INFORMA CANCELS VEGAS SHOW
Informa Markets Fashion has decided to cancel its Las Vegas trade shows this season. The MAGIC spring/summer 2021 market, which includes Project, WWDMAGIC, and MICAM Americas, was originally slated to run from September 30th through October 2nd at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Now, the trade show organizer will focus on its digital trade events in partnership with NuOrder, which will open on September 1st and run through November 1st.
With the offering of a comprehensive and centralized digital trade platform this fall, brands, and retailers will benefit from an inclusive, location-free opportunity to connect and conduct commerce – bridging the gap created by the continued uncertainty of travel restrictions and health and safety concerns. This digital trade event is the initial step forward within a much larger, future-facing plan of collaborative physical and digital events for the fashion wholesale industry.
“Based on our discussions with partners and stakeholders surrounding health, safety, and travel concerns across the country, canceling our late September Las Vegas event, while disappointing, is the best path forward for our fashion community,” said Nancy Walsh, president of Informa Markets Fashion. “Current climate aside, re-evaluating, re-adjusting, and continually maturing our business model has always been part of our company ethos. Our digital trade event is a natural and necessary first step in revolutionizing and innovating our business in a time that is primed for digital opportunity and outlets.”
MAGIC’s digital marketplace will not only feature new and known brands across men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel, accessories, and footwear, but as the live event, will also feature a robust line-up of educational programming and seminars. With a full eight-week run time, retail buyers will be able to leisurely explore a full library of shoppable editorials and engaging educational content, from tastemaker-curated roundups, and retail discovery sessions to timely industry insights.
Additionally, participating brands will benefit from enhanced brand storytelling and the ability to make more informed merchandising decisions in real-time through data analytics and NuOrder’s features such as digital catalogs, line sheets, 360-degree imagery, and shoppable hotspots to connect and conduct commerce.
“From the very beginning of planning a digital component to our events, back in early 2020, we have been diligently taking strides forward to ensure a meaningful product was developed for our community,” added Kelly Helfman, president of MAGIC. “We have had our finger on the pulse of our industry and we have learned so much from our customers, partners, and community in the past few days, weeks, and months – their needs, wants, and hopes – which allows us to more confidently step forward this year and then further enhance our business into a dynamic and hybrid future in 2021.”
This is a sad but true sign of our troubled times. When I was a Buyer for Men’s, Young Men’s, and Kids — plus Men’s and Kids Shoes — MAGIC, the then WSA Shoe Show, and Pool and Project were all important to me. It is important for a Buyer to see the merchandise in person — otherwise it is like buying out of a catalogue or on QVC — so much is lost — and few new discoveries are made.
I hope this is the only cancellation that these shows will ever face again!