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Messe Frankfurt to debut Boulevard Prêt-à-sale trade show next year

By Kristopher Fraser

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Your typical trade show tends to focus on one thing. Sometimes it's men's wear, sometimes it's international brands, and other times it's just footwear. However, international trade show organization Messe Frankfurt has teamed up with fashion industry veterans Arnold and Bruce Zimberg to launch Boulevard Prêt-à-sale, a first-of-its-kind trade show, which will put brand-name apparel, accessories, and footwear companies all under one roof.

The trade show will be dedicated to showing the value and off-price merchandise for the better market, and it will be held twice a year in New York City in March and October. The first show is scheduled for March 2017, but will only feature men's wear merchandise. In October, the show will be unisex featuring men's wear and women's wear together, an industry first.

Boulevard Prêt-à-sale was created with an eye on the present and future state of retail sales. The flux of the retail industry combined with the dramatic changes in consumer buying habits have created what many are calling a "full price recession" and a complete transformation in the apparel and retail wholesale markets. Two-thirds of all Americans now shop for valued priced merchandise, but no traditional trade show properly serves these retailers or the manufacturers looking to sell to them.

Boulevard Prêt-à-sale to begin in New York next March

“The retail industry is in a state of tremendous change, with shoppers looking for value more than ever before, and retailers looking to provide them with the best products available,” said Arnold Zimberg, co-founder, Boulevard Prêt-à-sale. “Value retailers are the most important retailers of today, and of tomorrow, and they are not given the same exposure to fashion brands, or the opportunity to develop the same relationships with manufacturers and designers. Boulevard Prêt-à-sale will offer networking opportunities to those retailers and allow them to better cultivate their offerings for customers. Most importantly, this show is about helping both brands and retailers reestablish a return on investment.”

“Messe Frankfurt has also sought solutions to address the shifting North American retail market. Along with Arnold and Bruce, we recognized the extraordinary value this concept would offer the retail industry. It is critical to stay ahead of the ever-changing retail environment, and to offer value to current and future buyers and manufacturers. This entirely new concept addresses their needs as no other show can,” said Dennis Smith, president, Messe Frankfurt North America. “Boulevard Prêt-à-sale is a unique new addition to the current fashion trade shows in the US.”

The debut of Blouevard Prêt-à-sale will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center's River Pavillion, an exhibition hall that clocks in at 45,000 square feet. The event is invitation-only for qualified buyers and will serve to complement the current offering of traditional retail events in the U.S. market.

“The United States is the largest retail market in the world, and every major department store in North America has successfully opened outlet extensions with a dedicated buying team responsible specifically for outlet merchandise. Off-price is the true retail today.” said Bruce Zimberg, co-founder, Boulevard Prêt-à-sale. “This trade show will be the platform to showcase new and fresh high quality merchandise that will appeal to the savvy US and international shopper that demands fast-to-market and a value price. We are excited to build an energized, creative partnership with Messe Frankfurt, an organization with a legacy for developing the best in textile and apparel trade shows.”

Boulevard Prêt-à-sale will be an addition to Messe Frankfurt's global portfolio of textile trade shows under their belt, which includes 50 trade shows globally and over 19,000 exhibitors.

photo via Messe Franfkurt Facebook

Boulevard Pret-a-sale