Most of you reading this attended the Las Vegas Winter Market last month, and so you know that it was a breath of fresh air when you consider the COVID-19 murkiness of 2021. In the SSA Sleep Pavilion at C1565, the buyer traffic doubled over the 2021 counts, and was about 60% of the January 2020 Market. According to IMC Leasing Executive John Dwiggins, January Market overall pre-registration pointed to about 70% of the 2020 number, but when the Omicron Variant hit the news, the final head count was about 64%, with a hefty amount being gift and apparel buyers. SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones said, “The Omicron Variant stuck a stick in our spokes, and we saw cancellations in attendance by both buyers and manufacturers’ reps.” That said, she also noted, “The energy in and around our showroom was buzzing, and buyers and sellers alike told me they were glad to be at Market.” Jones was alluding to the buzz around Emma Mattress Company who made their US debut in the SSA showroom, seeing a lot of activity in their space from retailers, suppliers and the press; as well as to new showroom openings by McRoskey Mattress Company and Bed Tech, both across the hall from the SSA showroom. Jones continued, “The Bed Tech showroom was so busy we literally thought they were giving a car away or something!”
What the SSA Showroom Exhibitors have to say about the January Market.
Brent Polunsky, W.Silver Products
I did have several good meetings with potential new customers, however I did not write any orders of significance at this market. Overall, I feel like the attendance was off compared to 2019, but I am hopeful that the people I was able to meet with will bear fruit.
Scott Smalling, Emma Mattress Company
We had 2 dozen EXCELLENT meetings from appointments we created and a few large surprise guests. We did not write orders, but that was not the plan. Overall our experience was excellent at this market. See you in July!
Ward Mosmuller, Covestro Niaga
We definitely had good meetings with customers. It was good that I knew people already, who also created some traffic. We generated leads good enough to decide to go to the ISPA Expo in March. Overall our experience was very good – not sure whether busy, but it was good for us.
LiLi Kosek, Say Yes Bedding
This was our first show in the SSA Showroom. I did speak with a few potential buyers, but I am not sure about how successful I will be. As far as my overall experience - it was worthy trying.
Scott Frisch, Bedline
The experience for Bedline at this market was extraordinary. When you consider the last show was our first effort, this second market the reaction by customers and the business potential both were off the charts. For us it was a great market and only served to prove we’re on the right track for success. Once first production starts in the US this late spring we feel Bedline storage platform beds will fill a huge void needed by consumers and anticipate an exciting future.
We thank the SSA for their help and support in making this possible. As someone who has exhibited before in the SSA and has visited for just about every other show, I think I have a good perspective to gauge our success. As you know, many companies have come through with new products from new countries and found getting a start in the US market is not easy or even possible. I can think of some US companies who showed in the SSA showroom for years before anything really took off. Persistence pay off (and of course your product must be compelling.)
Juan Gonzales, EuroLux Collection
Honestly for us it was the slowest show so far. We have a few reps but many didn’t come. We set up about 15 clients between appointments and loose appointments but also many cancelled. Two came in very late Wednesday because they thought the show was going on still but in reality by that day most showrooms are closed. We talked to many people who are reps or had other showrooms and they reiterated that it was very slow in general.
Jane Arason, Arason Enterprises
We had a good show is spite of there being fewer buyers. We did take an order on site, and opened a couple of new stores. It was, in reality, a 3-day show. All of the activity was in the first three days.
Phil Krause, Electropedic
We had some good meetings/appointments with customers and came back with good a very good lead. That one lead will make the show for us. Also, we enjoyed seeing Tambra and the other exhibitors again.
Suzanne Diamond, The Futon Shop/TFS Honest Sleep
It was wonderful to be back, and although the show was slow, for us it was successful. We had booked appointments, so nothing unusual. When shopping the halls of the buildings for our stores, we found many of them deserted.
Butch Craig, Sleep and Beyond
Sleep & Beyond had the best Vegas Market in our 11th year of showing up
and following up, with an abundance of new buyers that came early beginning on
Saturday January 22 through 26. A great big thanks for the fantastic looking SSA show room and for sure the best market since January 2020. As National Sales Manager for Sleep & Beyond, I always say 80% of success is showing up, 20% is follow up! That’s how we work the market, and we have had tremendous success. Our reps bring in their customers, and if the showroom is open, you can count on me to be in our space.
