| LAS VEGAS - Aided by a double-digit increase in retail buyers, World Market Center officials said total attendance at the recent furniture market was 7% above the July 2007 market.
Last month`s market, which featured the grand opening of the WMC`s third showroom building, also saw a dramatic increase in the number of designers in attendance.
"Considering the very difficult environment in the home furnishings industry, this is a remarkable uptick," said Bob Maricich, president and CEO of the market center.
He said retail buyer attendance was 15% ahead of July 2007, while there was a 93% jump in designers attending the market.
"We set out to create excitement and provide an environment of optimism - and we were successful by every measure," Maricich said.
The WMC didn`t release specific attendance figures, but said total registrations "exceeded the historic average of 50,000."
The next Las Vegas market will take place Feb. 9-13, 2009. |