Somers is Sitting Pretty


The year was 1982. A 27-year-old woman from West Chicago arrived in Las Vegas accompanied by her 6-year-old daughter. She had come to Las Vegas for what she thought would be a quick divorce and a new start. The divorce turned out to be not so quick, but the new start worked out alright. Twenty-six years later, Debbi Somers sits at the helm of the largest privately owned convention furniture rental company in Nevada.

Question: Has your company felt the effects of the economic slowdown?
Answer: Not really. After 9/11, the company struggled because at that time, our entire business was furniture rental for conventions. I had married Lou Somers in 1984, and after 9/11 as business slowed, we were having to put family money back in my business. The company tried to look successful, even sending big trucks with small loads, but we knew we had to diversify.

Q: How did you do that?
A: We looked for related niches that weren’t being served here. That’s when Somers Furniture started its special events and custom furniture businesses, and they were a key to our survival.

Q: How much of your business is convention-related now?
A: The business is about a third convention rental, a third event business and a third custom furniture.

Q: What is your busiest convention?
A: ICSC (the Intl. Council of Shopping Centers annual show, recently renamed Re-Con). We bring 11 trucks and unload everything in four hours starting at 4 a.m. Then we spend the rest of our day checking the inventory booth by booth.

Q: What is your personal work style?
A: I believe in collaboration. Our five managers and I meet weekly to discuss the business. Personally, I have also always been hands-on. I ride the trucks. I meet with customers. I’m there with the installers. We recently finished installation of custom furniture at the 40/40 Club and being there to see the results was a thrill.
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TSW Las Vegas is edited by Heidi Genoist, senior editor of Tradeshow Week. She can be reached at
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