Shoe, Textile and Woodworking Shows All Post Upticks in Numbers
August 20, 2013
Mirroring the continued growth in the overall trade show industry, several recent shows saw positive showfloor size, exhibitor and attendee numbers.
Messe Frankfurt’s Texworld USA, for example, saw tremendous growth, with 438 exhibitors from 15 countries, a 33.5 percent increase from the July 2012 show.
For the fourth time, Texworld was collocated the International Apparel Sourcing Show and the Home Textiles Sourcing Expo, which drew in a total of 731 exhibitors and 5,292 attendees.
“The exhibitor and attendee numbers demonstrate that Texworld USA continues to be the most important platform for sourcing apparel fabrics in North America,” says John P. Gallagher, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt.
He added, “Our exhibitors are looking for renowned brands and we are pleased to say we bring buyers from some of the largest brands such as J Crew, Ralph Lauren, PVH, Elie Tahari and many more.”
The show was held July 16-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York and is on tap again in January at the same venue.
Woodworking also saw a boost in numbers at the 2013 AWFS (Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers) Fair when it was held July 24-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The show hosted 9,150 registered attendees and nearly 13,500 total participants, with 503 exhibiting companies occupying 11percent more floor space than 2011.
The showfloor wasn’t the only place that grew, according to Angelo Gangone, AWFS executive vice president.
“This is the first time since 2005 that our trade show expanded in all categories including buyer and exhibitor attendance, total number of exhibiting companies, exhibit space sold, and seminar attendance,” Gangone added. “It is a very positive sign for our industry, as early indications strongly suggest this trend will continue for our 2015 show.”
In 2015, AWFS Fair will return July 22-25 to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Southeastern Shoe Travelers Association’s Atlanta Shoe Market continued to spread its wings from being just a regional event to having more of a national presence with continued attendee growth at its recent show.
Held Aug. 14-16 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in suburban Atlanta, the show saw a 6-percent increase in retailer pre-registrations, compared with the previous event, as well as 1,800 brands.
Industry show-goers recently ranked the Atlanta Shoe Market the second best fashion show in the world and first in overall attendee satisfaction, giving it a perfect “10” score for organization and planning, according to show organizers.
“Despite our growth, we are determined to maintain the things that contribute most to productive meetings between vendors and retailers, including ease, convenience and affordability,” said Laura Conwell-O’Brien, show manager and executive director of the Southeastern Shoe Travelers Association.
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OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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