WWIN Promos Buoy Sales
The Women’s Wear In Nevada (WWIN) show, held Feb. 16–19 at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, was another sell-out for exhibitors. Although some exhibitors reported retailer attendance appeared to be down, WWIN Co-Producer Jeff Yunis said the show set a record for retailer attendance with more than 2,500 visiting the event.
The show caters to specialty stores that sell misses and updated lines. Despite the state of the economy, buyers were buying, but orders were smaller.
“Some of the orders were smaller, but there were more orders, so it balanced out,” said WWIN co-producer Jeff Yunis.
Exhibitors reported a large amount of Immediate and Transitional season purchases as well as a smattering of Fall pre-orders. The bulk of the business was left on the opening day of the show, said sales reps working the show.
Buyers were in the difficult position of figuring out the consumer.
“The [consumers] are conserving their dollars, even if they have money to spend,” said Amy Blauer, buyer for Mayfair, based in Burley, Idaho.
Blauer said they have also become more price conscious, which led her to venues such as the Off-Price Specialist Show while in Las Vegas.
Mozelle Moore of Mozelle’s in Arlington, Texas, said business has slowed slightly for her high-end boutique, but not enough to panic, she said.
The show’s producers asked exhibitors to put on at least one “show special” per booth, which appeared to help spur sales.
“One thing about this show is that buyers were leaving paper rather than taking paper,” said Los Angeles showroom owner Fred Postal, who sold Asian-influenced coverings from Cupcake for $35 and up and graphic cotton/Lycra jackets from Seandara for $32 and up.
Ernesto Mantilla of the Los Angeles–based Betty Bottom Showroom said the show drew some East Coast and Midwest buyers out of the woodwork to search for unique West Coast items to spur sales.
“We saw people who we haven’t seen since before 9/11,” said Mantilla, who was highlighting handbags made in Guatemala from recycled materials by Eucalyptus as well as tie-dye dresses made in India by Baba.
Sherri Tharani of San Diego–based Zashi Ltd. said the company’s Indian-made dress line offered women forgiving clothes that look stylish.
Yunis announced that an $89 promotional room rate will be part of the highlights for the August WWIN show. “We did not raise rates for this show and probably will hold back for the next show,” Yunis said. —Robert McAllister
