UPDATE, Aug. 14, 2020, 2:30 p.m.
Anthony California, Eclipse, Oriental Weavers and Reverie have joined the list of companies announcing they will not be opening their showrooms at the Vegas market.
ORIGINAL STORY, Aug. 14, 2020, 7 a.m.
HIGH POINT – Full-line vendor Steve Silver Co. and case goods resource Legends Furniture have joined the list of World Market Center exhibitors deciding to opt out of this summer’s edition of Las Vegas Market.
Although Steve Silver Co. reported a successful return to Las Vegas Market in January, the company decided to take a pass on the summer show after consulting with dealers, according to Vice President of Sales Ian Geltner. Instead, Steve Silver will show new goods in all categories at the Sept. 14-15 Premarket in High Point.
“The COVID-19 situation is new for all of us,” said Geltner. “Our team is safe and healthy, business is good, and our No. 1 goal is servicing our dealers. We are currently taking appointments and are excited to be showing new introductions at Premarket, even if we’re six feet away.”
Legends Furniture Director of Marketing and Business Development Tim Donk noted the company was an original WMC tenant, committing to a showroom before ground was broken for Building A.
“This market has been an extremely important show for us and has significantly contributed to our growth over the past 15 years,” he said. “That’s why this was such a tough decision for us to make. First and foremost, we felt that risking the safety of our staff, sales reps and customers wouldn’t be worth what business we might have gotten from the show.”
He added that conversations with most of Legends’ larger customers and several regional independents indicated many were not planning to attend.
“That made the decision a little easier for us,” Donk said. “All things considered, it just doesn’t make sense to go to this one.”
Legends also will exhibit at Premarket.
To date, the following companies have told Furniture Today they won’t be opening their Las Vegas showrooms:
- Acme Furniture
- Anthony California
- Central Oriental Rugs/Natco Home
- Coaster Co.
- Coast to Coast
- Crosley Brands
- Eclipse
- Furniture of America
- Greenington Fine Bamboo Furniture
- Harounian Rugs International
- Homelegance
- Kalaty Rugs
- Kaleen Rugs
- Kas Rugs
- Legends Furniture
- Loloi
- Manwah
- Natco Home
- Oriental Weavers
- Parker House Furniture
- Porter Designs
- Reverie
- Southerland
- Southern Motion
- Steve Silver Co.
- Vilo Home
I’m Powell Slaughter, senior editor at Furniture/Today. I returned to the publication in January 2015 after nine years of writing about furniture retail strategies and best practices at a monthly magazine focusing on home furnishings retail operations. Prior to that, I spent 10 years with F/T covering wood furniture, the last five of those as case goods editor. Upon my return to F/T, I developed coverage of the logistical and service aspects of the furniture industry as well as following the occasional, home office and home entertainment categories. In April 2018 I took over the upholstery category, with responsibility for coverage of the fabric and leather stationary and motion upholstery, recliners and massage chair categories.
