For Immediate Release
July 30, 2010 Contact: Don Browne 262.754.6910 dbrowne@offpriceshow.com
OFFPRICE (August 15-18) "Movin on UP!" to New Home at The Sands for August Fashion Week
New Venue Features FREE WI-FI Café, a Department Store and Special Tours
BROOKFIELD, WI - The OFFPRICE Show organizers are pleased to report that pre-registration for their August Fashion Week marketplace is 5-11% higher than last year’s figures at this point in time before opening day.
“We are reporting a broad range to reflect the earlier than usual show dates,” said David Lapidos, Executive Vice President for OFFPRICE. “If we were to compare exact dates our numbers would be 25% higher. That’s not a fair analysis considering that we started later than usual (Aug 29- Sep 1/09) last year and we are opening much earlier (Aug 15-18) this year. Thus, our 5-11% range of increase accounts for 2009 dates as well as 2007 & 2008 openings (Aug 24 & Aug 23, respectively).”
Using this formula, new buyers attending the show is up 23-36% from last year, and the top retailers and “regular customers” will be in attendance for OFFPRICE’S inaugural in Halls A & B of The Sands.
“Everybody’s excited about moving upstairs,” said David Abbate, a buyer for Lady Rose Shops in West Hempstead, NY. Abbate has been attending OFFPRICE since it first opened in the hotel rooms of the old Debbie Reynolds in 1995, and remembers vividly when the show was held in tents outside the Sahara and Stardust. “Opening Fashion Week in the grand stage at The Sands where PROJECT AND (WWD)MAGIC used to be marks another major milestone for OFFPRICE. It’s rather timely when you consider OFFPRICE’s growth and stature in relation to the rest of the industry.”
Abbate has been the New Buyer Tour Guide at OFFPRICE since the August 2007 show. His experience both in retail and at the show has been an invaluable resource to new and repeat buyers trying to maximize opportunities on the 100,000+ square foot exhibition. And with an 8% increase in exhibitor space (1,150 Booths and counting), Abbate’s tours at the new venue will be more critical than ever for OFFPRICE buyers.
“There are new exhibitors, but there are also a lot of the old jobbers adding more booths to our new, more spacious venue,” asserts Lapidos. “They have expanded into new categories like accessories and are bringing more of their existing lines in anticipation of a great show. There will be a lot of excitement on both sides of the aisle, so David’s tour will feel like a safari!”
Because of the dramatic rise in boutique buyers coming to OFFPRICE, the show has added a second tour program on the first day of the show (Sunday, August 15th) specifically tailored to this segment. The 2 special tours will be lead by best-selling author and fashion retail expert T. J. Reid of Amite, Louisiana. Reid, who also publishes Fashion Advantage magazine, will take her groups to 10 of the best OFFPRICE vendors who cater to boutiques, as well as share tips on why she’s been coming to the show for more than 10 years. “Boutiques that are not shopping at OFFPRICE are really missing out on some terrific fashions that also happen to be margin-builders.”
Abbate agrees with Reid’s assessment of the wealth of opportunities in women’s trends at OFFPRICE. “Women’s and juniors are still hot out here. Ladies tops in particular are on fire, so look to see a lot of activity in this area at the show.”
In addition to the explosion in accessories and women’s, OFFPRICE is pleased to report more growth in footwear. Show management is also pleased to offer the following new amenities to better accommodate their enthusiastic buyer delegation:
• 3 Times More Vertical Aisles (compared to their old home downstairs at Hall G) to give buyers greater access to the deals.
• FREE WI-FI at their OFFPRICE Café located in Booths #1845 – 2245 in the center of the show floor. The Café will also offer FREE WEB MARKETING ADVICE for retailers and merchants from NY & LA Design House Digital Marauders. The cutting-edge agency is displaying at OFFPRICE to develop new business for their street fashion clients in the off price market.
• Department Store. Located at the front of the Show Floor, the Department Store will feature the hottest trends in a variety of categories that are available from different OFFPRICE exhibitors.
• Happy Hour, Sunday, August 15th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at FIRST located in The Shoppes on the 2nd Floor of The Palazzo.
• AND, $5 Lunch at their enhanced OFFPRICE Bistro.
OFFPRICE opens Fashion Week on Sunday, August 15th at 8:00 AM, and run through Wednesday, August 18th at 3:00 PM.
Notes to Editors
Meetings, interviews and tours can be arranged for media by contacting Don Browne, Marketing Director, at 262.754.6910 or dbrowne@offpriceshow.com.
For additional information and updates on all Off-Price Specialist Center shows, markets and magazines, visit us at www.offpriceshow.com.
Trade press can also find relevant information on retail trends by visiting www.offpricenews.com.
Upcoming OFFPRICE events with confirmed dates include:
A TASTE OF OFFPRICE (at LA Majors Market)
October 4-6, 2010
Exhibit Hall, California Market Center
Los Angeles
OFFPRICE
February 11-15, 2011
Sands Expo & Convention Center
Las Vegas
A TASTE OF OFFPRICE (at NY Market Week)
May 1-3, 2011
Gotham Hall
New York
The OFFPRICE Shows and Publications are produced by Tarsus Group plc (TRS.L on the London Stock Exchange), an international media group with interests in exhibitions, conferences, publishing and the internet. Headquartered in London, and with offices in Paris, Düsseldorf, Shanghai and Milwaukee (home of the Off Price Specialist Center), Tarsus serves niche markets with trade events and online media. For further information on Tarsus and the Off-Price Specialist Center, go to www.tarsus-group.com.