Many of the intended readers of this blog may currently be participating in the ASD/AMD Show in Las Vegas this week (3/15-18).  I wish all of you the greatest success at an event that continues to be critical to general merchandisers in the US and beyond. For those of you interested in developing new business, as you may know already, there is a growing demand for home/gift, general merchandise and new categories by apparel retailers who are looking for that one niche product that will get new customers into the store and allow their apparel lines to sell themselves. Accordingly, our team at the Off Price Specialist Center is launching a new salon area at our August Off Price Show called “HOME.”  HOME @ the Off Price Show is designed to be a home/gift, gen merch and new product “incubator” for apparel retailers looking to add more excitement at their stores. It is a ground level opportunity for vendors in these categories to make a significant impact at the largest and perhaps ONLY Off Price Show in the apparel industry.  Our apparel “jobbers” or off price specialists (the newer, more politically correct term) have become known as heroes to struggling apparel retailers who have found excellent values at our semi-annual trade show – which is the offical Off Price Show of the multi-venue/concept Las Vegas Fashion Week. Home/Gift, Gen Merch / hard goods are not new to the Off Price Show.  My good friend Larry Manus (who is at ASD this week) has been bringing his hard lines to the Off Price Show since its inception in 1995.  “I meet entrepreneurs and savvy retailers who already got the message about the need for diversification.”  His New Jersey-based company, United Auction LLP, has been wildly successful at our show in hard goods, as has St. Louis off price specialist CWC Inventories.  And as long ago as 2003, when I was first involved with the Off Price Show as its outside marketing agent, I met candle and gift vendors in the second last row of the show who were doing cartwheels because they were writing orders like crazy from aggressive retailers looking for new products. Now that I have been more directly involved with the show for the past 5+ years, it doesn’t surprise me that there is a great fit for home/gift and gen merch vendors at Off Price.  Our concept is known to many of our seasoned buyers as “the treasure hunt” because you are sure to find 1-2 new products (not on your pre-show shopping list) that could make your whole season or year.  The show is not arranged by category because of the nature of the off price business.  Our vendors carry either all categories or they specialize in one or two, plus they may come across an opportunity in a new category or product line that they know (based on their years of experience) could be a winner for their retail customers or prospects.  For Home/Gift, Gen Merch and new category vendors, we are making a more centralized HOME salon area to accommodate our largest retailers (who serve on our retail advisory board) who have been begging us for this kind of centralized space so that they can go back to their offices and – mind you they are all CMOs, CEOs and other executive types) tell them about the great values they found in bed & bath, table top, home decor, gift and other non-apparel categories that could be real winners for their chain. I invite all who are interested to contact me at the Off Price Specialist Center at either 262.754.6910 or dbrowne@offpriceshow.com.  I feel that this is an exciting opportunity for these vendors to develop new business that happens right on our show floor.  If you need further assurance, talk to my good friend Jason Prescott, President of JP Communications, whose TopTenWholesale.com is an official sponsor and media partner for the Off Price Show and has been since 2001 (I think).  Jason is a real visionary who’s very big on building bridges online for wholesalers and retailers, and takes advantage of the onsite connections at the Off Price Show to transcend this message across apparel retail lines.  Thanks, Jason, for this wonderful blog and for all the great things you do to support our respective industries.

Fashion industry trade shows are the best destinations for buyers and retailers to source apparel and accessories in all categories and price ranges, with total immersion in upcoming trends and one-on-one access to the broadest reach of media, advertisers and online marketers in the trade.

Entering the final stretch of holiday gift sales — transacted by wholesalers, buyers and sellers by late last summer — it is time to plan for big trade shows in the next two months. These regional and national shows set the mood for urban safari cruise wear, khaki and wheat and neutral tones, the next leisure wear trends and the hottest priced off-price fashion lots.

We’ve even listed a mid-winter Snow Sports Show, a January 08 fashion show that follows up on New York Fashion Week of October 07, and an industry site where you can find smaller, or more specialized, or closer-to-home-base fashion trade shows. Start networking!

New York

Shows overlapping in the Big Apple from January 2 through January 18 include the NY Women’s Apparel Show, Fashion Avenue Market Expo, The Accessories Show and Moda Manhattan. From February 1 through 8, NYC hosts Just Kidstuff and the New York International Gift Fair. From January 6 to 8, New York presents the Designers & Agents Fashion Trade Show focusing on contemporary and young designer women’s sportswear, shoes, accessories and lifestyle clothing. (D & A heads to Los Angeles on January 11.)

