Improved Mood at L.A. Majors Market
Good retail sales in March and sunny weather across the United States gave retailers the required shot of confidence to start spending again, said many vendors at the April 12–14 run of the Los Angeles Majors Market at the California Market Center.
The show, which focuses on juniors and volume merchandise, drew buyers from department stores and chain retailers, including Macy’s, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Wet Seal, Tilly’s, Kohl’s, Ross Stores, Burlington Coat Factory, Pacific Sunwear, Belk, Charlotte Russe and Forever 21, according to management of the CMC, which did not reveal attendance figures.
“We are very pleased by the activity we’ve seen at this season’s L.A. Majors Market,” said Joanne Lee, senior vice president of the CMC.
For showroom owner Alison Budow, a year’s distance from the terrible economy of April 2009 made all the difference for the recent Majors market. “The attitude is completely different,” she said. “There were no buyers asking, ’What should I be doing now? How do I turn this around?’” Budow is co-owner of The Budow Showroom.
Many of the showroom owners interviewed for this article reported doubling sales over last year. However, one retail analyst cautioned the fashion industry to take a wait-and-see attitude before using the word recovery when describing the economy.
Liz Pierce of Roth Capital Partners, based in Newport Beach, Calif., said that the real test of the economy’s strength will be April’s retail sales. April’s sales performance will rely strictly on consumer confidence and savvy retail strategies, she said. “The things that helped March, like Easter, don’t exist in April,” she said.
Still, many retailers were bullish enough to place orders for August and September deliveries, said David Vered, president of Los Angeles–based YMI, a lifestyle label that rented a 1,600-square-foot lounge in the lobby of the CMC for the Majors Market.
“During the last Majors Market, in October, everyone was still playing it conservatively,” Vered said, explaining that retailers kept inventories tight for much of 2009. “Now everybody seems to be upgrading their plans, so business has opened up.”
Fall juniors fashion will range from short shorts to clothes meant to be layered, said Adam Moon, fashion director for juniors at Macy’s. “We’re eager to see what is going to happen with the romper—especially as it gets warmer,” he said.
He also said utility styles and juniors fashions with military elements but new skinny silhouettes and bodies are going to be big throughout the year. “For Fall, I love the fur vest. We’ve seen so much of it coming from Europe in the past few years,” he said.
Doron Kadosh, president of jeans label Celebrity Pink, said another reason why retailers are willing to take a risk is that vendors are offering them different but wearable styles. “Skinny cargo pants are taking off, and new washes are coming,” he said. “No girl owns the skinny fit in cargo, so when it comes out, it’s a major opportunity for strong sales.”
Retailers’ interest was also piqued by young contemporary fashions, according to Michael Gae, co-owner in the Rep Et Trois showroom at the CMC. He defined young contemporary as sophisticated contemporary looks priced at $18 to $39 wholesale for many tops.
The price, quality and speedy delivery of young contemporary fashions boosted sales in his showroom, which he said doubled over last year.
