Designers and retailers from all over the world will be converging upon Las Vegas this week to see what’s new and trending in home décor, gifts, and furniture.

“For everyone, it’s what’s now, what’s trending, and what do I have to tweak to stay relevant,” said Scott Eckman, chief strategy officer for International Market Centers, which plans the one-of-a-kind marketplace in the heart of Vegas.

But before any sharing of new products and trends can take place among the thousands of attendees, Eckman and his team have a big puzzle to tackle.

Key to the success of Las Vegas Market – the only marketplace for furniture, home décor, and gifts – is providing just the right space for the more than 4,000 vendors participating.

“We have over 200 employees who coordinate all of these functions. These are professionals who are trained to put these shows on – from operations teams to marketing teams. Really it’s a big operation – both operationally and lots, and lots of communications,” Eckman told House Tipster during an interview on Sunday, the first day of the show.

“We think of it almost like the orchestra coming together with all the different pieces,” said Eckman, president of Leasing for Furniture & Home Decor.

Big plans bring big rewards for Eckman and his team, as they watch new companies get their start and grow as a result of contacts made through their participation in Las Vegas Market.

“It’s building relationships with these passionate entrepreneurs and watching their business grow.  People don’t come to market once they’re big companies. They come as small companies, and we get to watch them become big companies and realize their dream,” he said.

The greatest challenge facing the planners of Las Vegas Market and the vendors they serve is guarding against complacency, he said.

“You have success and something works, but if you don’t continuously improve you fall behind, so as a market center we’re always looking for ways to keep improving just like our exhibitors are always finding new products and introducing new items, even though the other ones are performing well,” Eckman said.

Eckman pointed to Vanguard Furniture as one of the highlights of this show, and added that Las Vegas Market is also known for its surprises.

“There’s lots and lots of things we will uncover throughout the show,” he said.

Helping vendors keep up with the focus on new trends are a number of seminars, like Ahead of the Curve, First Look, and Best of the West. Experts shop the market on the first day and then report during seminars on the most promising new trends.

Excited about what this week has to offer, Eckman said, “Folks from all over the world will be here this week, seeing what the American companies are doing and looking for new opportunities.”

Considered one of the most dynamic players in the furniture industry, Four Hands Furniture was a natural choice for House Tipster’s first day of interviews at the Las Vegas Market.

For years, Four Hands Furniture, based in Austin, Texas, has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies. That alone is an accomplishment worth mention, considering the highly competitive furniture market.

But the company also has a reputation for spanning the globe for design inspiration. We could expect Four Hands would go out of its way to dazzle show-goers with its new furniture products.

This trend-setting furniture company never misses the opportunity to be at Las Vegas Market, the most comprehensive marketplace for furniture, décor, and gifts. New designs based on backpacking trips through Southeast Asia and other adventures are what makes the Four Hands brand stand out.

Keeping with the market’s mission to introduce trends, Four Hands will be showing off new styles in upholstery, new material in occasional groups, and new dining sets during the Las Vegas Market.

These featured products are some of the company’s best offerings curated especially for the West Coast, which tends to be a younger, more progressive dynamic, said Jerome Kearns, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“We bring trendier styles out here, a little bit less traditional,” Kearns explained.

He told House Tipster the curious way that the company got its name when founded by Brett Hatton and his wife slightly over 20 years ago.

“It’s called Four Hands because when we first started they were buying products they had to inspect with four hands and then resell,” said Kearns.

He said the company – an international wholesale distributor based in North America – has grown in those 20 years to be a dynamic player in the furniture industry.

“We have a couple hundred thousand square feet of distribution center in Austin, and we have thousands of customers nationwide,” he said.

Look for Four Hands Furniture to showcase new styles at the Las Vegas Market for many years to come. Its furniture design also can be seen in showrooms in High Point, N.C.; Atlanta; Las Vegas; and Austin.

It seems like only yesterday our exclusive team was in the heart of Los Angeles, exploring the booths and interviewing the best and brightest designers at Dwell on Design.

Lucky for us, we’re at it again.

From July 30 through Aug. 3, House Tipster’s Media Team will descend on Las Vegas for the bi-annual Las Vegas Market expo.

Over the next few days, we plan to bring you the latest news in home decor, furniture design, and more from the show. Here are some basics about Las Vegas Market and what you can expect from our coverage of the event.

Las Vegas Market 101

Located in the World Market Center campus on Grand Central Parkway in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas Market has become the largest convention for home and hospitality designs and furnishings west of the Mississippi River. Not surprisingly, the event has grown exponentially since its inception in 2005.

Over the past 10+ years, vendors at Las Vegas Market have showcased everything from new furniture designs to home decor trends and innovative gifts for an audience of retailers, designers, and other industry professionals.

The World Market Center complex itself is gigantic (it’s over 5 million square feet) and includes three separate buildings, a courtyard, and a temporary structure named “The Pavilion.” Although expansive, the center was built with efficiency in mind. Therefore, attendees can easily visit all the vendors over the course of the five-day event.

Don’t worry. We’ll be bringing our walking shoes along for the journey!

The Exhibitions

The main feature of Las Vegas Market is, of course, the 4,000+ exhibitors. Retailers, interior designers, architects, and other professionals come to this event specifically to get a glimpse of emerging design trends in a variety of exhibit categories.

While no means an exhaustive list, the exhibits at Las Vegas Market include products such as fashion accessories, home furnishings, garden and patio ornaments, fireplaces, spa accouterments, rugs, light fixtures, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Continuing Education and More

Sure, we could definitely spend all weekend talking with the vendors, but Las Vegas Market offers more than just exhibits.

There are also some on-site seminars, continuing education sessions, and opportunities to network with designers and brand representatives across the industry.

Topics ranging from design for Millennials to the science behind flame-retardant materials will be discussed over the course of the event. Also, we don’t plan on missing mixers like the Meet the Makers luncheon, which features five well-known artisans and their take on the industry.

As you can see, we’re really excited about Las Vegas Market. If the thought of attending this exclusive event gives you all those “happy feels,” then stay tuned for more information on the latest trends in decor, design, gifts, and more from the expo. And if you haven’t already, “Like” us on Facebook to get updates on our interviews and coverage in real-time.

Are there any products you’re dying to hear about? Let us know in the comments below!

Bold, bright, and cheerful, it was impossible to overlook the 2017 Color of the Year displayed by Dunn-Edwards Paints at the Dwell on Design show in Los Angeles.

We loved the warmth of the new color Honey Glow as presented by this leading Southwest manufacturer and supplier of architectural and industrial coatings.

Paint’s a fickle thing. Even with the best intentions and professional application, it can easily chip, crack, bubble, and discolor. Then, factor in kids, pets, and harsher-than-average wear and tear — and you have a recipe for a colorful disaster.

Think about it, how many times have you heard (or said yourself), “Don’t touch the walls! Don’t smudge the walls.” We’ve all been there. A touched wall is a damaged one.

Cue Benjamin Moore, a paint and finish company setting the standard for excellence in quality and durability since the late-1800s. We recently spoke with Kali Sipes Pleasant from Benjamin Moore at the 2017 Dwell on Design Expo. Kali was accompanied by the designer of their exhibit booth, Darrin Varden of Darrin Varden Designs.