Retailers Optimistic at the Start of Trade Shows in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS—Heavy rain storms delayed many flights into Las Vegas, causing a slow start to MAGIC International and the concurrent satellite apparel trade shows, but retailers were optimistic about business in the coming year.
That was good news for the exhibitors who set up their wares at the many shows held during the week, including MAGIC’s menswear show at the Las Vegas Convention Center; WWDMAGIC’s womenswear show and the Off-Price Specialist Show at the Sands Expo & Convention Center (LVCC); WomensWear In Nevada (WWIN) and the Westcoast Exclusive (WCE) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino; and the ASAP Global Sourcing Show, the International Apparel Show and Pool at the Hilton Convention Center.
“The consumer is in a much more positive frame of mind,” said WWIN Show Manager Roland Timney. “Retailers realize that it would be detrimental to their business if the customers’ needs aren’t met in their stores.”
The traffic reports were mixed from show to show—and even within each show.
But at all the trade shows, several booths drew crowds early in the week. At Peerless Clothing in the LVCC, buyers lined up at all the tables. Miss Sixty tried out a new location at Pool and soon had a row of retailers seated at the “denim bar” reviewing the company’s new collections. And it was standingroom- only at the Lip Service booth at The Edge in the LVCC.
“There’s more vendors, and there’s a lot more bodies,” said Julie Lumives, sales manager for Honolulu-based formalwear store Tuxedo Junction, who looked for new trends at the LVCC. “It may feel slow to my vendor friends, but it’s still crazy.”
Organizers at MAGIC, WCE and Pool all reported strong opening-day traffic.
First-day attendance was great, according to MAGIC spokeswoman Ernae Mothershed. “We expect higher attendance numbers because the preregistration totals were up over the last show,” she said.
Many retailers spent the first days scouting for trends and crowding the runway trend shows at the LVCC and the Sands (see related stories on pages here and here). At the Sands, retailers picked up feminine styles in shades of pink and lime and novelty denim. Over at Pool, unusual styles and new labels helped spark buyers’ interest.
There were several new exhibitors, including contemporary resources Laundry by Shelli Segal at WWDMAGIC at the Sands and Joie at Pool. Representatives at To the Max, BCBG’s young contemporary label, which showed at the Sands, said they were looking to open new channels of distribution at the show.
Los Angeles designer Freddie Rojas showed his Rojas men’s and women’s lines at Pool in an effort to open new accounts. Rojas typically shows in the men’s designer section at MAGIC.
“I already sell to the same stable of stores,” said Rojas. “I want to open new stores and go in a younger direction.”
