Retail Traffic Up at MRket
The MRket menswear show, held Feb. 16–18 at The Venetian, continues to grow, as retail attendance for its third edition leaped 15 percent over last year, according to Show Director Lizette Chin.
“It was better than expected based on the softness of [earlier] shows,” said Chin, who came away from the event with “a sense of optimism.”
The show’s timing probably had something to do with that, said Chin, noting thatLas Vegas was basically the last stop on the show circuit.
“The buyers coming into Vegas hadn’t bought much, so many of them left paper. It was an order-writing show,” she said.
The show was 70 percent larger than the February 2008 inaugural show and 15 percent larger than the August 2008 show. MRket was formed last year when its owners acquired the former Exclusive show from the sales reps who had founded the event in Los Angeles.
Most exhibitors reported strong opening-day traffic and a drop-off the day after, when MAGIC opened. The show featured a blend of suiting, shirting, footwear and accessories from European and American brands.
The main complaint from buyers at the show, said Darren Apel of Delray Beach, Fla.–based shirt line Marcelo, was that they weren’t seeing much freshness. Marcelo tried to spice things up with sports shirts featuring flocked appliqueacute;s.
Jewelry designer Scott Kay—whose eponymous line features oversize cufflinks, rings, pendants and bracelets made with luxurious materials such as palladium—said there was no absence of uniqueness in his latest collection.
“Most people in the business today are merchants worried about margins. We put art first and stay true to that. You have to create a feeling [with your product],” Kay said.
Jose Cerrillo of San Diego–based Jose Luis/Continental Leather said there appeared to be a “20 percent factor” in the marketplaceshy;—everything was down about 20 percent.
“This is very global. The resorts especially are not doing so well. The customers are looking for items,” he said.
Cerrillo said the company’s special-order business has picked up as a result. At the MRket show, Cerrillo highlighted smooth moto jackets with dragon-head buttons and novelty belts featuring cannabis leaves and iron crosses.
“The general mood of the retailers is that it’s not that terrible out there,” added Apel.
Irene Becker, new owner of the Alandales boutique in Culver City, Calif., agreed.
“It has not dropped off much at all. I’m lucky to have some loyal clients,” said Becker, who purchased the store last August. Becker has been updating the store’s collection with labels such as Marlboro from Tuscany, Italy. —Robert McAllister
