COVER Connect Las Vegas took place from 31 January–2 February 2023. Here, we recall the exciting details of those days as we look forward to the 2024 edition of the show.
The first West Coast edition of COVER’s boutique trade show was held within Surfaces, part of The International Surface Event (TISE)—an enormous show drawing buyers for all kinds of flooring including stone, tile, wood and broadloom carpet. So the COVER Connect Las Vegas pavilion shone a spotlight on handmade rugs for a warm audience, receptive to a complementary product. Buyers and retailers from across North America and Canada were pleased to encounter the nine exhibiting brands in this convenient location.
Danika Camel was a top seller for Stark Studio Rugs who, along with Design Materials Inc., saw a steady flow of traffic as national reps for both companies guided interested parties to view samples and full-size rugs. French Accents also demonstrated the scope of its custom capabilities via table-top sample ‘books’ and fresh designs, including colour updates in the Rebel and Aubusson Reimagined collections.
Tibet Rug Company joined as a first-time COVER Connect exhibitor (see Profile) and the two brands from outside of the US—Knots Rugs from London and Kirkit Rugs from Istanbul—received much attention from new and existing clients thrilled to see them in Las Vegas. Knots Rugs, selected as part of the TISE Favourite Find Tour, debuted Flow 2 from its Artist Collaboration collection. A preview sample was offered of a new rug in the 17th Century collection which takes its inspiration from a Qur’an in Istanbul’s Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.
Samad launched new designs in the Art Deco-inspired Napa collection with neutral yet bold large-scale geometrics, while Tamarian showed a combination of its best-selling Tibetan rugs, the transitional textural Habit collection and new qualities in fresh colours.
Tamarian’s Ned Baker said: ‘For an inaugural show, it was nice to see the friendly faces of some of our best accounts in attendance, and reassuring that serious buyers were there and looking for our booth. It was also a great opportunity to meet new potential customers who may not attend the other trade shows. In the vast convention space, COVER Connect was an oasis that offered an open floorplan that was a great backdrop to showing higher-end goods.’ Having had a great show, Pampas Leather owners Jaime Crespi and Geraldine Alberdi are already excited to return for the next edition of COVER Connect Las Vegas at Surfaces, 24–26 January 2024.
