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Las Vegas furniture show moved to mid-September
New date is one month before fall High Point Market
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Published: October 9, 2008
The competition between rival home-furnishings markets in High Point and Las Vegas got a little closer yesterday.
The developers of World Market Center said they are moving the second of the center's semiannual trade shows from late July to mid-September, beginning next year. The September show also is shrinking from five days to four.
The decision, which World Market officials said was in response to exhibitor and retailer requests, puts the Las Vegas market just a month ahead of the fall High Point Market, the world's largest furniture trade show.
The next fall High Point Market officially begins Oct. 20.
The tighter competition could have an effect on Forsyth County's economy, particularly its hotels and restaurants. For example, the High Point Market's April and October shows are a major reason why those are the peak months for Forsyth's hotel-occupancy tax.
Industry analysts said that the date change could backfire on World Market officials if their goal is to force exhibitors and retailers to choose between the markets.
The industry has been in a deep orders slump since June 2006.
Ivan Cutler, who writes a blog called "Inside Furniture" at www.insidefurniture.com, called the move "gusty" and "a line in the sand."
"The question is how many will switch, leaving High Point leases for less space and higher per-square-footage costs in Las Vegas," Cutler said. "The economy works in favor of High Point."
Bob Maricich, the president and chief executive of the World Market Center, downplayed the rivalry with High Point in discussing the date change.
"We recognized that July was not as conducive of a time for our customers, both from the weather and the trend cycles in the industry," Maricich said. "We believe this change addresses those concerns.
"We were cognizant of the High Point market dates, and we believe that the industry will be able to attend both with that much time difference between the shows," he said.
Maricich did say he hopes that having a September market will persuade exhibitors to expand their product introductions in Las Vegas.
Brian Casey, the president and chief executive of the High Point Market Authority, said that the local market will be able to withstand "another aggressive move" by the Las Vegas developers.
"There continues to be far great depth and breadth of furniture shown here, particularly in the high-end and casegoods segments," Casey said.
■ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.
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