Retail Observer

coming in," said Danne Semeraro, founder of Sempli glassware who worked with independent retailers, multiple-location retailers, corporate gifting buyers and restaurants and hospitality specifiers at market. "I think that moving into the amazing EXPO building is the best thing that could have happened to temporaries at Las Vegas Market." "There's been great enthusiasm amongst the buyers for being able to finally see, touch and feel products and to see people again. We were really glad to be at Las Vegas Market and super grateful that the World Market Center is open," said Carina Santoyo, founder and owner of handcrafted lifestyle brand Ceremonia. "We are super enthusiastic about the future of our wholesale business and our partnership with Las Vegas Market. We hope to keep returning for many years to come." Buyers echoed the brands' enthusiasm. "There were such cool new vendors in the temporary exhibits. We found some new vendors and returned to the people who know and support ZAG," said Judy Rancour, director of Retail Operations for the Saint Louis Zoo and Zoo, Aquarium & Garden Buyers Group (ZAG) Board President. "The EXPO is so much more impressive than I'd anticipated. The new space is fabulous, there's such a good vibe." RETURN OF AT-MARKET EVENTS The Summer Las Vegas Market marked the return of in-person events – with masking and proper social distancing protocols in place – with strong attendance at six trend- focused at-market activities. Live seminars included IMC's proprietary FIRSTLOOK and Ahead of the Curve programs and sessions with design and retail thought leaders. The ANDYZ, hosted by The Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California Central / Nevada Chapter, also brought the design community together again to celebrate resilience and recognize excellence, with 11 winners in 10 categories. On-campus experiences showcased the trends and celebrated the at-market experience. The First Look Display welcomed buyers from the EXPO into Building C with engaging representations of the themes: EARLY TO RISE, SPECIAL EFFECTS, HOME & AWAY and '80s BEATS. Three Market Snapshot vignettes showcased the 54 finalists including 6 winners. Onsite activity surrounding Juniper was brisk with buyers clamoring to pre-register for JuniperMarket – IMC's new digital e-commerce marketplace launching later this year. JuniperMarket photo booths also heightened the energy by encouraging buyers to share their market experiences via social media, with designer Olivia Stevens from Allentown, NJ and Ariel Richardson of ASR Design Studio from Escondido, CA winning Juniper's iPad giveaways. Juniper's showroom and activations were busy with suppliers interested in both the marketplace as well as the JuniperCommerce suite of SaaS tools. Additionally, some 20+ buying groups and trade associations held meetings, gatherings and buying visits at the Summer 2021 Market. Las Vegas Market is the leading home furnishings and gift market in the western U.S., presenting thousands of furniture, home décor and gift resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market's diverse product offerings allow for cross-category commerce among these industries. The next Las Vegas Market runs January 23–27, 2022, at World Market Center Las Vegas. For more information, please visit www.lasvegasmarket.com. RO SUMMER '21 LAS VEGAS MARKET

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