Swimwear Show Does Side Stroke
After moving from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica to Las Vegas, the International Swimwear/Activewear Market (ISAM) is moving once again.
Following its debut in Las Vegas during August’s MAGIC International, the 25-yearold trade show announced plans to switch its location from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino to Caesars Palace.
The reason was simple: cost.
Mandalay Bay representatives proposed a 20 percent increase in exhibitor fees for next year, according to ISAM Director Barbara Brady.
Some exhibitors at the show expressed enthusiasm over the move.
“I think it’s good that the organization hosts the show at different venues,” said Richard Battaglia, president of sales at Los Angeles–based swimwear company Robin Piccone. “It keeps things fresh.”
Others were concerned.
“It’s important that all of the swim lines agree to stick together at one show instead of fragmenting to other venues,” said Lisa Keen, president of sales at Manhattan Beachwear in Los Angeles.
ISAM’s move to Caesars Palace is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 30–Sept. 2, 2004. The size of the exhibitor space will be equivalent to that of this year’s show in Las Vegas, Brady said.
“I’m excited—we had a great show this year,” Brady said. “I’m sure ISAM in Las Vegas will continue to grow and get better each year.”
After years of holding its trade show in the Los Angeles area, ISAM made its first appearance in Las Vegas during the Aug. 25–28 run of MAGIC International to optimistic crowds in search of Cruise 2004 swimwear and resortwear. The show featured more than 144 exhibitors—including Authentic Fitness Corp., BCBGMaxAzria Swim, Jamaican Style, Malibu Dream Girl Inc., Sauvage and Lunada Bay—who displayed their wares in a 50,000-square-foot exhibitor space.
In addition, ISAM has reserved exhibitor space at The New Mart for the Oct. 13–15 run of Los Angeles Junior Market Week. However, those plans depend on how many exhibitors sign up for the show, Brady said. —Claudia Figueroa
