Apparel show joins others at Las Vegas Convention Center

Wednesday, March 31, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

MAGIC International, which runs the country's largest apparel trade show, will move one of its apparel shows from the Sands Expo Center at the Venetian hotel-casino to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The rest of the shows offered under the MAGIC Marketplace banner already are at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company's next event will be Aug. 30-Sept. 2.

WWDMAGIC, a women's apparel show that is part of a series of exhibitions that includes MAGIC, MAGIC kids and The Sourcing Zone, has exhibited at the Sands since 1998.

MAGIC International General Manager and Vice President Laura McConnell said customers requested the move.

"It became clear that having all of our shows under one roof is really an ideal situation for our customers," she said.

Up to 62 percent of buyers at the show are purchasing apparel for multiple markets such as women and children rather than just one type of customer, she said.

"We're watching our crossover buyers continue to rise," she said. "With (the shows) all under one roof they can get a broad view of the market and actually spend quality time placing orders rather than rushing back and forth."

The MAGIC trade show comes to Las Vegas every February and August. The February event drew more than 90,000 attendees, a 14 percent increase from a year ago, McConnell said.