Midwest

Chicago Shoe Expo is scheduled January 3 and 4; the Michigan Shoe Market is staged in Livonia from January 6 to 7. Los Angeles Designers & Agents Fashion Trade Show focusing on contemporary and young designer women’s sportswear, shoes, accessories and lifestyle clothing sets up in L.A. from January 11 through 13.

Las Vegas

Between February 10 and 14, Las Vegas hosts an overlapping series of trade shows, starting with Off Price Specialist Show opening February 10 (Men’s and Women’s apparel and accessories), extending to The Kids Show, ASAP Global Sourcing Show and Women’s Wear in Nevada beginning February 11.

Sponsored by the SnowSports Industry Association of America, and open only to the trade, the SIA SnowSports Trade Show opens in Las Vegas from January 29 to February 1. Billed as the largest snow sports trade event, this show presents nearly 1000 brands to a network of 20,000 industry professionals focused on the snow sports industry and the “family business” of snow.

Find a Fashion Trade Show Near You and Network

If you’re closer to trade shows in Munich or Berlin, if you find Billings, Montana more convenient, or if a specialty event like “Start Your Own Clothing and Accessories Company” seminar (Atlanta on February 2, 2008) is of interest, check this fashion trade show calendar site:

Infomat: http://www.infomat.com/calendar/infsi0000164.html

Sort through fashion trade shows all over the world by month and by city.

The Off-Price New York Market, held October 8 – 10, 2006 at New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania. The regional Off-Price Markets was designed as a no-frills, cost-effective order-writing event where retail buyers could find quality apparel at prices well below established wholesale averages.

“We were extremely pleased with the turnout and buying activity at our October event,” says Show Director David Lapidos. “The Markets are great complements to our national Off-Price Specialist Shows held three times a year in Las Vegas. These are order-writing events where retailers can get immediate delivery on goods to fill in gaps in their inventory, which is always critical around the holiday season.”

Another similar event will be held in January. The New York Off-Price Market will return to the Hotel Pennsylvania on January 7 – 9, 2007. Held during New York’s first market week of the year, Off-Price management is expecting a good turnout and for a fast paced feel of old school buying you just can’t beat New York wholesale apparel events.

The Hotel Pennsylvania won’t be the only hotel crawling with purchasers. “A lot of buyers will be in town for Market Week,” says Lapidos. “In addition, four apparel shows will be running at the Javit’s Center on the exact same dates, which makes it a great week to be in New York for retailers.” Retailers hoping to attend better start looking for hotel rooms soon.

The Javit’s Center apparel shows include the Fame Show, Children’s Club, Accessories the Show, and MODA Manhattan. For more information about the Off-Price Markets, visit their website.

February 2007 Off-Price in Las Vegas Changes Venue

Fate has taken a hand to move The Off-Price Specialist Show from its usual digs at the Sands Expo. Due to one-time scheduling conflicts with the Sands Expo, the February Show will be held in the luxurious Grand Ballrooms of the Venetian Hotel and Casino. A curious press release on the move touts the new convention site’s carpeting and “elegant restroom facilities’. All important qualities for an event fueled by coffee and commerce but I’m sure the hotel has other appealing qualities as well.

“We’re very excited about the February Show,” says Dell Holden, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Shopping a trade show is tough work. The days can be long and exhausting, so anything we can do to make our buyers and exhibitors’ jobs easier benefits everyone. The Grand Ballrooms are truly elegant. We’ve got all the pieces in place to make the February Show a memorable one.”

The four-day February Show, which will open on Sunday, February 11 and close on Wednesday, February 14, will showcase new and expanded product offerings, including the newly co-located Home & Gift Show, an expanded jewelry pavilion, and access to the new Off-Price Absolute Auctions.

I want to wish all wholesalers success and good fortune at the ASD/AMD trade show in Las Vegas next week. Retailers will be flocking like hawks to find next seasons hot products and the big holiday sellers. I hope you’re ready.

I hope all of you retailers are ready too. You’ll be able to find hot deals on everything from Airsoft to Sunglasses. Speaking of airsoft, don’t forget to stop and check out the great deals from Point Act, a wholesaler of top quality airsoft guns. Say hi to Maylee Lieu at booth #L5219 – L5221and ask her about her case pricing.

Did I mention sunglasses before? That reminds me, Julian and Sam from Sunny Trading, Inc. will be there too. With over 30 years experience in the industry, they have every type of sunglass you may need. Whatever you’re looking for, they can help.

