Variety Show at WWIN
LAS VEGAS—Buyers were upbeat at the Feb. 11–14 run of the WWIN show, held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, as they were hungry to replenish inventories and introduce the colors associated with Spring/Summer merchandise. Most buyers said they were coming off lackluster holiday sales but noted that results rebounded strongly in January and February.
“We had a good January, so our inventories are low, and we need to replenish,” said Pam Evans, a buyer for Santa Monica, Calif., boutique Suji. Evans said she was scouting for “hip missy” items. “It has to be new and exciting, and you have to give customers a reason to buy.”
Lisa Herron of Tootsie’s Boutique in Sheridan, Wyo., said her January and February sales are up.
“I’m thrilled so far,” she said. “We’re just starting Spring and Summer buying and are looking for basics as well as trendy items.”
The traffic was strong, with a record opening day, said the show’s co-director, Roland Timney. What may have helped was the fact that the KidShow was staged concurrently in parking-lot tents, bringing buyers onto the floors. The childrenswear show, also produced by Timney’s Specialty Trade Shows Inc., usually takes place at Bally’s.
But even though the traffic was there, the orders were smaller than usual, said Susan Cohen of Los Angeles–based Sharon Jakum Collections, a multi-line manufacturers’ rep.
“The stores are scared [of the economy],” she said. “They are placing smaller orders.”
Linda French of Redding, Calif.–based Color Me Cotton agreed. “They’re buying smarter and not as deep,” she said.
Sung Yoo of Los Angeles–based Amore Couture, which is repped by Jakum, said buyers in the current economic climate are migrating to brands like hers, which is manufactured in Los Angeles and can turn around orders in several weeks rather than several months, as required by offshore producers.
“I went to shows in Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and here, and when I get back, those first orders will already be on the way,” she said. Yoo makes denim-friendly printed cotton/polyester tops, some with sublimation prints and some featured in mesh, for about $20 each.
WWIN caters mostly to independent specialty stores and buyers who spread their booth visits over several categories at the show, favoring eco items, tops, dresses, denim, plus sizes and accessories.
Anna Elmore of Longmont, Colo.–based Goddess Gear said she was “pleasantly surprised” with sales. “I was expecting it to be more quiet,” she said, noting that she sold lots of bamboo-based tops and jackets made from recycled fibers.
“Two years ago, no one heard of bamboo clothing,” she said. “Now, buyers are asking for it more and more.”
Buyers were also tapping into utility wear such as button-wrap shrugs from Canadian resource Chloe Angus and travel-friendly, wrinkle-free dresses from Sandy, Utah–based Reds & Blues Co. Matthew Hekmatof Los Angeles–based IDI also used the show to debut the company’s denim line, which complements the company’s crocheted and colorful printed tops. Roseanne Tritica of Los Angeles–based Betty Bottom Showroom Inc. said dresses were selling but were “very itemdriven.” Her top sellers included lightweight polyester gypsy dresses by Xpect/Saga and hand-painted Indian silk tops from Diva Ji. —Robert McAllister
