Price Rules at Off-Price Show
Continuing interest in price points fueled growth for the Off Price Specialist Show, held Aug. 28–Sept. 1 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
The show featured a range of in-season and past-season merchandise at cut rates from branded and private label sources.
Show organizers reported a 10 percent jump in buyer attendance as well as in exhibitor space with 10,300 buyers and 450 booths.
Interest came across the board with a spike in accessories, said David Lapidos, senior vice present of the show.
“I believe that all vendors had a fair play at this show, and from my conversations with attendees, they found what they needed.“We had a sizeable influx of accessories and other new buyers at this show, and they were pleasantly surprised at the amount of product that was available to them.All who attended will reaffirm that this industry is very much alive.”
Steven Gould, who heads a buying office in New York, said he was zeroing on Winter merchandise, which was abundant.
Jonathan K. Apparel in Los Angeles was one of those suppliers. Representative Claire Ronquillo said sweaters and knits across the board performed well.
“We saw lots of buyers who skipped the last show but came this time,” she said.
Exhibitor Kathy Chikato of Commerce, Calif.–based DLM Off-Price said she was somewhat surprised at the business she did with moderate-priced apparel since the company specialized in upscale merchandise.
Licensed apparel vendors did especially well.
“I wrote five very good orders in the last hour and a half of the show, and this was supposed to be the slowest day,” said Todd Andolino of Park Avenue Wholesale in Lackawanna, N.Y.
Kelly Calhoun, manager of Hammer’s Department Store in Clinton, Tenn., agreed.“We found a few new sources, and we were able to complete some areas we were in need of like college football merchandise, name-brand fleece and a lot of insulated work wear,” she said. “When you have it all in one place, you are able to hit so many more vendors.”—Robert McAllister
