Trade show organizers are looking at the year to come. Catch up on the latest headlines in the sourcing, apparel and footwear trade show sphere.
UBM Confirms Talks to Buy Advanstar
London-based communications and events company UBM confirmed it is in talks to acquire trade show organizer Advanstar for a reported $900 million, in an effort to ramp up its events business. In a statement UBM, the publisher of InformationWeek and owner of PR Newswire, said the discussions may or may not lead to a purchase of the company.
According to Reuters, Advanstar has been working with investment banks Goldman Sachs Group and Moelis & Co since July to help with efforts to find a buyer.
Advanstar, with a portfolio led by MAGIC Marketplace, would greatly expand UBM’s footprint in the event sector. The U.S.-based company is responsible for more than 150 business-to-business events and produces 30 publications for fashion, healthcare, licensing, veterinary and automotive markets.
TheMicam Sticks with Early Dates
Next year’s dates for the Italian footwear trade show theMicam will go unchanged, despite complaints about this year’s earlier show schedule. Show directors Assocalzaturifici confirmed the 2015 summer edition would take place Sept. 1-4.
This year’s three-day trade fair, held at Milan’s Rho-Pero fair, began Aug. 31, a few weeks earlier than it traditionally starts. The show’s attendance dropped to 34,176 compared to 38,621 in September 2013, mostly due to a decrease in participation from buyers and brands based in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. However, after the show Cleto Sagripanti, president of theMicam, hinted that it might reconsider the show’ positioning on the international trade show calendar.
Reed to Launch Women’s Lifestyle Trade Show
Reed Fashion Group, a division of Reed Exhibitions, announced Wednesday the launch of Axis, a women’s fashion and lifestyle trade show inspired by the art, music and design worlds. The biannual show will take place during New York Women’s Market week in February and September. The debut event, scheduled for Feb. 22-24, will share a location with its sister show Capsule Women at Pier 94.
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Axis will exhibit fashion lifestyle, active lifestyle, swim, accessories, intimates, home and beauty in a gallery-like setting with an emphasis on lifestyle influences. Axis show director Vanessa Chiu said the show takes a “cross-category approach to merchandising that reflects the eclectic, aspirational way its demographic shops.”
Chiu added, “We’ve built a platform to showcase the new-new, expose branded collections that were displaced in the current New York trade circuit, and introduce new global collections into the U.S. marketplace. We plan on utilizing our team’s matchmaking expertise to introduce media, brands and retailers, and tie it all in with events that make AXIS a true 3-D, lifestyle experience. By co-locating with our sister show, Capsule Women’s, we’re able to bring all women’s brands together in one place.”
Exclusive digital content for the show will be produced by a myriad of trendsetters and advisors including Nike global concept director Kristin Reiter, Style.com fashion market director Rachel Wang and Capsule Show cofounder Deirdre Maloney.