LAS VEGAS–In what amounts to a direct conflict with the High Point Market, World Market Center Las Vegas just announced this afternoon that it will shift to a fall and winter schedule for its market weeks in 2009, instead of the summer and winter rotation it has had since its start.
The winter 2009 dates, Feb. 9 to 13, had previously been announced, but the big news is the second show, which will now be held Sept. 14 to 17, instead of the last week of July. Each Vegas show will be reduced by one day to a four-day schedule as well.
This places its market only four weeks from High Point’s Oct. 17 to 22 dates. In the winter, the shows are approximately 10 weeks apart.
World Market Center, in making the announcement, said the date changes reflect feedback from its attendees and exhibitors.
Brian Casey, head of the High Point Market Authority, in responding to the news, told HFN that many exhibitors do not show at both markets and that he was confident in High Point’s positioning.
“Look at the square footage here and the number of product introductions that far outweigh anything in Las Vegas,” Casey said. “The major retailers have told us this is their core market. It’s unfortunate, because there had been discussions among some people about the two markets working together.”
Now, he added, that would be much more difficult to do.