How to Tackle Las Vegas Market Summer 2017 Like a Pro
Las Vegas Market is at the end of the month (July 30 – August 3). Making the choice to attend market is a big commitment in terms of your resources and time. The time you spend at market is time away from client meetings, internal administration plus the expense of traveling. It’s important to make sure you make Market worth your while, ensuring an inspiring but also productive visit. The best way to make the most out of market is to outline your goals and plan your strategy ahead of time. Consider which clients you are shopping for. Are you sourcing new or existing trade accounts? Are you scouting the general categories or specific categories such as lighting? Based on your goals, list out your priorities and plan accordingly.
The Ivy Team will be making an appearance! Make sure to come say hi on Monday, July 31, 4pm-6pm at the Abbyson Living Building B – we’ll be hosting a panel with our friends at the Soft Design Lab. RSVP for the event here.
Review these great tips to help you maximize your visit pre, during and post-Las Vegas Market.
PRE MARKET STRATEGY
Outline your purpose and budget
Make a list of clients you are shopping for and their respective budgets.
Create “make-ahead” packets
Ivy Designer Julie Durand recommends putting together “packets” of documents, essentially your business credentials, with all of your information. One full packet should include your name, business name, address, phone, email, resale number (and copy of license), your states resale certificate filled out (except for the vendor information), references (if you plan to apply for credit), other vendor accounts (if any), and a business card. This will save you a ton of time because each vendor needs this information upon opening an account. You can also save this document as a PDF on your phone/tablet/computer so you can send via email on the spot.
Finalize your packing list
- A small carry-on with wheels to lug around brochures, make-ahead packets, water, snacks, etc. This is a MUST!
- Comfortable shoes that can transition from day to night.
- A lot of business cards.
- Chargers (and back-ups) for all of your devices. Try to get your hands on a portable battery pack to recharge on the go.
- A reusable water bottle (you need to stay hydrated as you will be standing and sipping cocktails all day).
- An umbrella.
- Small printed adhesive address labels with your name, business name, phone and email (this will save time from hand writing over and over on vendor sign in sheets).
Develop a strategy to keep track of new contacts
Download a good business card app or create a personal method for yourself on your phone. Ivy Designer Julie Durand recommends setting yourself up as a contact in your phone so you can easily share with a new contact (including your logo). You will meet many new faces and exchange many gift cards. You should store this information right away to save your self some time later. You should also jot down your mental notes of this new contact, a personal anecdote, to make sure you remember each and every new person you meet. Make sure you tag everyone i.e. #lvmktsummer17 with a second tag of their category i.e. #lighting so you can easily find in your phone.
Take advantage of your resources and familiarize yourself with the lay of the land
Start marking your Market Planner to create custom and interactive lists of your favorite Exhibitors, add events & seminars to your Market Planner lists, save & organize lists as you need, share and send notes via email, and more.
Download the LVMkt App to access and search the Exhibitor Directory, search and save events & seminars, use & edit your Market Planner notes, searches and lists, identify on-site amenities, locate the nearest Happy Hour, and more.
Photo via Las Vegas Market
Schedule your time
Your time is precious. Make appointments with your saved vendors and friends. It’s OK to be selective, but make sure to allot time to simply wander without destination – this is when the magic happens and you stumble across new vendors. Don’t be shy to contact vendors in advance.
If you want to go the extra mile, print out the Market Catalogue and highlight all of the vendors you want to hit. Ivy Designer Elizabeth Wilson makes a chart with vendors, organized by building (A , B and C) so you can easily knock it out section by section. If you are registered, Market should be sending you a catalogue (it’s also available here).
DURING MARKET STRATEGY
Manage your time well, and take care of yourself
Get your badge as early as you can.
Check out the tents early. It gets very hot and they don’t stay as cool as the buildings.
Use Uber and/or Lyft (don’t even both to try parking or taxis).
Go on adventures!
Save time to hit the pavilions, there are always a few gems inside. Make sure to look for inspiration – not just products! Check out the temporaries and pay close attention to the Home Decor in Building C.
Check out Ivy Designers’ favorite Showrooms
Arteriors – C379
Ave Home – C394
Bassett Furniture – A953
Four Hands – A140
Global Views – A153, A154
Leftbank Art – A229, A254
Phillips Collection – A202
Ivy Designer Rebecca Zajac’s Window Display – A654
Sterling Industries – A344
Sterling Lights – C896
Visual Comfort & Co. – A134
Worlds Away – C369
Attend educational seminars & events (here are our bookmarked favorites)
Laws of Luxury for Interior Designers
Sunday, July 30, 2017 | 1:45pm – 3:45pm
Building B, WorldView on Sixteen
Speakers: Christopher P. Ramey, Affluent Insights (0.2 CEU)
Learn the definition of luxury, how to properly market your business to the luxury market and tips to managing profitable and long-term relationships.
