The World Market Center confirmed what most attendees were saying at the Las Vegas Market during the second day of the show yesterday: Attendance was up compared to last year’s show.

WMC reported that buyer attendance grew 7 percent while designer attendance rose more than 4 percent over last year, as vendors and retailers ramp up for a newfound confidence in the economy and a predicted housing-sales boost.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–Buyers enjoyed a sun-drenched day at High Point Market yesterday as they combed the showroom-packed streets and buildings here for the latest and greatest. The market concludes tomorrow.

In addition to the International Market Center’s big news that it will create what it called a “super regional” gift show, the second day of the Las Vegas Market was notable for numerous introductions and company news. Here are some highlights:

NEW YORK–This year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair did not disappoint with introductions focused on both the fun and functional and the sophisticated and stylish.

New York City felt a lot—well, a little bit—like High Point, N.C., this week when furniture giants Lexington Home Brands and LaZBoy braved Manhattan’s infamous holiday traffic to highlight their ongoing efforts to expand beyond their traditional roots.

Lexington unveiled its brand-spanking new 10,000-square-foot showroom in New York’s Design Center; LaZBoy invited consumer and trade media to a studio in the Meatpacking District—with help from reality star/designer Jillian Harris—to show that it’s much more than a maker of recliners for television-watching dads.

NEW YORK–A statement last week by Tempur-Pedic’s president and CEO, Mark Sarvary, should jangle the nerves of those that manufacture bed pillows.

Speaking to financial analysts on a conference call about the company’s second-quarter results, Sarvary dropped this bomb: “Beyond mattresses, we’re excited about the potential for our pillow business.” He went on to say that Tempur-Pedic will launch a range of new pillows and a redesign of its existing pillow line at this week’s market.