How to Make the Most Out of Winter Las Vegas Market 2019
Las Vegas Market is nearly here and it’s the perfect time to get last minute plans in place, make reservations, and order last minute supplies. As a branding, web design and marketing expert for interior designers, I’m incredibly honored to be attending Winter Market 2019 as a guest of Ivy! Whether you’re attending market to source products for a specific project or just to keep tabs on upcoming design trends, it truly is the hub for the West Coast design industry. As a self-proclaimed over-planner, I’ve spent hours researching the best booths to visit, places to stay, things to do and tips to ensure a super productive, hyper-inspiring trip to Market.
TIPS TO PREPARE FOR MARKET
Plan Ahead: Market is huge and overwhelming, even to seasoned veterans. Make a list of vendors ahead of time and map out their locations so you can cluster their visits together. Review the Exhibitor & Product Directory here.
Prepare Client Needs: Have dimensions, specs, and budgets prepared ahead of time for projects you’re sourcing for. With so much going on, sourcing is much easier when you’re looking for something very specific.
Reach Out: Market is the perfect opportunity to become in-real-life friends with your Instagram friends. Spend some time the week ahead of Market to reach out and see who will be attending. Invite colleagues to dinner, a panel discussion, or even to walk to Market with coffee in the morning.
Create Digital Vendor Packets: Create a PDF packet including a cover sheet with your name, business name, business address, phone, email, resale number, copy of your resale license, and your state’s resale certificate filled out. Keep physical business cards in your bag to hand to vendors and be ready to email your Digital Vendor Packet when you’re ready to open a wholesale account.
Register for Panels Ahead of Time: Some panels (like Ivy’s How to Boost Your Profitability that I’m speaking on) ask you to register ahead of time. Make sure you take care of that ahead of time so you’re not fumbling around on your phone at the door.
Update Your Media Kit: Market is an optimal time to network with vendors for collaborations, meet with editors, and secure some press. Make sure your digital media kit is up to date so you can pull up stats on the spot. Your media kit should include brands you’ve worked with before, social stats including followers, reach and engagement rates, as well as demographics of your followers to ensure you’re a good fit for a brands’ target audience.
Order Extra Business Cards: Order these super high-quality but VERY affordable business cards and save your $3/piece letterpress cards for clients. They’ll arrive in plenty of time!
WHAT TO REMEMBER AT MARKET
Save the Shuttle Schedule: The Strip has a magical way of looking like things are closer than they really are. Screenshot this shuttle schedule to catch a ride to Market from most hotel locations.
Bring Your ID + QR Code: At registration, you’ll scan your QR code that will be emailed the week of. They’ll be checking ID’s so make sure you have it!
Schedule Flex Time: Plan for time to not go as planned. Give yourself flexible time on each floor to mingle, network with vendors, pitch PR, and take a breather.
Snap Images In the Showroom: Take phone pics in-person for items you’re sourcing, so you can upload them later into your digital product library (such as Ivy’s Product Library).
Wear Flats (and bring bandaids for blisters): Even though Vegas market is substantially more compact than other markets, you’ll still walk miles and miles each day. Opt for comfortable shoes you’ve worn a few times before, save the cutes shoes and heels for dinner.
Keep Gadgets Charged: Your battery will be drained quickly walking the floors of market, so keep things charged with a universal power bank. We love this one because it charges our laptop, iPad, and phone without adding extra weight. Write your initials on your phone charger so no one accidentally snags yours at a charging station!
Stay Hydrated: We really mean it, you’ll be walking a lot at Market, usually while sipping cocktails. Have a water bottle in your bag to stay hydrated in that conditioned Vegas air.
TIPS FOR AFTER MARKET SUCCESS
Upload Your Contacts: Use the business card uploader app, Abbyy, to automatically digitize all the business cards you acquired.
Follow Vendors on Social: Make sure you’re following your favorite vendors on Instagram to make sure you’re first to know about new collections in the future.
Follow Speakers on Social: If you saw someone speak and loved them – give them a follow on social media! They’d love to hear from you, so feel free to send a direct message (DM) letting them know you enjoyed their presentation. You never know the collaboration opportunities that come out of a friendly note!
Send a Follow Up Email: Create a templated email to send to new contacts, re-introducing yourself, linking to your website and social media. Make sure your signature includes a headshot so they can put a name to a face.
Send a Pitch Email: If you met any editors during Market, follow up the next week with a pitch email highlighting your latest project to be featured on their publication.
