Summer Las Vegas Market Moves in Eco-Friendly Direction

Furniture World Magazine

The Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market announced that it will be emphasizing sustainability more than ever. The home furnishings industry’s most diverse eco-friendly assortments can be found in the lush, organic environment of the Market’s signature Living Green Pavilion, located on the fifth floor of the new Building C. This is the third Market in which the World Market Center Las Vegas has gone green, by providing interested buyers with a centralized place to find eco-friendly products. The Living Green Pavilion has been popular since its inception, and is attracting more cutting-edge sellers than ever before. “All products shown inside the Living Green Pavilion have a legitimate eco-story. Some products are made from recycled materials, others from FSC-certified wood or other sustainably harvested materials,” says Sustainable Furniture Council board member and Living Green Pavilion Leasing Manager, Jeffrey Hiller. “It’s going to be a truly green showcase.” Within the Living Green Pavilion, the green theme spans contemporary, transitional and traditional styles in virtually all segments, including upholstery, case goods, accent furniture, accessories and bedding. The Market will also welcome many first-time exhibitors, such as Harden Furniture, a full-line manufacturer that has been sourcing materials and building furniture in upstate New York for more than a century. Harden was one of the first to be awarded Silver Exemplary Status by the Sustainable Furniture Council earlier this year. Eco Exotic will showcase unique products from Indonesia, all of which use 100 percent FSC-certified lumber. Attendees can also look forward to major presentations from design-oriented companies such as Natural Fine Furnishings and Asian Art Imports. While the Living Green Pavilion was housed at off-site venues during past Markets, the on-campus location this summer will make it much more convenient for buyers to visit Living Green, said Robert Maricich, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Market Center Las Vegas. At 12,000-plus square feet, the Living Green Pavilion and adjacent buyer’s lounge will be an attraction, in and of itself, in its own premium glass-enclosed showroom on the fifth floor of Building C. “Frankly, green areas are no longer a novelty at trade shows; they are expected by buyers,” Maricich said. “Our leasing and programming teams have worked closely with the Sustainable Furniture Council to make our Living Green Pavilion at the July 2008 Market the most successful and authentic green furniture venue in the world." Specific to this Market is the design elements of the Living Green Pavilion which emphasizes sustainable materials in the set-up of the Pavilion itself. There has also been a concerted effort to secure a wide range of substantial manufacturers with eco-friendly products that have mainstream appeal from a design, availability and pricing standpoint. It’s a way of combating the common perception that these types of products are unusual niche products that carry a price premium. Complementing the Living Green Pavilion, other juried showcase sections planned for the fifth floor include ConText and Design & Living. Combined, the trio represents a comprehensive array of the home furnishings industry’s most discriminating creations. Gurus Educate, Inspire Market-goers About How to Buy, Sell, Market Green In addition to showcasing the latest in furnishings and accessories, a diverse lineup of free education seminars on everything green will also be a highlight for attending buyers. “This market, our goal was to broaden the scope of the Brave New World Environmental Leadership Series by bringing nationally recognized leaders to Las Vegas to speak to all aspects of the ‘greening’ of the home furnishings industry,” said Margaret Casey, World Market Center’s Director of Programming and a founding member and co-chairs the education committee of the Sustainable Furniture Council. “The caliber of the speaker roster for July 2008 underscores Las Vegas Market’s role in facilitating meaningful change in the area.” Highlighted programs will include: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Selling Green: How to Avoid Green Washing Jeffrey Hiller, PROaction Marketing Group Sponsored by WMCLV & Living Green Pavilion 4 p.m.-5 p.m. World Forum, 16th floor, Building B Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Why Designers are (and should be) at the Helm of Spreading the Sustainable Word Carol Baumgartel, ASID, and VP of Sales/Marketing for American Clay Enterprises, Inc. Sponsored by WMCLV 1:10 p.m.- 2:10 p.m. World Forum, Building B, 16th Floor The Many Scales of Green Susan Szenasy, Editor in Chief, Metropolis Magazine 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Building C, 3rd Floor (C-316) One Good Chair International Design Awards Sponsored by Las Vegas Design Center, Western Interiors & Design Magazine, Sustainable Furniture Council 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Building C, 3rd Floor (C-316) Brave New World Cocktail Reception 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Building C, 3rd Floor (C-316) Thursday, July 31, 2008 Let’s Go Green! But How Green and at What Pace? Charlotte Matthews, VP of Sustainability, The Related Companies Sponsored by WMCLV 11 a.m.-12 noon Building C, third floor (C-316) In addition to the programming presented by the World Market Center Las Vegas in conjunction with the Living Green area, the Sustainable Furniture Council (www.sustainablefurniturecouncil.org) will host a variety of retailer-specific sessions. For a detailed listing featuring descriptions of the extensive green programming, including the Brave New World Series, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com/events to find the “Interactive events calendar.” The calendar also features social events and exhibitor-sponsored events. The Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 1, 2008 at the World Market Center & Pavilions. For more information about World Market Center Las Vegas, including registration and discounted hotel room offers, please visit www.LasVegasMarket.com. About World Market Center Las Vegas: World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. In July 2008, when Building C opens, World Market Center will stand at more than five million square feet of space, exceeding the size of any trade merchandise mart in the United States. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) open year-round to the trade.