WWIN Scores With Upscale Merchandise
LAS VEGAS—At Womenswear in Nevada (WWIN), Steve Barraza, owner of Los Angeles–based updated contemporary line Tianello, said strong business at WWIN was following steady business since the beginning of the year.
“Since January, all the shows have been amazing. You can feel that consumer confidence,” he said. “Of course, this show is always good. All the strong customers are still here, and they’re reporting good sales.”
The show, held Feb. 13–16 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, featured six ballrooms packed with upscale misses, contemporary apparel and accessories.
Barraza said he saw buyers from Colorado, Arizona, West Virginia, Tennessee, Connecticut, Minnesota and Maine, as well as plenty of West Coast business. Most buyers were looking for Immediate deliveries, he added.
“We’re known for Immediates because I have more own factory [in Los Angeles],” he said.
Barraza said he was also seeing an increase in orders from domestic catalog retailers—“because I can do reorders.”
Melody Fast, owner of Melody Fast Sales in the California Market Center in Los Angeles, also noted an uptick in business since the beginning of the year.
At WWIN, she said she was seeing buyers from “everywhere” and opened several new accounts at the show.
“That’s why we love this show—every time we get new business,” she said. “So, we knew this would be a good show.”
Fast said buyers were upbeat and placing orders for Immediate through Fall deliveries.
Tustin, Calif.–based accessories brand B.B. Simon has been a longtime exhibitor at WWIN, but in recent years, the company has also operated a booth at Accessories The Show, running concurrently at The Venetian.
For sales representative Mickey Johnson, this season of WWIN was stronger than last year. “I think things are turning around,” she said. “Most people are saying they are seeing a [sales] increase. And everybody is telling me they feel they’ll see it open up after the election [in November].” —Alison A. Nieder
