Off Price Show Feb 2009

New buyers (from boutique, international, internet retail segments) … a 10% bump in trade show attendees … great off-price product sourcing for quality apparel (basic, branded, designer), accessories, footwear and jewelry.

The February Off-Price Specialist Show – part of Las Vegas Fashion Week — ran from February 15-18 in the Venetian Grand Ballrooms. This show ensured that buyers, retailers, exhibitors, sellers and industry professionals all brought it home, drawing more than 10,000 value-seeking fashion buyers and exhibitors … an increase of 10% over last year’s show.

The view from Buyers and Sellers –

· Even seasoned off-price show buyers, like Penny Rosenberger of The Merchandise Network New York, increased their buying: “I spent more money at this show than any other Off-Price Show and it’s amazing that this is happening in this economy. But my stores need more value items.”

· New buyer Angelo Petta, of The Urban Boutique in Ontario Canada, said, “The show exceeded my expectation. I made some great purchases and left with many, many key contacts.”

· During his first visit to an Off-Price Specialist Show, Matthan Walker (of Progressive Unlimited in Harlem and a new store opening in Chicago) was impressed with “Really nice prices on good quality merchandise…” besides being pleased over writing one of his women’s apparel and jewelry store’s best winter orders.

· Seller/exhibitor Joni Dahan, of Sapman Sportswear in Los Angeles, stated her sports apparel company had one of its “best shows” at Off-Price. “Buyers were behaving as though business was booming. They were aggressive and satisfied with their purchases. It didn’t feel like a sluggish economy at all…”

Of the new retail buyer faces and trends that were noted –

VP of the Off-Price Show David Lapidos said, “We’re thrilled to see a lot of new faces who need our off price specialists to add more excitement to their stores.” New faces included Boutique Buyers, Internet Retailers and more International Buyers. Trends that were marked: More in-season buying for Spring instead of Fall, including men’s Spring clothes and Women’s swim apparel.

Count among the exhibitors who definitely “brought it home” –

· Josh Fhima (DeLUXE Off-Price, Los Angeles) who had a “phenomenal first day” at Off-Price;

· Tony Christian (Character Marketing, Gardena CA) who wrote “…more orders in the first day at Off-Price than at three shows put together at another (industry) venue.”

· Allen Bayer (Design Ideas Ltd/AJB Associates, NY) who had “…the best first day ever. We moved all of our most exciting products.”