Funny about the retail business: If the business is good, they usually sell more things. And that means you have to go out and buy new things to replace it.
It was for the winter show Circuit for the furniture, home and gift sectors at the most important trading events of the season in Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas and New York. The number of visitors across the board was generally strong, perhaps the best after the fools that the industry saw. The purchase activity was healthy, which was driven by a better than expected holiday season of 2024, in which the level of stock in retail was reduced, but also a proactive purchase that was due to gnawing concerns regarding tariffs, commercial barriers, freight prices and port duties.
After all, there was a feeling that regardless of her policy (and that was certainly a hot topic), there was both a feeling of relief that the choice was over, together with new uncertainties about how the new administration with the economic status Quo could play around.
Here is what happened in chronological order at the main stops along the winter show Circuit:
Dallas: The continuing strength of the regional economy in Texas contributed to achieving another round of strong market activities. Population growth in Texas increases the consumer base there, and that means that more people buy more things. The Dallas Market Center continued to expand its interior + design center for interior designers with several new exhibition rooms and the regional debut of the revived Mitchell Gold + Bob William's furniture collection from its new owners Surya. The number of temporary exhibitors in Reformatted exhibition rooms was also significantly increased.
Atlanta: The biggest show of the winter season, the Andmore Atlanta Market, said that he started his market week with an increase in the number of visitors of 8 percent in the previous year, an impressive performance. And while part of this pedestrian traffic may have been invited to avoid an overlap with the college football final in Atlanta on Monday evening (increasing the prices on weekends at the weekend), it was still a busy start in the entire Americasmart complex . It configured some footprints with several important showroom supplements and extensions.
Las Vegas: Perhaps one of the unexpected results of the show circle was a better than expected Las Vegas market, which was highlighted by the largest showcase in the industry for the mattress sector, which is still anchor in the World Market Center. But there were also new faces on the center of the center, including the debut of Bernhardt Furniture and Rock House Farm, the parents of high-end resources such as Century, Hickory Chair and Highland House. On the gift page was an important return brand Mud Pie, the local and lifestyle brand based in Atlanta, which was pulled out of the show a few years ago as part of the Departure of the OneCoast Rep Agency.
New York: With two simultaneous shows that have built up a weak relaxation, Nynow and Shoppe object have completed the winter circle in a competing way. For Shoppe object, it was the prime minister of his new house in the Starrett-Leigh building, which enabled more than 800 companies in the areas of gift, residential culture, jewelry and fashion accessories to more than 800 companies dramatic expansion of the exhibitor basis. With a more comfortable location, the traffic was particularly robust and the show seems to have taken the top span in the New York calendar. Ten Blocks Uptown, Nynow, recorded his usual home in the Javits Center, his exhibition base stabilizes from several years of wear, which has moved away on fashion accessories, stationery and gift and away from home. Both shows would clearly benefit from an integrated footprint, but it is unlikely that it will happen as soon as possible.
All of this good news cannot be said that the concerns about the overall business in 2025 have decreased. Many companies have certainly frightened the effects of the tariff from China, but also from Europe, Canada and Mexico both on the delivery and on the purchase page of the business. More than a few companies applied that they would protect all orders written in the winter shows from potential tariff hikes, but hardly calmed down, troubled brews. Like the case under the first Trump presidency, it is the uncertainty of what could happen that the industry maintains at night … and during the day with one hand around these winter shows, around the people and the other behind the back with the To greet back their thumb pressed.
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Warren Shoulberg is the former editor -in -chief for several leading B2B publications. He was a guest lecturer at Columbia University Graduate School of Business. received awards from the International Furnishings and Design Association and the Fashion Institute of Technology; and was quoted by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN And other media as a leading industry expert. His columns in retail offers deep industry knowledge in important markets and product categories.