Opportunities Abound at Off-Price Specialist
A challenging economy set the stage for opportunity and change at the Off-Price Specialist Show, which ran Aug. 23–26 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
This show will be remembered as a time when the off-price market flexed its muscles, according to David Lapidos, vice president of the Off-Price Specialist Show. Off-price retailers are increasingly competing with mass retailers as consumers become more preoccupied with making deals, he said.
He forecasted 20 percent more buyers shopped the show compared with the previous year and said the number of vendors increased from 450 to 500 companies running 1,000 booths at the recent show.
Retailers scouting the show included JCPenney, Variety Wholesalers, Citi Trends and Dorian’s Group, a Mexican retailer.
Most of the vendors were pleased with the show’s business, according to Lapidos. Still, there were a few vendors who said the sluggish economy affected all markets—including off-price. “It was a mediocre show,” said Tony Peters, vice president of sales at Bermo Enterprises, based in Schoolcraft, Mich. He estimated Bermo made 75 percent of its sales goal in the most recent show. “No one wanted to book Spring. They were buying Immediates.” —Andrew Asch