SHOWROOMS YOU CAN’T MISS
- Four Hands: A140, A109
- Pacific Coast Lighting: A301
- Mercana: B316
- Loloi Rugs: B480
- Arteriors: C379
- Currey & Company: C398
- Noir: C399
- Bungalow 5: C455
- Palecek: C498
MAKE SURE TO SEE
Creative Business Strategies to Boost Your Profitability with Ivy – Sunday, January 27 – I’ll be speaking along with Lindsey Brooke Design and Mikel Welch about creative ways to increase your design business’ profitability. Hosted by Ivy and moderated by Rue Mag’s founder, Crystal Palecek, it will be a candid, actionable panel discussion with key takeaways you can implement right away.
DIY and Design Masterclass: Semihandmade, Sarah Sherman Samuel and Chris and Julia Marcum Discuss Design In The Digital Age – Sunday, January 27 – I’ve been a loyal Sarah Sherman Samuel follower for years now and I’m excited to hear her take on the digital age of design. The team behind the design blog, Chris Loves Julia is a fan favorite as they share their journey partnering with major brands and collaborating on their own product lines.
Touring the Trends with RUE Magazine – Tuesday, January 29 – RUE Magazine is a daily read, so the opportunity to walk the Pavillions with it’s editor-in-chief talking trends is an absolute must!
Best of the West – Monday January 28th – A highlight every year at Market, the Best of the West panel is a major draw as the most notable up-and-coming designers chat West Coast design trends. We’re particularly excited to see IDCO clients Lexi Westergard and Lindsey Brooke Design along with photographer favorite Amy Bartlam on this year’s panel.
GET SOCIAL
Catch up with friends and take a breather in the Ivy Designer Lounge at ZUO in A-442 the 27th-29th. Schedule a private Ivy demo here and kick your year off with the proper software and systems in place.
Market After Party at Hakkasan – Sunday January 27th
Wines of the West with Best of the West Reception – Monday January 28th
WHAT TO EAT
NoMad Restaurant – floor to ceiling, 3 story bookcases with plates perfect for sharing with friends, followed by drinks at NoMad Bar across the hall.
Searsucker has a great casual vibe with super interesting decor and is a great option if you’re dining with a large group of friends. Don’t miss the duck fat fries, brussel sprouts and mac and cheese.
Grab some real food at the newly opened Eataly, Italian marketplace. Snack on antipasti, drink wine and wind down after a long day doing all the market things.
The Nomad Hotel Las Vegas. Photo by Benoit Linero @benoit_linero
WHERE TO STAY
I’ll be staying at Vegas’ newest boutique hotel, the NoMad, specifically for just how non-Vegasish it is, channeling all the bespoke old New York vibes you’d never expect on the strip.
The Delano is high on design, low on drunken bachelorette parties. This luxury boutique hotel is one worth seeing, even if you aren’t staying.
The Delano Las Vegas. Photo by @salomeandco_.
THINGS TO DO
Catch the show of a lifetime at Lady Gaga’s Enigma – tickets are crazy expensive, but seats still available for Saturday before Las Vegas Market.
Get inspired at The Neon Museum. A must for design lovers of all kinds, it’s the perfect Insta-worthy trip and break from the strip.
Hike Red Rock Canyon State Park, a quick Uber ride from the strip. Trails are still open during the government shutdown, and these vistas aren’t to be missed. Catch the Kraft Mountain Trail at the end of Sandstone Drive within Calico Basin for an easy, one hour hike. Cell service is spotty at the park, so make sure to schedule your Uber back ahead of time.
See Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirrored Room and Narcissus Garden , at the Bellagio. This light and mirror installation is a breathtaking installation that’s a quick stop between Market events.
——
If you haven’t already, register for Las Vegas Market here. While you’re at it, sign up for my panel discussion hosted by Ivy so we can talk all things business, strategy and making money. If you see me at Market, PLEASE come introduce yourself. I’d love to connect with you in real life, chat business, or just hang out. If you’d like to schedule a time to meet up, send me an email directly at hi@theidentite.co. Make sure to be following along on Instagram as I give a behind-the-scenes look at Market from a non-designer’s perspective.
Written by Anastasia Casey
——
Anastasia Casey is the founder and creative director at The Identité Collective – a full service creative studio for interior designers and boutique lifestyle brands. Offering bespoke branding, web design and Instagram management, The Identité Collective helps brands built around beautiful living elevate their digital presence to represent the physical spaces they design. For inquiries, email The Identité Collective here.
Ivy is the # 1 software for designers. To learn more about Ivy, schedule a demo with an Ivy Guru who can show you how designers use Ivy to streamline their workflow and make more time for what they love, design.