Market Report: Las Vegas
By Meredith Schwartz -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 9/1/2006
Was the Las Vegas Market a winner? Depends on who you ask! It certainly was for Joey Penn of Zachary, LA, who won a $12.3 million jackpot at Wynn Las Vegas while attending the show. Penn, who owns a successful truck stop in Louisiana, will spend at least a portion of his windfall to benefit the industry: Penn and his wife browsed the market for decorating ideas for their new home. “We will definitely be upgrading the interior now,” he said.
The Las Vegas World Market Center itself looms out of the surrounding low buildings with the same drama as one of the strip's casino hotels. It was 112 degrees outside, but inside the building was cool and comfortable, and mostly eschewed razzle-dazzle in favor of providing a low key backdrop for business that lets products take center stage. One useful touch was a series of tables and chairs scattered through the wide hallways. And they were not just a place to rest tired feet — or show off fashion-forward chairs. We frequently saw buyers and sellers doing business on a laptop outside the bustle of a showroom. Another user-friendly touch was Shop City, a guide to Las Vegas' home furnishings stores.
>> For the complete Las Vegas Market Report, visit www.giftsanddec.com and click on “Direct From Market.”
