ATTENDANCE AT THE L.A. MART® GIFT & HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET™ CONTINUES TO GROW
WITH EVEN BIGGER NUMBERS EXPECTED AT UPCOMING JANUARY MARKET
LOS ANGELES [Sept. 27, 2004] – The January 2005 Gift & Home Furnishings Market™ returns to the L.A. Mart® Jan. 18-25, bigger than ever, showcasing thousands of product lines to buyers seeking unique or hard-to-find items. The recent July 2004 Market registered a double-digit percent increase in attendance, featuring everything from decorative and lifestyle products to accessories and fine furniture. This is a one-stop shopping opportunity, unparalleled in the industry. “The L.A. Mart provides the widest range of products and the most manufacturers’ representatives under one roof,” said Richard Miller, Lost Your Marbles Too. The Market runs Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21.) Plus, “Temporaries @ L.A. Mart” — an exclusive collection of hot gift and furnishings trends — is open Friday, Jan. 21 through Monday, Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A few of the exhibitors already included in “Temporaries @ L.A. Mart” are: Angel Song, Belle Arte, Bijou, bloomingsales, Blue Crate, Carson Home Accents, Cattle Headquarters, D.B. Imports, Flora-Cal Products, Natural Curiosities, Pillow Talk, Rock Hill Estate Lavender, Sunshine Sales/Toysmith, The Beautiful Pet Collection, Warmest Welcomes and Woodland Marketing.
The Market features 724,000 square feet of shopping space over 13 floors, with more than 300 showrooms in addition to temporary exhibitors on the second floor. “Attendees can look forward to shopping the pre-eminent West Coast Market,” said Gerry Seibel, vice president and general manager, L.A. Mart. “Not only do we offer incomparable products, but our amenities are better than ever. Our mission is to make this the most enjoyable experience possible for buyers, so we carefully orchestrate every detail from the customer-friendly atmosphere to the on-site conveniences.”
Of the numerous amenities available at the Market, attendees will be treated to:
• Morning Welcome Station: free coffee, water and donuts each morning for buyers and designers
• Buyers’/Designers’ Lounge & Internet Café: complimentary refreshments and business services
• Snack Stations: complimentary refreshments on each floor of the building
• Complimentary Seminars: featuring a wide-array of topics designed to share vital trend and resource information with buyers
• Late Nite Shopping: on Friday, Jan. 21, buyers will enjoy expanded shopping hours and free food and cocktails on each permanent showroom floor
• Free Parking: for buyers and designers in the South and East on-site lots (while space is available).
• Free Shuttle Service: to CMC, Convention Center and downtown hotels
• Free tote bags
• Free taxi ride: to and from Union Station
• Complimentary concierge and coat check
• Travel service: in Main Lobby
• Easy Registration
In addition, as part of the “Very Important Buyer Program,” repeat buyers to the L.A. Mart are invited to enjoy special amenities such as goodie bags, exclusive samples of showroom products and free limousine service. The Gift Association’s “Fly-In Program” will return this year as well, providing airfare for out-of-region buyers nominated by showrooms from various parts of the country.
A full schedule of seminar topics, dates and times will be announced shortly. “The seminars at the L.A. Mart are a wonderful aspect of the Market,” said Janie Dinwiddie, Dinwiddie Events. “The presenters are not only knowledgeable and creative but also talented. I’ve come away from each one I’ve attended with a great list of things I can implement right away.”
The L.A. Mart also offers a travel service provider, Mart Travel Services. Together they provide information on discount airline, hotel and car rental rates for all visiting professionals. Buyers and designers can make reservations online 24 hours a day at www.lamart.com by clicking on the travel link or during business hours by calling Mart Travel Services at 800.528.8700. Mart Travel will be on site in the main lobby to assist with all attendees’ travel needs.
As the pre-eminent West Coast location for buyers and designers to source the finest gifts, home décor, furniture and lifestyle merchandise, the L.A. Mart has been in business since 1956, and is the largest permanent market center in the Western United States. It is the must-shop resource for buyers and designers who visit Los Angeles and is centrally located in the heart of the Furniture & Decorative Arts District at 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, California, 90007, at the corner of Broadway and Washington Boulevard.
For more information about the L.A. Mart or to register for the January 2005 Gift & Home Furnishings Market, visit www.lamart.com (click on L.A. Mart under “Properties”) or call 1-800-LAMART-4.
The L.A. Mart is a registered trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). The Gift & Home Furnishings Market is a trademark of MMPI.
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Joanna Mineau
Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
312.527.7074
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