A Little More MAGIC - Attendees, Exhibitors, Space All Up
February 19, 2012
Although the retail industry hasn’t fully recovered from the gloom and doom of recent years, there were green shoots of promise growing at Advanstar Communications’ MAGIC Marketplace, the world’s largest trade show for the fashion industry.
Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Feb. 13-15, the biannual behemoth draws global buyers and sellers of the latest trends in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories and sourcing resources.
Show representatives were unable to release attendance figures by press time, but expectations were for the event’s attendance to be well above February 2011 participation, when more than 60,000 attendees converged at the show, according to Chris DeMoulin, MAGIC International president and executive vice president of Advanstar’s Fashion Group.
This year, MAGIC attracted approximately 3,800 exhibitors occupying more than 800,000 square feet of exhibit space, while last February 3,500 exhibitors spanned more than 700,000 sq. ft., he added.
“Our show has been growing since the post-recession 2009 show, and we’ve been growing ever since,” DeMoulin said.
He added, “Now, I think there’s this general sense that we’ve finally turned a corner. Consumer confidence is up a little bit (and) unemployment is down, so we can be bullish in 2012. We’re seeing that reflected in booth sales and in the excitement level.”
In an effort to keep that positive energy flowing, MAGIC continues to add more value in the form of new floor sections, events and activities, as well as a deeper foray into the social and digital world to connect with a broader audience and extend the life of the event for the fashion community, DeMoulin said.
Although DeMoulin added there are many exciting plans for the show ahead, it appears he won’t be overseeing the implementation.
According to a recent announcement by Advanstar, Tom Florio, former Conde Nast executive and Vogue publishing director, will be taking the helm of the show as CEO of Advanstar Fashion Group, while DeMoulin will be transitioning to executive vice president of customer development and president of licensing.
Neither Florio nor DeMoulin were available for comment by press time on the executive changes.
On a busy, energetic showfloor, exhibitors and attendees alike said they had indeed noticed a pick up in the show this year.
Exhibitor Karen Castellano, senior account executive of Yummie, said she was pleased with both the traffic, as well as the gradual recovery she was seeing in her industry.
“Business has been good, the general outlook for most of the stores has been better than it has been in the past couple of years and there’s a lot more people opening stores, which has been promising,” Castellano said. “I have pretty positive expectations for the show and the industry.”
Attendee Koko Ward, owner of A Walk In the Woods, said that even though many of her colleagues were still hoping for better days ahead, her store had had its best year ever in 2011.
“My business has been good and so far the show has been good,” Ward said. “The selections are good, the prices are good and there are new companies here, which is good. When my feet start to hurt, things might not be so good.”
MAGIC will return Aug. 20-23 to Las Vegas.
Partner Voices
One of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip just got an upgrade. Mandalay Bay has everything that your business needs from a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, to an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're looking for a venue that's both inviting and innovative, you have to be here.
New Wave Experiences
Mandalay Bay continues to invest in a new wave of enhancements both in the convention space and within the resort as a whole. New restaurant openings including Orla by Michael Mina, drawing inspiration from the award-winning chef’s childhood in Egypt and with flavors and décor inspired by the spices found in markets common to coastal Mediterranean towns, as well as Caramá by Wolfgang Puck, bringing the essence of Italy and spirit of Wolfgang into one concept, are recent additions. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas also experienced a recent remodel of all 424 rooms. Swingers, a high-end, adults-only golf and entertainment concept will debut in Fall 2024.
Enhanced Technology
Creating a truly effective conference venue requires careful thought into what a business needs: the right technology, capacity, and inspiration to bring ideas to the next level. As part of the resort’s refresh, Mandalay Bay implemented state-of-the-art technology upgrades, installing cutting-edge Cat6A Ethernet cabling throughout the convention center. This advancement doubles the frequency of data transmission, enabling lightning-fast speeds up to 9400% faster. The convention center now boasts 11 dynamic digital walls, spanning up to 24' x 13', strategically positioned for brand placements, sponsorships and targeted event messaging. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 20 double-sided 55" mobile flexible display units, facilitating effortless navigation to meeting rooms and events. RFID locks were installed on all meeting room doors, and over 200 motion detection cameras have been placed throughout the space.
Refreshing New Design & Fine Art
The newly remodeled convention space provides a bright and vibrant atmosphere that complements Mandalay Bay's tropical-inspired brand. Featuring white-washed walls and ceilings adorned with bold floral patterns in cerulean and coral tones, the space is complemented by warm walnut accent walls. In addition to the redesign of all pre-function spaces, meeting rooms and ballrooms, Mandalay Bay's 1 million square feet of exhibit space has undergone a rejuvenation, including new paint, covered pillars and relocated strobe lights.
Sustainable Spectacles
Mandalay Bay is committed to Focused on What Matters and creating more responsible meetings. Refillable water stations all available around the resort, cutting unnecessary plastic usage from single-use bottles.
The Mandalay Bay campus’ recent upgrades represent a bold step forward in redefining the Las Vegas experience. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Mandalay Bay sets a new standard for excellence in business hospitality. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge conference facilities, world-class dining options, or simply a luxurious retreat, an unparalleled meeting experience awaits.
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