GlobalShop 2004: the keys to Las Vegas By Rachel Carlton, Managing Editor

Place your bets now. New for 2004, GlobalShop, the world's largest annual store design and in-store marketing show heads to the Venetian/Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas on March 22-24. GlobalShop, which hosts an average of 18,000 attendees annually, is bound to inspire and enlighten exhibitors and attendees alike, enabling retailers to find resources to enhance store design and brand identity.

Manufacturers of store fixturing, visual merchandising, store design, point-of-purchase and in-store technology products will provide an exciting exhibit hall lineup, complete with more than 800 exhibitors this year. GlobalShop 2004 has five pavilions, including the Store Fixturing Show, POP Marketplace, Visual Merchandising Show, Store Design & Operations and the Digital Store. Couple that with an educational conference program full of insight from industry leaders who will provide the latest in consumer shopping behavior, retail trends and industry forecasts.

Not only is GlobalShop new to Las Vegas, visitors can expect to traverse through the city with efficient speed on a new monorail system that is due for completion early this year. The most prestigious design awards event, the National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers (NASFM) Retail Design Awards will take place on March 22 in the city's famed Fashion Show, which has recently expanded its retail assortment. Nearly 300 retailers presently reside in the mall, which boasts 2 million sq. ft. of retail space. Nearby at Caesars Palace, The Forum Shops offer an elegant shopping setting and has recently expanded by 40 percent.

GlobalShop attendees can expect a full house this year. "In all five segments (exhibit hall pavilions) we've experienced growth across the board," says Doug Hope, show director, GlobalShop. "The Digital Store (pavilion) is bigger than ever, mainly because of the growing use of digital signage and narrowcasting."

GlobalShop is one time of the year that vendors and prospective customers have the opportunity to meet face to face. "GlobalShop is the place where ideas come to the forefront—retailers walk away with ideas they can see, feel and touch," Hope says. "For three days out of the year we take competitive bidding out of the equation."