Rapid expansion in fixed-wire lighting resources at International Market Centers’ (IMC) World Market Center Las Vegas and 17 High Point properties has created new East Coast and West Coast exploration destinations for the design trade.
“As manufacturing innovations make design-driven fixed-wire lighting more accessible for residential use, designers are increasingly specifying these high-end, decorative pieces for their projects,” said Scott Eckman, IMC executive vice president, chief revenue officer. “Opening showrooms at designer markets like High Point Market and Las Vegas Market allows lighting brands to showcase their product to these tastemakers, whether they are placing orders directly with manufacturers or ultimately working through their local lighting showrooms.”
IMC has doubled its fixed-wire lighting resources in High Point and Las Vegas in six months, a trajectory that started at Fall 2021 High Point Market and continues on both campuses as a key growth vertical.
In High Point, new showrooms for Hinkley and Varaluz, and a more than doubled space for Hubbardton Forge opened at the 2021 Fall Market. New showrooms for Kalco Lighting, Lite Source and Schonbek are set to debut at the 2022 Spring Market. They join brands offering fixed-wire lighting that are already established at High Point Market: Arteriors, Crystorama, Currey & Co, ELK Lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting Group, Jamie Young Co, Robert Abbey and Visual Comfort.
In Las Vegas, Craftmade opened a new showroom for the Winter 2021 Market with Hubbardton Forge opening a 9,000 sq ft in Winter 2022 to further expand fixed-wire offerings by Arteriors, Currey & Co, Elegant Lighting, ELK Lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting Group, Jamie Young Co and Visual Comfort.
On Varaluz’s October 2021 High Point showroom debut, President Ron Henderson said, “High Point Market is THE place to be if you are serious about home decor, whether as a buyer or purveyor. It certainly makes a perfect fit for us as we continue to expand our unique voice to more home decor categories. We are thrilled with our new lighting space and have already added hundreds of potential new buyers from it.”
At both High Point Market and Las Vegas Market, the fixed-wire lighting resources are interspersed with thousands of other complementary home décor lines to maximize cross-category shopping for designers. “The design community turns to IMC’s markets for our hallmark discovery opportunities,” added Eckman. “Our ability to showcase these fixed-wire brands alongside other designer accessories and decor brands creates new synergies and exposes them to a design trade in search of what’s new and next.”
Beginning in 2022, IMC plans to support the growing fixed-wire lighting resources with designer education offered at the markets and via webinars offered throughout the year.
High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, with more than 2,000 manufacturers in 11.5 million square feet of showroom and exhibit space in multiple buildings in downtown High Point, North Carolina. Each Market attracts tens of thousands of retail home furnishings buyers, interior designers, architects, and others in the home furnishings industry. International Market Centers (IMC) owns 17 prime High Point Market showroom buildings, which contain 70 percent of the exhibitors, including the majority of the top 500 manufacturers. DesignOnHPMKT by IMC is the official voice for IMC’s High Point Market programming and at-market activities representing a wealth of industry knowledge and connections. Spring 2022 Market is scheduled for April 2-6, 2022. For more information about events and exhibits presented by IMC, visit IMCHighPointMarket.com.
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. Registration is open now at www.lasvegasmarket.com.
Fixed-wire lighting brands interested in IMC’s markets should contact Mark Furlet at mfurlet@imcenters.com.
About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries. With more than 20 million square feet of premium wholesale showroom space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. With the launch of Juniper, a fully integrated omnichannel B2B commerce solution and multiline B2B e-commerce marketplace empowering buyers and sellers to better manage and grow their business at markets and year-round, IMC now provides the only omnichannel sales and marketing platform that seamlessly connects physical and digital wholesale commerce. For more information, visit www.imcenters.com.