Vegas Kids: Growing Up Lauded as Growing Industry

The youth furnishings industry has remained strong in recent years and the newly expanded Vegas KidsTM will show retailers and designers how to take advantage of that momentum during Summer Las Vegas Market, August 2 – 6, at World Market Center Las Vegas.

Building upon Las Vegas Market’s outstanding roster of youth furnishings and décor manufacturers, this newly expanded showcase located on the fourth floor of Building C this August, will bring together more unique youth resources as well as educational sessions designed to drive new sales.

Expanded Youth Furnishings Line Gives Exposure to Profitable Tot-to-Tween Sector

“Our Market attracts tens of thousands of home furnishings retailers internationally every season, and more than 20 percent of current attendees purchase juvenile furniture— making this expansion in youth furnishings a natural extension for Las Vegas,” said Robert Maricich, President and CEO of World Market Center Las Vegas. “And despite the economic downturn, youth lines have remained strong at retail. This expanded juvenile event will bring the best of what’s new in youth furnishings to the forefront.”

For independent juvenile retailers who specialize in general merchandise, attending Vegas Kids at Las Vegas Market will be stimulating, profitable and productive. “Tapping this high_growth marketplace of youth furnishings and décor is a means for specialty juvenile stores to diversify and evolve from primarily baby products in order capture and profit from an entirely new market segment,” added Maricich.

The most recent projections by New York-based Easy Analytic Software Inc. (EASI) suggest that youth bedroom sales will increase nationally by 14.8 percent over the next five years. That’s in part due to the fact that parents are still spending freely when it comes to their kids. While 71 percent of parents say they have been personally affected by the recession, 90 percent of them say they’re spending less on themselves so they can spend more on their children.

According to Baby Durables – A Market Review, parents are currently having fewer children—but actually spending more. “It translates into greater willingness among parents to buy expensive, eco-friendly, high-end products for their infants, and toddlers,” the report reads.

Vegas Kids will offer much more than new products for the profitable “tot-to-tween” marketplace, but will also offer complimentary educational seminars designed to help retailers learn more about tapping youth furnishings industry and how to reach consumers. Topics range from marketing strategy to social media tips to insights into modern children’s design.

Programming has been particularly selected and designed to educate and equip attendees seeking ways to identify new revenue streams and to maximize their profits with consumers amid highly challenging economic conditions. Held in concert with the Summer Las Vegas Market at World Market Center Las Vegas and Gift + Home show, Vegas Kids offers more exposure and visibility than ever before, and at the ideal time.

Seminar and Event highlights include the following:

Kid Wisdom: Essential Insights for Furniture Fun and Profit
Presented by Paul Kurnit, KidShop
Monday, August 2 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Building C, 4th Floor
Join Paul Kurnit, owner of KidShop and a recognized world leader in youth marketing, to learn more about the current state of the kids market and how to connect your company’s core capabilities to today’s opportunities.

Vegas Kids for Grownups Reception
Monday, August 2 | 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Building C, 4th Floor
Join today’s leading juvenile furniture manufacturers as they celebrate with a cocktail reception. Beginning at 4 p.m., The Vegas Kids for Grownups party injects real fun back into the juvenile business.

Room for Children: The Exciting State of Children’s Design Today
Presented by Susanna Salk
Tuesday, August 3 | 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Building C, 4th Floor
Design author Susanna Salk uses images from her new book “Room for Children” as a launch pad for a lively discussion. Well known for her contributions to “Today” show and “Early Show,” Salk will hold a book signing following the discussion.

Getting the Most Out of Social Media
Presented by Katja Presnal, Skimbaco Lifestyle and Collective Bias
Tuesday, August 3 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Building C, 4th Floor
Lifestyle blogger and social media expert Katja Presnal discusses how independent retailers of youth home furnishings can gain a competitive advantage through effective social media strategy.

Vegas Kids at Las Vegas Market will be held August 2-6, 2010 Attendees can book discounted rooms online now at www.vegaskidslv.com. For a list of Vegas Kids exhibitors, visit the online directory at www.vegaskidslv.com.

About World Market Center Las Vegas

World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex. The state-of-the-art campus showcases furniture, decorative accessories, gift, lighting, area rugs, home textiles and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center open daily to consumers and designers. World Market Center currently hosts the biannual Las Vegas Market™, the preeminent total home market along with INSPIREDESIGN™, Gift + Home™ and Vegas Kids™. For more information on World Market Center Las Vegas and its shows, visit www.wmclv.com.