Home Collections Grow at Las Vegas Market

By Lorrie Baumann

New product introductions abounded at Las Vegas Market in all categories, offering buyers access to innovative, new products as well as best-selling resources from established industry suppliers. John M Hunt, President and CEO of America’s Backyards & Outdoor Living, which introduced its new AB Modern line in Las Vegas, stated, “We have been extremely busy and we’ve seen all the right buyers, everybody we needed to see. I have never had a launch as strong as we have had this Market. We are very pleased and it has been a great Market.”

The show experienced double-digit gains in buyer attendance and the busiest-ever opening day in its 10-year history, according to International Market Centers, which owns and produces the show. Overall attendance hit an all-time high, fueled largely by recent explosive growth in gift and home decor resources, which resulted in gains of 22 percent in gift buyer attendance and 5 percent in home decor buyer attendance.

“Winter Market was extremely strong with robust traffic. Despite weather-related travel delays, people were committed to getting here and we set another Las Vegas buyer attendance record,” said Scott Eckman, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Furniture Leasing, International Market Centers (IMC). “The industry has a real sense of optimism right now. We saw major exclusive-to-our-market product introductions and countless showroom expansions. Order writing also was fast and furious – a strong indicator that 2016 is starting off on very solid footing.”

Among those exhibiting at the market was bambu, which was showing a new line of serving trays and boards and coasters made from reclaimed cedar wood obtained from mid-century Chinese homes that have been replaced with new construction from modern building materials. Each piece is uniquely grained and treated with a food-safe finish, and the serving trays and boards are, generally speaking, offered at a better price point than equivalent items made from bamboo, according to Jeff Delkin, bambu’s President. Suggested retail prices on the trays range from $10 to $24.

bambu is also offering a line of disposable veneer ware made from certified organic bamboo sourced in China. Dinner plates come in a package of eight to retail for $12. A package of small lunch plates retails for $10, and a package of 24 little tasting plates retails for $10. The veneer ware is intended for single use, but they can be wiped clean and used again for family occasions. They’re fully compostable. For more information, visit www.bambuhome.com.

The home host can continue the story about valuing both the environment and the gourmet table with paper napkins from the napkins that feel like textiles. Designed in Switzerland and produced in Italy, the napkins are made from a fiber blend that is both absorbent and sturdy. The company also offers PURE LINE, a new collection of products that offer the same fabric-like feel in napkins made from 100 percent biodegradable bamboo fiber. They’re offered in 14 solid colors and six florals as well as special editions. They’re packaged for retail in a box of 20 with a sample on the box’s cover so customers can feel the texture. The box doubles as a dispenser that’s attractive enough to go right on the buffet table.

The Kitchen Line is a collection of napkins with a rustic tea towel look that will work for casual or outdoor entertaining. The napkins retail for $20 for the Classic line, $16 for the Deluxe line, $14 for the Kitchen Line and $18 for special edition designs.

The line also includes cocktail napkins and placemats in five of the brand’s preferred colors: silver gray, dark gray, cocoa, kiwi and turquoise. For more information, visit www.thenapkinsus.com or call 800.884.9314.

Design Imports’ spring and summer collection includes a line of aprons, oven mitts, dishtowels and serveware in its Eat, Drink, BBQ line that’s perfect for the casual backyard barbecue. Towels are 100 percent cotton and a generous 18 inches by 28 inches. They’re printed with pork, chicken or beef designs and will retail for $5.99. For a look that’s just slightly more formal, the Lake House Collection is styled from soft blue, green and brown plaids, checks and solids to match the wood-shadowed waters of the family’s favorite fishing hole. It’s available now and is drawing great response, according to a company spokesperson.

The Mountain View Lodge Collection, also by Design Imports, is a collection of tablecloths, placemats and dishtowels that come in maroon, forest green and ivory plaids and prints that will work for both the winter holiday season and for the rest of the year as well. This is another best seller for the company and is available now. For more information, visit www.designimports.com or call 800.344.4115.

Magenta is introducing the Chocolat collection by Rae Dunn this year. This collection of tea and breakfast pieces features a dark natural clay in minimalist modern shapes that include a teapot, sugar bowl and creamer, mug, cereal bowl, plates and tray/platter. The service pieces were designed by northern California ceramic artist Rae Dunn, whose utilitarian approach to designing ceramics is strongly based on the Japanese concept of wabisabi, which is about the beauty of the imperfect, incomplete or worn. She incorporates text into her work – each piece is labeled with a one-word sentiment: “SWEET.” for the sugar bowl, “NOURISH” for the cereal bowl – which is intended to lend a deeper level of meaning and point of view.

The pieces are food-safe and dishwasher-safe. For more information, visit www.magenta-inc.com or call 510.849.3888.

The summer 2016 Las Vegas Market runs July 31-August 4. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.