MESSE FRANKFURT TEAMS UP WITH ARNOLD AND BRUCE ZIMBERG FOR NEW TRADE SHOW CONCEPT

International trade show organizer Messe Frankfurt has joined forces with fashion industry veterans Arnold and Bruce Zimberg to launch boulevard prêt-à-sale, a first-of-its-kind trade show, which will offer global retailers the opportunity to meet with brand-name apparel, accessory, and footwear companies all at once. Dedicated to showcasing value and off-price merchandise for the better market, boulevard prêt-à-sale will be held twice a year in New York City in March and October. The first show, scheduled for March 2017, will focus solely on menswear merchandise. In October the show will feature both menswear and womenswear together.

Boulevard Prêt-à-sale was created with an eye on the present and future state of retail sales. The current flux of the retail industry, along with dramatic changes in consumer buying habits, have created what industry-insiders are deeming a “full price recession” and a total transformation in the apparel retail and wholesale markets. While two-thirds of all Americans now shop for value priced merchandise, no traditional trade show properly serves these retailers or the manufacturers looking to sell to them.

“The retail industry is in a state of tremendous change, with shoppers looking for value more than ever before, and retailers looking to provide them with the best products available,” said Arnold Zimberg, co-founder, Boulevard Prêt-à-sale. “Value retailers are the most important retailers of today, and of tomorrow, and they are not given the same exposure to fashion brands, or the opportunity to develop the same relationships with manufacturers and designers. Boulevard Prêt-à-sale will offer networking opportunities to those retailers and allow them to better cultivate their offerings for customers. Most importantly, this show is about helping both brands and retailers reestablish a return on investment.”

“Messe Frankfurt has also sought solutions to address the shifting North American retail market. Along with Arnold and Bruce, we recognized the extraordinary value this concept would offer the retail industry. It is critical to stay ahead of the ever-changing retail environment, and to offer value to current and future buyers and manufacturers. This entirely new concept addresses their needs as no other show can,” added Dennis Smith, president of Messe Frankfurt North America. “Boulevard Prêt-à-sale is a unique new addition to the current fashion trade shows in the U.S. We’re excited to host this launch event in New York City, the most ideal city in the world for an event of this caliber, and to have the opportunity to increase our market presence in North America.”

Bruce Zimberg, co-founder, Boulevard Prêt-à-sale, concluded: “The United States is the largest retail market in the world, and every major department store in North America has successfully opened outlet extensions with a dedicated buying team responsible specifically for outlet merchandise. Off-price is the true retail today. This trade show will be the platform to showcase new and fresh high quality merchandise that will appeal to the savvy US and international shopper that demands fast-to-market and a value price. We are excited to build an energized, creative partnership with Messe Frankfurt, an organization with a legacy for developing the best in textile and apparel trade shows.”

The debut edition will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center’s River Pavilion, the 4th level exhibition hall boasting over 45,000 square-feet. The event is invitation-only for qualified buyers and will serve to complement the current offering of traditional retail events in the U.S. Market.