LAS VEGAS— There’s no way to virtually replicate a tactile experience, which is part of the reason the OFFPRICE show, held during Las Vegas Fashion Week in February, was so successful. At OFFPRICE, retailers can touch and feel inventory from exhibiting brands, wholesalers and distributors. The show, which is the leading B2B off-price apparel trade show in the United States, is held every two years and attracts a wide range of buyers, from small business owners to national chain retailers.
This year’s OFFPRICE show, which took place February 13-16 at The Venetian Las Vegas, saw a notable increase in activity compared to last year’s show in August, with an increase in the number of exhibitors and retailers.
While OFFPRICE did not return to its usual pre-pandemic size, according to Tricia Barglof, executive director of OFFPRICE, the square footage and number of exhibitors increased by 25% compared to August. The number of international companies, representing 50 countries and Puerto Rico, was less than 5% lower than the last show held during Fashion Week in February 2020, Barglof said.
Exhibiting companies included Empire Apparel, DM Merchandising and SASCO Apparel Group, and interest from retailers in South America and Mexico in particular increased.
Barglof says that with safety and hygiene procedures being normalized, people are feeling more comfortable traveling and meeting in person. “Even though footfall is still down a bit, the quality of retailers that are coming in are eager and willing to buy, and the new connections that are being made are high-level interactions,” she said.
With the wide variety of exhibitor categories at OFFPRICE, retailers were able to source products for many departments at once. The merchandise on display was ready to ship and often offered retailers profit margins of 50% or more. Another benefit of the show is the sustainability factor, as shoppers were able to purchase products from retailers that would otherwise go to waste.
The affair that took place could only take place at a live event.
“As a tactile industry, you can’t really understand the quality of a product unless you can touch it, feel it and see it,” Barglof said. “And because retailers work hard to source product, the majority of merchandise at OFFPRICE is immediate inventory, available and ready to ship.”
In addition to the challenges of organizing the show due to the pandemic, the industry is also facing supply chain issues and changing consumer shopping habits. According to a statement from Audrey Taylor, Global Retail Business Manager at OFFPRICE, “The news and uncertainty surrounding the supply chain has created a lot of curiosity and eagerness to discover the products and offers available at OFFPRICE. Many retailers are changing their strategies due to the changing demographics and shopping habits resulting from the pandemic, so they are coming to our show to develop relationships with new suppliers.”
Despite current economic and supply chain issues, overall buyer and exhibitor sentiment is cautiously optimistic for 2022, according to Barglof.
“Supply chain disruption typically means there will be a lot of product available on the market at low prices and very competitive prices,” Barglof said. “The community is watching very closely the impact of inflation and shipping costs, and what that means for consumers’ desire to spend.”
Other trade shows that took place during Fashion Week included MAGIC and WWIN, which focused on women’s fashion. “We remain very optimistic about the future of our event because there is no other place where a retailer can go and see several hundred exhibitors under one roof. And with MAGIC and WWIN also happening at the same time, Las Vegas Fashion Week is the most efficient use of a buyer’s time,” Barglof said.
The magic is back
In a testament to the resilience of the fashion industry, another successful trade show took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from February 27 to March 1: COTERIE and MAGIC New York, organized by Informa Markets Fashion. The event caters to the entire fashion ecosystem, providing a comprehensive platform from big box and department stores to retail boutiques to discover the latest products and new lines for their customers, according to Kelly Helfman, president of Informa Markets Fashion.
COTERIE New York welcomed over 150 new brands and 700 exhibiting companies, while MAGIC New York welcomed over 60 new brands (a 36% increase from last September’s show) and 300 brands. Retail attendance also increased, with an increase in department store registrations, including chains and department stores, and an increase in international registrations with 80 countries represented.
“The return of COTERIE and MAGIC New York for our second in-person event has been very well received by the fashion community,” said Helfman. “We have continued to learn and adapt to the needs of our industry to create an event that is centered around our community. We are focused on discovering, connecting and shining a light on the latest trends so that brands, both established and emerging, have a voice to promote their product, and retailers can secure deals with the hottest new brands across multiple womenswear categories, from cutting-edge to on-trend contemporary.”
Contact: Tricia Barglof at (262) 754-6932 or tbarglof@offpriceshow.com