Outdoor-furniture manufacturer Agio International has signed a long-term lease with Las Vegas Market™. Starting in July 2015, Agio will anchor the 12th floor of building C (in a 22,000–square-foot showroom) as part of the market’s casual-furnishings category launch. The display space will feature the same collections as Agio’s 19,000–square-foot gallery in Chicago, Illinois.

Bob Gaylord, president of Agio-USA, says, “This new showroom will help us reach an incremental retailer base that does not attend category-specific shows. Las Vegas Market attracts the traditional-furniture and lifestyle stores and the big-box, catalog, and Internet retailers, which aligns with our future growth plans. We currently show in High Point, North Carolina, and at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart to target these channels, but the Las Vegas Market will allow us to grow our business even further.”

Craig Staack, vice president of home-furnishings leasing for International Market Centers (IMC), says, “Having an industry leader like Agio at the Las Vegas Market reinforces our strategy of growing the casual furniture offering here and reassures us that the timing is perfect for the industry’s needs. More and more traditional-furniture retailers are recognizing the benefit of adding outdoor collections to their product mixes, and this will allow those buyers to fulfill their buying needs at one market, rather than adding another buying trip to their schedules.”

In July 2015, Las Vegas Market will launch 250,000 square feet of permanent-showroom and temporary-exhibit space devoted solely to the casual/ outdoor category. “With the timing of our summer market lining up perfectly with the sales cycle of this growing segment, we wanted to set our partners up for success and launch these new floors when we were able to make the most positive impact. We’re committed, both organizationally and financially, to the success of our partners, and we want to give them a platform for future growth,” Staack says.

Andy Sokol, vice president of sales for Agio-USA, adds, “Since we began our relationship with IMC in High Point a few years ago, we have been impressed with its professional approach to its tenants and market events. IMC knows how to bring buyers to market and to make their shopping experience something to look forward to; we are excited to have the opportunity to work with IMC and to bring the casual-furniture industry to another level, as the demand for outdoor- furniture continues to grow.”