Recognizing a massive opportunity to introduce a large portion of its furniture and bedding membership to the Las Vegas Market campus, Nationwide Marketing Group launched an innovative educational opportunity during its biannual PrimeTime event, held earlier this month.

More than 300 independent furniture and bedding dealers signed up to take part in the NLA Tour of Las Vegas Market, an off-site educational opportunity at World Market Center. Part of a completely reimagined Nationwide Learning Academy experience, the tour allowed independent retailers to get unfettered and intimate access to over a dozen spaces across the campus’s three buildings.

“We realize that so many of our members have never had the opportunity to get to a Las Vegas Market event and experience everything this location and these showrooms have to offer,” says Jeff Rose, vice president of furniture, bedding and outdoor for Nationwide. “With PrimeTime making its return to Las Vegas for the first time in five years, we figured what better time than right now to give them that chance? We’re incredibly appreciative of both the vendor partners who participated in the NLA Tour and the team at ANDMORE for coordinating this unique experience with us.”

In all, 13 Nationwide vendor partners participated in the off-site event, which featured a closing cocktail reception in the Streamline Art showroom. During each stop, attendees had the chance to hear directly from vendor partners on program updates, new product launches and more. In addition, they could explore each participating vendor’s showroom and experience the vendor’s full collection, which is merchandised in a retail-like setting.

“I was glad to see that there is a market out here on the West Coast, because I spend most of my time at the High Point shows,” says Matt Lawson, a third-generation owner of Nastasi’s Fine Furniture & Mattresses in Oaklyn, New Jersey. “It was great to be able to go through all the showrooms and see everything that the vendor has to offer. It was a great place to learn and do business.”

The experience was unique in the sense that Nationwide members were able to visit the showrooms of select vendor partners and get their undivided attention – something that would be nearly impossible to accomplish during a typical Las Vegas Market when the crowd is present.

“I think it was an absolutely awesome idea to open it up for us to experience,” says Donna Mae Duddley, a second-generation owner of Tip Top Furniture in Freehold, New York. “I don’t see why you wouldn’t take advantage of it. I always thought, ‘If you’re going to be in Vegas anyway, why can’t you do both things?’ And to be able to bring my son — a future owner of the business who’s never experienced a Market like this — it was a really special opportunity.”

The Furniture, Bedding and Outdoor team is already exploring ways to replicate and improve upon the experience when the group returns to Las Vegas for PrimeTime, August 11-14. Check the PrimeTime website for the latest updates.