Dana Pretner, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at World Market Center, described this technology as “a two-way Google for Market-goers”.

Many home furnishings industry executives attending next week’s Las Vegas furniture market are now using My Market Connections a relationship-based technology that matches exhibitors and buyers. The technology, developed and managed by BD Metrics for Las Vegas Market, brings buyers and sellers together by preferences, products and other characteristics and aims to increase the efficiency and experience of those attending the show.

Dana Pretner, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at World Market Center, described this technology as “a two-way Google for Market-goers” and offers buyers a number of unique features and tools such as a schedule planner, route maps, product search capabilities and more.

Pretner says the My Market Connections program has been very successful in order for exhibitors and buyers to make contact and interact before the Market, reporting that 24% of registered buyers were already using the system just three weeks after its launch.” Las Vegas Market registered buyers and exhibitors can also choose to set up and access their My Market Connections account on-site during Market in order to maximize their Las Vegas trip.

“An attendee has a huge job going from booth to booth and showroom to showroom,” Pretner said. “My Market Connections has intelligence matching capabilities that allows the attendee to seek out resources in advance, network online with peers and suppliers, and set meetings for Market. Not only does the interactive event planner allow buyers to build a personalized to-do list and agenda for Market, but exhibitors can also respond and identify which buyers they want to see before, during and after the show.”

This technology simplifies Market planning by generating a personalized map for attendees featuring every company they want to see and every place they want to go. Buyers are able to access the free program from the full-service Internet Lounge on the second floor of World Market Center and at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the upper south halls.

Steve Shapiro, Owner of Pennsylvania-based Home Elements LLC, is using My Market Connections to plan his first visit to Las Vegas Market. Shapiro carries modern and contemporary furniture in his store and tries to use online planning tools for trade shows he attends to find new vendors. “It can be overwhelming when you are just walking around the floor at a large fair or Market,” he said. “I find that it is always very helpful to have a plan and idea of which vendors you want to visit.”

Jeff Knight is vice president, merchandising for the Orem, Utah-based DOBA, a product sourcing company for retailers. His goals for Market include meeting with existing vendors and seeking out new vendors. Knight said My Market Connections is a helpful tool for planning his meetings with exhibitors in categories such as accessories, gifts, juvenile, textiles, tabletop and RTA furniture. “Being able to use My Market Connections to map the Market out in advance will make my schedule much more efficient,” he said. “I can start to roadmap a strategy for who I want to talk to and when and what to order. My Market Connections essentially allows me to define what I will be doing on Monday morning. In the past, I would have taken the printed guide and gone through it on site. My Market Connections eliminates inefficiencies and allows me to better plan my time, creating a huge value.”

World Market Center’s Pretner said there is also a networking component to My Market Connections, because buyers can use the technology to identify people who share their interests. Pretner added, “These types of progressive programs connect buyers and exhibitors and demonstrates World Market Center’s out-of-the-box thinking and the added marketing value that comes with participating in Las Vegas.”

Registered buyers and exhibitors can create their My Market Connections account before or during the market. The program is available on-line at: www.lasvegasmarket.com/wmc/market_information/my_market/  or at Internet kiosks located throughout the Market.