News

Las Vegas Market announced it has extended its affiliation with industry organizations to include five new partners – American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), Las Vegas Spa Association (LVSA), PLATIN-Latin American Alliance Sierra Pacific Crafts (SPC) and The Munce Group – for the Summer 2017 Las Vegas Market, July 30 to August 3, 2017. With the addition of these newest affiliates, Las Vegas Market now offers a host of special programming, tours, educational opportunities, networking events and other membership activities to some 30 retail and trade organizations from across the United States and South America.

“Las Vegas Market is committed to working with the industry’s leading trade and retail organizations to offer programming, events and activities that are meaningful and relevant to their members,” said Karen Olson, senior vice president of Marketing, International Market Centers. “As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market is an ideal venue for industry collectives to shop, learn and network. Our partnership initiatives not only allow key trade groups to offer added value to their current members, but also to gain exposure among a broad base of potential new members.”

New partner ASTRA, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, is a not-for-profit trade organization founded in 1992 to serve more than 1,800 independent retailers, manufacturers and sales representations of the specialty toy industry. Many ASTRA members are attending Las Vegas Market for the first time this summer, and a variety of interesting programs are being developed to meet their needs.

The Las Vegas Spa Association (LVSA), another first-time partner, was started in 2002 as a networking solution for Las Vegas Spa Directors and vendors. The purpose was to inspire and encourage Spa Directors to share ideas, services and industry trends in a fun, social setting with the goal of providing the best possible spa experience for Las Vegas guests. Las Vegas features the largest number of world class destination spas anywhere, with over 40 destination/resort spa locations and combined estimated revenue of $150 million per year. The partnership includes a free networking reception – jointly hosted by the Las Vegas Spa Association (LVSA) and Spa Industry Association (SIA, formerly Day Spa Association), a long-time Las Vegas Market partner – for spa buyers, managers and directors at the Summer 2017 Las Vegas Market.

Las Vegas Market newcomer PLATIN-Latin American Alliance is a buying group engaged in building synergies between Latin American buyers and vendors at trade shows in the USA. The PLATIN-Latin American Alliance currently comprises more than 550 pre-qualified commercial and retail Latin American buyers from 28 Latin American countries in the home, accents, Christmas, floral and lighting categories.  The partnership includes a variety of benefits and special hospitality for members attending Las Vegas Market.

Sierra Pacific Crafts (SPC), another first-time Las Vegas Market Partner, is a 40-year-old creative community of family-owned retailers that includes locations all across the United States. SPC serves 60+ independent member stores – including AC Moore, a family-owned chain of 140 craft stores – which represent nearly 1,000,000 square feet of retail space and $150 million in retail sales. SPC’s purpose is to create and sustain a vibrant community of family-owned retailers in creative industries by enabling the individual success of its membership through cooperative strategies in sharing, fellowship, education, merchandising, marketing and operations. The partnership includes visits to Market by SPC leadership and scholarships for select member retailers.

New partner, The Munce Group is North America’s largest full-service marketing group specializing in the Christian retail industry and faith-based consumers. Founded in 1991, the Munce Group serves nearly 400 independently owned Christian stores in the U.S. and Canada providing member retailers with the highest quality Christian materials and services. The partnership includes visits to Market by leadership of The Munce Group and scholarships for select member retailers.

In total, Las Vegas Market will welcome some 30 industry partners to its Summer 2017 edition, with events and activities customized to the specific needs of each organization.  Retuning industry affiliates include: ART (Accessories Resource Team); Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP); Brand Source; Cantrex Nationwide – Canada; Contemporary Design Group (CDG); Craft Retailers & Artists for Tomorrow (CRAFT); FMG (Furniture Marketing Group); Furniture First; GC Buying Group (formerly Gourmet Catalog); HFA; HTI Buying Group; IFDA (International Furnishings and Design Association): MAI (formerly Monograms America); MEGA Group Canada; MEGA Group USA; Museum Store Association (MSA); PRESENTer Network; Parable Group; Nationwide Marketing Group; Pacific Furniture Dealers; Purchasing Power Plus (PPP); SMI – Mexico; Spa Industry Association (formerly the Day Spa Association & & International Medical Spa Association); TRIB Group, The Rental Industry Buying Group; and Zoo & Aquarium Buyers’ Group (ZAG).  For more details, and a full listing of partners, visit: www.lasvegasmarket.com/industry-partners.