The Building B is the tallest furniture mart building in the United States.

Las Vegas Market, held Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, sets the stage for the industry’s first big event of the year with hundreds of new product introductions from more than 1,300 exhibiting companies, a lineup of educational seminars and special events.

This year, the Las Vegas Market in January presents a new, weeklong series, called Brave New World: Environmental Leadership Series to help attendees develop awareness of best practices covering all aspects of the industry. All seminars are free to Las Vegas Market attendees and will take place at the World Market Center and the MGM Grand. 

“The Brave New World Series is designed to provide key information and proven strategies for effective change focusing on long-term consumer and supplier education,” Margaret Casey, director of programming for World Market Center and founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, said in a statement.

“If you are a retailer who is looking to transform your business to a more environmentally friendly model,” she continues, “then you know that credible, large-scale education is the cornerstone for effective change.  We intend to address a broad cross-section of topics and have relevant conversations that will keep retailers ahead of the pack and on target with today’s consumer.”

Further reinforcing its commitment to present eco-friendly solutions and resources, Las Vegas Market has teamed up with Sustainable Furniture Council and Channel Logic to co-produce the Living Green Pavilion, which has doubled in size since its debut last July. This specialty pavilion will feature nearly 30 companies covering more than 10,000 square feet at MGM Grand and centers on sustainable furnishings or furniture using wood, cushioning, fabrics and finishing materials that are made from renewable resources.

Must-See Seminars
Kicking off the Brave New World seminar line up, Jeff Hiller, co-chair of the Sustainable Furniture Council, will present “Going Green: The 10-Step Program.” This seminar is a beginner’s guide, providing practical advice for furniture retailers and manufacturers to make their businesses more sustainable.

Hiller will summarize global warming and other issues as presented in recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports, highlight issues specific to the furniture industry, provide 10 how-tos each for retailers and manufacturers and discuss the current and future direction of the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC).

Furniture Today Editor-in-Chief Ray Allegrezza will present “The Greening of America: What It Means to You,” which highlights the green market from a non-technical point of view. Topics discussed will include the size of the market, the different segments of green consumers, what they want, what they don’t want and more. Allegrezza will also offer suggestions for retailers to better target this burgeoning but fragmented segment of the market.

World Market Center and the Sustainable Furniture Council are presenting “How to Effectively Purchase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Wood,” which features a panel discussion followed by Q&A on best practices for procuring FSC wood as well as practical information on where to get help and how the mixed-source rule makes it easier.

Responsible wood purchasing has become a hot topic in the home furnishings industry. Downstream demand for FSC wood is forcing manufacturers and retailers alike to participate in the market transformation of the forest products industry. This conversation debunks the current myth that there is not enough FSC wood to go around and replaces it with a more balanced and realistic approach to achieving incremental progress.

The New York-based designer Tucker Robbins presents the design community with an update on his current green project to turn a decommissioned high school in Virginia into a “green factory” for his designs, complete with a green restaurant. Robbins works exclusively with people who’ve been caretakers of their forests, finding “alternative perspectives on how to get what we need without cutting the branch we’re sitting on,” Robbins says. Robbins’ client roster includes Barneys, Donna Karen, the Gensler Group, Ian Schrager Hotels, Le Parker Meridian and Mandalay Bay.

Trendwatch
In addition to the Brave New World series, Las Vegas Market attendees can sit in on a new three-part presentation called “The Forecast,” in which style experts unveil the latest in color, the influence of fashion and fabric, and the hottest industry trends for the year ahead.

The series is integrated with and inspired by Las Vegas Market’s latest advertising campaign, which shows how the fashion runway influences today’s interiors and how couture can move from the catwalk and into the home. The ads use contemporary fashion images paired with furnishings to visually depict an “on-trend” experience and to indulge a passion for fashion in Las Vegas.

“Only in Las Vegas will buyers find an entire world of home furnishings in one convenient destination market with a host of first-class amenities, new resources and educational opportunities,” said Dana Andrew, vice president of marketing and public relations for World Market Center.

“As the show and exhibitor base has grown and we have introduced fresh, design-focused pavilions,” she continues, “Las Vegas Market has emerged as very fashion-forward event. Showcasing exhibitors from Miami to Milan, Las Vegas Market delivers an amazing range of product and styles for retailers. We expect this new educational series, like the market itself, to be insightful, relevant and inspire buyers and designers in new ways.”

Leatrice Eiseman will present “The Forecast: Color Trends, The Most Directional Future Palettes.” Eiseman is a color and trend consultant to a variety of industries, as well as the director of the Pantone Color Institute. She has also been named as one of the top international trend influencers by Fortune magazine.

Color is a persuasive and pervasive communicator, she says, affecting everything from the clothing people wear to the homes they inhabit. In the ever-evolving home furnishings world, it is critical to be aware of future color trends and, most importantly, to understand how they impact the wants and needs of the consumer and client. Eiseman explains the origin of color forecasts and shows examples of the most directional palettes for future selling seasons.

Merrill Greene, creative director for Stylesight, will present “The Forecast: Fabric & Fashion” and will discuss which runway collections will shape the trends for the season and which ones fizzle. Greene will share her unique points of view regarding spring 2009 colors, fabrics and styling details from the runways and predict which ones will impact the home furnishings industry.

“The Forecast: Trendwatch Live” will be hosted by Michelle Lamb of Marketing Directions Inc. Lamb examines the emerging styles, colors, categories, moods and motifs shaping the way people decorate. Attendees will discover why she is one of the most trusted trend authorities in our industry as she connects the dots between apparel, other cultural influences, international trade fairs and the latest furnishings. 

For more information, visit www.LasVegasMarket.Com