The National Retail Federation’s annual convention and trade expo, called The Big Show, is making a big move to Washington, D.C.
Starting in 2011, the event will be held in the Washington, D.C. Convention Center at 801 Mount Vernon Place, between Seventh and Ninth streets. That year will be the centenary of the event.
Next year, however, the convention will again be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where it is currently in session through Wednesday. It’s been held each year at the Javits Center since 1997.
“It is a big switch,” said Michael Gatti, senior vice president of communications for the NRF. “We are outgrowing Javits, on the expo side and the sessions side. We think there is so much more opportunity to get more space in Washington.”
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He said more space is needed because while the convention has been very “tech-heavy” it is now moving in more directions to provide larger pavilions themed around sustainability, store design and other subjects of concern to retailers. “Javits limits us in what we can do,” said Gatti.
The NRF is based in Washington but Gatti said the decision to move the convention had nothing to do with that. He also said that at this time it has not been determined whether the move would help save NRF money. Generally, costs, involving such things as labor unions, are cheaper in Washington.
The move, while providing a stage that accommodates the growth of the convention, could also result in getting more politicians to attend and participate in the public forums.
However, there is concern that Washington isn’t as much of a draw as New York, and that the convention could struggle to attract the 18,000 or so guests that it typically attracts. “It’s a mistake,” said one local fashion executive attending The Big Show, who preferred not to be identified. He noted that while attending the convention in New York, many out-of-towners like to take in a Broadway show, dine in fine restaurants and visit Manhattan’s concentrated retail venues, such as SoHo, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue and the Meatpacking District.
To help get the crowds, Gatti said the NRF is working on a plan to possibly provide transportation, perhaps buses and trains, to shuttle people from New York to Washington.
One source said Las Vegas was once being considered for the convention. Aside from what the D.C. convention offers in terms of space, “We picked Washington because it’s not far away from New York,” Gatti noted.
He also said that in Washington, “There are plenty of places to go and look at cool retail concepts,” citing Georgetown, which is filled with boutiques and galleries, Washington Harbor, a new mixed use facility, and Columbia Heights, an inner city mall.
For complete coverage, see Tuesday’s WWD.