New Show Launches: SOURCING at MAGIC Goes Bicoastal, Military Consumer Event to Debut This Fall 

April 26, 2023

A new fashion sourcing trade show and a consumer event celebrating military culture will be making their debut in September and November of this year, respectively.  

SOURCING at MAGIC New York

Informa is gearing up to launch an East Coast version of its long-standing SOURCING at MAGIC fashion trade show, held biannually at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  

Set for Sept. 19-21 alongside COTERIE and MAGIC at the Javits Center in New York City, SOURCING at MAGIC New York will resemble its Las Vegas sister expo, featuring an array of global exhibitors and categories from textile manufacturers to trims and finished goods suppliers for footwear, apparel and accessories.  

Created to meet the heightened demand for fashion products and services offering faster fulfillment, the show’s expansion into the Big Apple is designed to bring these solutions to a wider audience, according to Informa Markets Fashion officials. 

“Bringing SOURCING at MAGIC to a new market in New York will address the ever-changing industry needs and will solve for supply chain challenges facing businesses so that they can focus on better inventory control and speed to market,” explained Kelly Helfman, president of Informa Markets Fashion.

Besides helping brands and retailers reexamine their supply chains and develop more effective inventory control strategies in the face of evolving geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges, this fall’s show will highlight a network of suppliers specializing in on-demand production and low minimum order quantities (MOQs), along with quick-turn replenishment.

“Supply chain agility affords brands creative and cost-efficient inventory control in the current market,” said Andreu David, vice president of SOURCING at MAGIC. “Solutions to supply chain disruptions are the key to brands’ competitive edge in today’s market.” 

He added that the New York City event will address the need for brands and retailers looking to rethink the supply chain to solve challenges around market pivots, minimizing overstock and creating opportunities for a more efficient production timeline.

According to show officials, SOURCING at MAGIC New York will feature panel sessions and educational programming led by industry insiders and trade and technology experts, and will feature a showfloor organized for ease of navigation that will promote innovative retail technology tools alongside fashion products.  

MCON

Created by veterans to bring the military community together, MCON is slated to be the largest annual consumer event celebrating military culture, service and sacrifice. Fittingly set for Nov. 10-12 over Veterans Day weekend in Las Vegas, the inaugural edition of MCON is designed to be a journey of exploration, tech-enabled connection and opportunities to discover new resources wrapped up in a festival environment, according to show officials.

“MCON is a groundbreaking event designed to bring together the men and women who wore the uniform and volunteered to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said MCON co-founder Waco Hoover, a former Marine who also co-founded XLIVE and The Institute for Health Technology Transformation (which were sold to Informa and Vendome Group, respectively) alongside Todd Brockman. 

He added, “We’ve curated a highly interactive experience that will offer an incredible festival environment but also enable attendees to walk away having learned something new about the resources available.”

The show’s launch comes at a pivotal time for the U.S. military community, which faces significant mental health, suicide, family balance and post-service transition challenges. According to show officials, U.S. service members and their families deal with significant hardships balancing life around deployment, change of duty station and other issues of which most Americans aren’t aware. 

With a mission of creating community, facilitating connection and improving the wellbeing for those who served and their families, MCON will include pavilions featuring activations around musicians, comedians, outdoor and adventure, mental health and wellness, culinary and learning experiences, along with an awards program celebrating the best in military culture, entertainment and media.  

Leading influencers, celebrities and leaders from the community will also be part of the show’s lineup, while a vendor and exhibit area will feature more than 50 brand partners and organizations serving the military. Additionally, event partners will have an innovative and new way to connect with the individuals they are supporting through their respective missions before, during and after the event, according to show officials. 

“When Waco and Todd approached me about their vision for MCON, there was an instant connection – a consumer event with a mission to support those who serve appeals to me on several levels,” said Martha Donato, founder and president of MAD Event Management, which will serve as MCON’s production partner. “I’m excited to be a part of the project and infuse some of my Comic-Con experience into it.”

 

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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.