The Summer Las Vegas Market event took place at the Las Vegas Market, owned by International Market Centers (IMC), July 24 – 28. We sat down with Chelsea Bohannon, senior public relations manager at IMC, to chat with her about the event, current trends and what’s on the horizon for IMC.
ECN: What trends are you seeing in booth design at this event?
Chelsea Bohannon: Purple is a trending color! We’re also seeing beach-inspired booths and overlay design, which is a lot of neutrals and lots of metallic.
We’re also seeing trends in products. Products with a purpose and values are particularly of interest this year. The Rise collection was produced by our digital marketplace called Juniper Market. It’s made up of all women-owned businesses showing products in Vegas for the first time.
IMC acquired Dough about a year ago. This is made up of hundreds of women-owned brands. These brands are values-based and connected to different communities, like women of color or LGBTQ communities. Many of these brands also have some value consciousness, such as eco-friendliness or sustainability.
ECN: What happens at Las Vegas Market when shows aren’t going on?
Chelsea Bohannon: Las Vegas Market offers Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC). These are showrooms that are open year-round to design trade. Designers are welcome to attend during the week when there isn’t a market to source new products. They can bring their clients or purchase products, and it is fully staffed year-round.
ECN: Does IMC operate only in Las Vegas?
Chelsea Bohannon: IMC also owns AmericasMart Atlanta. That facility hosts a series of shows. It hosts home décor and gift, that has both showroom component and tradeshow component. We also have eight apparel shows in Atlanta: five shows focused on women’s apparel, one is the national prom and pageant market, and we have two bridal shows.
IMC’s newest addition is called Shop Object in New York. It’s a design-driven lifestyle show that runs twice a year, in February and August, in NYC on the east side of pier 36. IMC acquired it in February, and this will be its 5th year.
ECN: What do you have coming up that you’re excited about?
Chelsea Bohannon: We are launching a bridal show in Las Vegas, which is very exciting. The first one is already sold out! The event will feature wall-to-wall bridal. Twenty-five percent of the floor will be devoted to couture bridal gowns, and the other 75% will be general bridal.
ECN: Why do you think Las Vegas Market is so popular?
Chelsea Bohannon: Apparel retailers have figured out they need to be in a lot of different categories, and this show is the only in the country where you can source all three design categories, furniture, gift, and home décor, in one place.
