Informa Markets and NuORDER Launching Digital Fashion Trade Show This Fall
June 11, 2020
The future of fashion B2B trade shows is hybrid, according to Informa Markets, which has joined forces with B2B e-commerce platform NuORDER to launch the fashion industry’s largest digital trade event. Making its debut alongside Informa Fashion Portfolio’s physical trade shows – MAGIC, COTERIE, PROJECT and MICAM AMERICAS – in Las Vegas and New York City, the new e-commerce experience will virtually connect retailers with brands that are unable to attend the events in person.
Originally scheduled for Aug. 17-19, MAGIC, PROJECT Las Vegas and MICAM Americas will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The July 19-21 COTERIE and PROJECT New York events have been moved to Sept. 22-24 at Jacob K. Javits Center. All were postponed due to health and safety concerns.
Marrying NuORDER’s network of thousands of premium fashion brands and 500,000 retailers with Informa’s global fashion network will not only create the largest digital fashion platform but also bring an established and highly curated marketplace to a virtual environment, according to Informa Markets officials.
Designed to complement Informa’s key face-to-face events, the digital platform comes as Informa continues its investment in the development of digital solutions to support brands and retailers as they plan for spring and summer fashion markets, according to Nancy Walsh, president of Informa Fashion Markets.
“The live event experience is irreplaceable, [and] fashion in particular is a tactile business — buyers want to feel fabrics in their own hands and see colors with their own eyes,” Walsh explained. “But we also believe that the future of fashion wholesale is a synergy of physical and digital.”
She continued, “Our first step in this direction is our partnership with NuORDER and the digital trade show we will debut this year, which we believe will help translate the experience of discovery and connection that is at the heart of our physical events to a new and exciting virtual environment.”
To virtually present new collections, brands will be able to tap into NuORDER’s digital capabilities, which include custom digital catalogs, line sheets, in-platform ordering and interactive 360-degree virtual showroom technology. This will help retail buyers be able to discover, connect and do business with new brand partners through category and price point search functionalities, as well as gain access to curated content and relevant product recommendations, and place in-platform orders.
Through this partnership, Informa Markets Fashion and NuORDER also hope to champion the fashion industry’s continued evolution toward digitalization. Their new platform will soon expand to include new shows, categories and regions, presenting opportunities for forward-thinking fashion brands and retailers willing to embrace a hybrid future of B2B fashion commerce, according to Heath Wells, co-founder and co-CEO of NuORDER.
“Both NuORDER and Informa are market leaders, and we are excited to power the largest global platform for fashion brands and buyers,” Wells said. “Our partnership marks a defining moment in the industry solving real customer needs at a critical time. This is the beginning of a new era for fashion markets and the standard for discovery and commerce moving forward.”
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MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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