MAGIC's Men's Lines Move to Mandalay Bay
Many buyers and vendors applauded the move of the MAGIC Marketplace menswear lines to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, located a floor above the bustling action at the Project Global Trade Show.
Retailer Don Zuidema of LASC boutique in West Hollywood, Calif., said he felt attendance grew at MAGIC Menswear, Premium, S.L.A.T.E. and Street because they were located just a short walk up a flight of stairs from Project.“They were distinct shows in one venue,” Zuidema said of Project and MAGIC. “The foot traffic at MAGIC was as good or even better than in the past.”
Buyers from Fred Segal Man, Zappos and Villains were reportedly at the show. Specialty chain Zumiez, The Buckle and Metropark sent delegations as well as department stores Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. There also were many overseas retailers, according to Steeve Bohbot, owner of Los Angeles–based Connected Sales Showroom. He estimated his sales at the show increased 15 percent compared with the same show in the previous year because of department-store business.
The show drew a greater number of e-commerce retailers and niche businesses, such as mixed-martial-arts (MMA) gyms, which made orders, although Bob Goetz, chief executive of Trinity Products, based in San Marcos, Calif., said he saw fewer single-unit specialty shops.
Goetz estimated his business climbed 20 percent compared with last February’s show. The increase came from an improvement in the economy and items such as the expansion of Trinity’s line of mixed-martial-arts wear, which is licensed under the Ultimate Fighting Championship MMA-promoting company, Goetz said. Trinity’s 3,000-square-foot booth featured a mixed-martial-arts cage and fighters trading blows in demonstration matches.
“Business is not the problem,” Goetz said of the action on the sales floor. “There is plenty of business out there. But there is no credit available. Everyone is leery.”
But some faith must be growing in the economy. Goetz estimated that 50 percent of his business was for Immediate orders. The other half was pre-booked orders, which retailers have to wait to receive and forecast they will be selling in an improved economy.—Andrew Asch