Millennials: Why and How they Buy
Sunday, July 30, 2017 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Building C Seminar Room, C174
Speakers: Maureen Azzato, Publisher & Editorial Director of HFN (0.1 CEU)
Join a moderated conversation about millennial buyers, what they are looking for, manufacturing preferences and purchasing behaviors.
Managing Jobs: How to Stay Happy and Profitable
Monday, July 31, 2017 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Casual Furniture Seminar Room, Building C, C1276
Speakers: Terri Taylor, DesignBiz Blueprint (0.2 CEU)
The ASID California Central / Nevada Chapter explores client management best practices in the modern world.
Best of the West in Design
Monday, July 31, 2017 | 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Building B, WorldView on Sixteen
Speakers: Mat Sanders, Brandon Quattrone, Nicole Davis, Brady Tolbert, Jeni Maus, Caitlin Creer, Alyssa Rosenheck (0.1 CEU)
REstyleSOURCE and Guest Moderators Brandon Quattrone & Mat Sanders of Consort will discuss West Coast style with an impressive panel of tastemakers including Nicole Davis, Brady Tolbert, Jeni Maus, Caitlin Creer and Alyssa Rosenheck.
Photo via Las Vegas Market
Building Your Own Killer Design Tribe
Monday, July 31, 2017 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Abbyson Living, Building B, B170
Speakers: Jackie Von Tobel, Deb Barrett, Kelli Ellis, Joseph Haecker and Lee Rotenberg (Co-Founder of Ivy)
Join the industry’s most progressive leaders in design technology utilization and community building for a powerhouse networking event and a panel discussion that will empower you to begin BUILDING YOUR OWN KILLER DESIGN TRIBE. The panel will discuss how to create your own tribe of supporters, collaborators, and suppliers, that will help you navigate the new world of design. Register for the event here.
The Fashion of Home
Tuesday, August 01, 2017 | 11:45am – 1:00pm
Abbyson Living, Building B, B170
Speakers: Michelle Lamb, The Trend Curve
Get an inside scoop on what trends are influencing today’s home, from color, materials and even runway cues. Global trend forecaster, Michelle Lamb of The Trend Curve, will make a special appearance at Abbyson and share an intimate view into tomorrow’s home fashions. Lunch starting at 11:45am and presentation to follow.
#LVMKT Red Carpet Tour with Soft Design Lab
Saturday, July 29, 2017 | 12:00am – Tuesday, August 01, 2017 | 7:00pm
Experience Las Vegas Market like a rock star! Join Deb Barrett and Jackie Von Tobel of Soft Design Lab for the Las Vegas Red Carpet Tour in cooperation with International Market Center. Jackie and Deb will host a complimentary, all-inclusive 3 night – 4 day, #LVMKT Experience, at Summer Market for qualified attendees, designers, and retailers from across the country. The tour is available on a first come, first serve basis to qualified and vetted attendees. You’ll receive the star treatment while enjoying VIP access to major manufacturers tailored to your individual needs. As your design concierge, Deb and Jackie will take care of all of the planning, so you can concentrate on the show, buying and having a great time. Register here.
Take advantage of Market specials
When submitting orders and/or reorders, make sure to ask about specials regarding freight, dating and discounts. Don’t be shy to ask for samples or demos!
Use the following hashtags to maximize your social media exposure
- #MakeTimeForDesign
- #IvyTakesLVMkt
- #LVMkt
- #LVMkt2017
- #ViewOnVegas
- #atmarket
- #atLVMkt
- #interiordesign
- #interiordesigner
- #interiordesigning
POST MARKET
Take what you’ve learned home
Go through your notes and new contacts. Create a one-sheet summary. Host a meeting with your team and point out things that inspired you, new vendors discovered, and great finds for specific clients.
Follow up with your contacts
Ivy Designer Julie Durand recommends drafting an email (or more, depending on categories) to have a follow up email template that you can send out to all of your new contacts after market. This is great for fostering deeper networking relationships. Make sure to add your head shot and company logo to this email so people can put your face to the name.
In addition to sending through a follow-up email with your head shot, go through your contacts social media pages and like/follow to stay engaged.
What are your Las Vegas Market hacks? Submit your tips to tara@ivymark.com.
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