Each year the furniture and design industry holds events in different cities across the nation so that merchandise buyers, architects, and interior designers can get a preview of the new products manufacturers are offering in their lines and collections as well as introducing what industry professionals are predicting will become a "trend" in the near future.

This coming week is the bi-annual Las Vegas Furniture Market held each Winter and Summer at the "World Market Center" in Las Vegas. This market provides trade professional with easy access to more than 1,500 manufacturers and resources while debuting the latest industry trends all within a very large and impressive complex consisting of three buildings. Products of many categories are on display such as furniture, accessories, gifts, lighting, home textiles - from fabrics to wall coverings - floor coverings, and so much more.

In addition to all of the "temporary showrooms" as well as several permanent showrooms that remain open year round there is a full schedule of seminars and presentations for design professionals and merchandisers. Some of the highlights at this market will be presentations from Sherwin Williams. Their 2012 color forecast will present a different perspective on combining colors. Sherwin Williams predicts that for 2012 a color palette will not need to stray far from its roots to make a big design impact. Sherwin Williams is going past the "tone-on-tone" pairings and their experts are drawing inspiration from fashion-forward color washing. At their seminar they will present their experimentation with color hues and values within families of color and reveal their four vibrant new palettes.

Other educational seminars scheduled for this upcoming market will also address how mobile, local and social technologies are revolutionizing the way design professionals connect and communicate with their clients and vendors. There are lectures which can provide design professionals with tips such as how to integrate antiques into contemporary settings as well as presentations that will reveal a look into Canada's hottest trends in condo design. Presentations such as these are educational events for interior design professionals so they can stay current with ever changing market trends and new concepts. These training seminars qualify as CEU's or Continuing Education Units and are an added benefit of attending markets.

Attending any market or industry trade show takes a lot of planning and work in order to get the most out of the event while being able to bring that information back to share with clients and colleagues. In our ever changing world it is essential for all trade professionals in the construction and design industry to keep informed with regard to new products which can transform and shape our home environments so while I will never deny that markets and trade shows are exciting and fun to attend they are a lot of work as well.

Be sure to read next week's article where I will be sharing with you some of the Market Highlights and new products that are going to be revealed this coming week. Do you have anything you want me to check out in particular? Let me know in the comments below.