Material World Miami's Future Is Uncertain
Executives at Kennesaw, Ga.–based Urban Expositions are mulling the cancellation of the annual Material World & Technology Solutions textile and sourcing show in Miami Beach, Fla.
Show President Tim von Gal said athe company will focus on its new Los Angeles version of the show, set to debut Sept. 30–Oct. 2 at the California Market Center. However, he left open the possibility that the Miami Beach show will continue.
“We are currently evaluating the need for multiple locations for Material World,” he said. “We are committed to Los Angeles twice a year going forward, but there has been a strong call to continue to produce an annual event in Miami Beach. We are in the process of evaluating the responses of our exhibitors and attendees from this past show.”
Material World Miami just wrapped up its 10th edition, which had a smaller exhibitor base than in the past. (See related story here.) The most recent show featured about 300 exhibitors. Over the past few years, the shows have been averaging more than 400. In addition, organizers of the SPESA Expo, which in the past had staged its tri-annual technology and equipment shows with Material World, opted to relocate to a different venue next year.
Urban Expositions, known for its gift shows around the country, entered the textile-show market when it launched the Miami Beach show in 2000. It later added a New York version but cancelled it after three seasons. When the Los Angeles show premieres this fall, it will be staged in conjunction with the Los Angeles International Textile Show and will compete with the new GlobalTex show, which debuted last week at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (See related story here.) —Robert McAllister
