TRADE SHOW

Coast Trade Show Adds Nashville to the Lineup, Changes 2016 Schedule to Coincide with Miami Swim

Coast, the men’s and women’s contemporary trade show based in Miami, has added a new venue to its roster of shows: Nashville, Tenn.

The Nashville show is set for Oct. 5–6 at Track One, a warehouse event center in the Wedgewood-Houston section of the city. Coast founder Karen Bennett said she chose Nashville for its central location, easily accessible for Midwest, Southwest and Eastern seaboard retailers. Nashville is a music-industry hotspot and home to the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“Expanding Coast to Tennessee is a great opportunity to host and introduce established designers to a new, large region of retailers,” Bennett said.

The open-booth-format show is expected to draw more than 200 collections featuring men’s and women’s apparel, resortwear, swimwear, activewear and accessories as well as home and gift items.

Show organizers have partnered with the Nashville Fashion Alliance, a local fashion trade association.

“We’re thrilled that Coast will be presenting our market’s first professional fashion-industry trade show,” said Van Tucker, NFA chief executive officer. “This show will allow our participating brands to gain access to wholesale buyers from all over the country.”

In addition to the Nashville show, Coast will return to Miami for its Aug. 24–25 run and its Oct. 26–27 run.

Coast hosts shows in Miami four times annually. Next year, Bennett will adjust its Miami schedule to make sure the July Coast show falls during Miami Swim Week.

“Retailers are ordering closer to season, and today’s business climate calls for greater immediacy and speed to market,” Bennett said. “Whether regional, domestic or international stores, they don’t have to make an extra trip to Miami. They can write all their lines from resortwear to swimwear to clothing collections in one fell swoop. It’s a great way to get an overview of the season and catch up on reorders, too.”

There will be free shuttles for buyers traveling between the Coast show at Mana Wynwood in Miami and the trade shows in Miami Beach.

For more information, visit www.coastshows.com.