are excited about the upcoming April Market. Our appointments are strong, and we currently are at 80 percent booked appointments with the buyers who would have come in January, including out of territory accounts from across the country,” comments Jackie Moon, principal of Next Steps Reps. “Most, if not all, of our vendors are attending as well. We are planning to introduce new products as well as new vendors that we wouldn’t have had in January.”
Las Vegas Market runs Sunday, April 11 through Thursday, April 15. Permanent showrooms in Buildings A, B and C are open from April 11 to April 14 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and on April 15 (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.); home furnishings temporaries on B2 are open April 11 – April 14 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and on April 15 (9 a.m. – 2p.m.); and the gift and home temporaries in the Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas run from Sunday, April 11 to Tuesday, April 13 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and on Wednesday, April 14 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
To ensure market safety, IMC will again implement enhanced cleaning and safety procedures, as laid out in IMC’s Together Safely protocols. These protocols include the required use of personal protective equipment (PPE), temporal monitoring, social distancing, occupancy control, hand sanitizing/cleansing and significantly increased housekeeping. To read the full Together Safely plan, go to www.TogetherSafely.com.
