OFFPRICE Show Holds Steady After a Record Event
August 25, 2013
Bargain apparel, accessories and footwear event, OFFPRICE Show, posted strong numbers Aug. 17-20 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The show has seen boon times during the recession, with both of its biannual editions being honored as TSNN fastest-growing shows.
The February OFFPRICE Show set records, with square footage and highest attendance in four years. There were more than 525 exhibitors on 130,000-plus net square feet and attendance was at 11,006.
The numbers for the August event were on par with February, with a slight increase in attendance, according to show officials.
Owned by U.K.-based Tarsus Group, OFFPRICE was part of the Las Vegas's biannual Fashion Week, which spread over several venues, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
“Retail in general is starting to come around, but there’s still ways to go,” said Stephen Krogulski, CEO of OFFPRICE. “Our show allows retailers to try new categories and products, and it’s encouraging to see them starting to take those chances again. It is a real boost for us, because they need promotional merchandise, and OFFPRICE is a great place for them to find it.”
Krogulski noted that that being part of the Fashion Week has been a great asset to the show. “We all play a different role in how we provide value to the retailer,” he said, noting that the first two days of OFFPRICE are the busiest, as large retailers shop before MAGIC.
For its recent August run, the show was sporting a new floorplan, as well as new branding and signage since it moved into the downstairs space at the remodeled Sands. Krogulski anticipated an adjustment period for exhibitors and attendees, but said he hopes that the transition will be smooth.
The new space offers additional room to grow, and Krogulski anticipates expansion, especially in the areas of accessories, shoes and cash and carry.
Attendee Jan Voss, with Encore consignment boutique in St. Paul, Minn., was on her way to the cash and carry section when a wall of leggings captured her attention.
“There’s every print in the book here. They’ll go well,” she said. Voss has been coming to OFFPRICE for more than 15 years and has always found good deals, a major selling point to her customers as well. She said she likes that the show evolves with her needs and offers a right mix of products. “It gets better every year,” Voss added.
For exhibitor Christiana Gaston, with Texas-based Consolidated Clothiers, the first two days brought record numbers of new business. “It’s the best show we’ve had in the last four years,” she said. “Having the right merchandise helped, but you’ve got to have traffic for it to be good show, and we had a good combination of both this time.”
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
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The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
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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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