Don’t forget your sunblock because it is going to be hot. Remember to keep hydrated. You can bet the casinos will have the air conditioners blasting (they always have our best interests in mind ; ). I wish you all save travels and I’ll see you there.

Justin Prescott

With the rising costs in fuel, delivery of goods ordered are perceived to be down.
Deals are said to be hindered by the additional cost of shipping.
We would like to research how domestic importers and distributors are coping with this situation.

How are wholesalers reacting to the situation and minimizing having sales offset by this.

Are there existing co-op organizations in place for distribution of goods?

Is there a network being established or developed to reach out to smaller operations who are feeling the squeeze?

We produce a wholesale event in Las Vegas for the garment & home/gift industry and wish to be proactive in providing our customers with the latest information to manage their respective businesses and overcome this increasing hurdle.

We appreciate your time and feedback.
Dell Holden
Business Development Manager
Tarsus US Group / Off Price Specialist Shows
www.offpriceshow.com

Trade shows and holidays are right around the corner. Wholesalers should be concerned about how you’re going to increase the traffic to your booth so you can increase sales. Buyers will be in full power getting ready for the holiday seasons and stocking up on inventory. One known way of increasing sales and traffic to your booth is by advertising your booth space on your website. The same wholesale buyers that attend the trade shows are the same buyers on http://www.toptenwholesale.com every day.
Someone once said to me that they do not encourage buyers to go to the trade shows. I asked why and was told because then the buyers have an opportunity to see the other products and meet the competition. I was shocked. I am under the impression that wholesalers should welcome the buyers to meet their competitors. This gives you the opportunity to show the buyers the benefits and features of doing business with you. And once you gain their trust, they’ll be more then likely to keep doing business with you.
With that said, those of you wholesalers that believe in your product, and believe that your customer service and expertise truly are superior, advertise your booth space. Encourage the buyers to not meet your competition, but give yourself the opportunity to show them why doing business with you is going to help their business.
- Best Wishes

The Trade Show Exhibitors Association has posted a list of upcoming trade shows in New Orleans that will be affected by Hurricane Katrina , including the AWMA show.

I’m not sure how they do it, but CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. Bill Jage and his fantastic staff for putting together a slam dunk at the February 2006 Off Price Apparel Show. It’s no easy task to promote and grow a trade show. The Off Price Specialists have not only grown their trade shows, but they have figured out key ingredients in assembling fantastic buyer traffic. I heard not 1 compliant that the show was slow from any exhibitor. I saw, with my own eyes, thousands of buyers purchasing tens of millions of dollars worth of apparel and accessories from the top tier of industry wholesalers and jobbers. If you’re wondering what makes Off Price so successful….It’s no secret…They truly care about their customers and want nothing more than their exhibitors to have a successful show.

This was the debut show for JP Communications and our new partnership with Off Price. Both exhibitors and attendees were very shocked to see 2 Cyber Cafe’s ( As was I….Thank you very much Bill! ) . It was an absolute pleasure running the Cyber Cafe for Off Price and featuring the show throughout our entire network off sites: Offpricenetwork.com, Toptenwholesale.com, and WholesaleU.com. Companies, such as Carlen Enterprises, were very pleased to see that JP Communications was featuring the Off Price Apparel Magazine’s editorial content on Offpricenetwork.com, FREE OF CHARGE! From Carlen Enterprises, to Ebay….The show was a big hit!

I can’t wait until the May show in Mandalay Bay. This show will feature apparel and home goods. All I can say….Reserve your booth now!!! This show is a money maker.

See you all soon. Happy Selling.

- Jason

The year end trade show put on by ASD in Los Angeles was a hit!

There were over 200 exhibitors (many of which were from LA wholesale district,) and I would estimate close to 1500 buyers. From what I saw, it was mainly a local market attending the show, but it gives wholesalers in all areas of the country a great opportunity to target local retailers in the LA area who probably do not attend many other shows. Though this show does not compare in size to the ASD Show in Las Vegas (held two times a year,) its small size gives retailers an opportunity to really seek out the best deals and establish relationships with established wholesalers.

There were a ton of year end closeouts being advertised, and a lot of new products being offered for 2006. Retailers seemed to be intrigued by some of the closeout prices being found and wholesalers were more than happy to “cut” some deals in hopes of a promising order for the New Year. A small year end show provides an incredible opportunity for retailers to stock up on great deals for some holiday profits.

The marketplace for general merchandise and off price wholesale goods is booming and the way things are shaping up, Christmas will jingle in increased sales for all!

I can’t wait for the ASD Show in Vegas next year and I wish all of you good fortune and a great year end.

Jason