BLIZZARD-STALLED BUYERS TO GET MAKEUP DATES
Byline: Karyn Monget
NEW YORK — The blizzard of ’96 dealt a body blow to the bodywear market here this week, but vendors are hoping to recoup with rescheduled appointments.
The storm, manufacturers said, meant that a number of appointments were canceled with major department stores and smaller specialty store accounts this week. In some cases, makers said they were able to preview fall lines this week with major buying groups that have offices here, such as Federated Merchandising Corp. But next week is seen as at least a partial makeup week for accounts that simply couldn’t make dates.
The saving grace is that January has not been an important market for a couple of years. A main reason is the Super Show, the gigantic sporting goods and activewear show held each year in February in Atlanta. It has become the venue for introducing new product to a big, diversified audience. This year’s Super Show is scheduled for Feb. 4-7.
“A lot of our appointments got rescheduled for next week. But many of the bigger stores we’ll be seeing then also plan to go to Super Show,” said Doug Levine, president of Crunch Fitness Apparel.
Levine said his firm will feature the Crunch men’s and women’s bodywear and activewear and accessories for fall selling at a 1,400-square-foot exhibit space at Super Show.
As for top ideas for fall, Levine said, “Supplex blends are selling very well at stores right now, so we’ll be increasing assortments for fall.” Key colors: burgundy, hunter and lime green.
Joey Harary, president of Jacques Moret, maker of bodywear and activewear by Jacques Moret, noted, “We’ve had a very minimal week with retailers who were able to fly in on Saturday. Our major accounts have rescheduled appointments for next week, and we’re pretty well booked.”
Regarding what items have received good reaction this week, Harary replied, “Basic looks, and some fashion items that are not too forward.” Top ideas include biketards, bike pants and coordinating crop tops and bra tops, he said.
Harary further noted that the Moret firm will show its new line of licensed performance wear under the Roller Blade label at Super Show. The line, which also is being previewed here to select retailers, is being introduced for summer selling.
Gilda Marx, cochair of Gilda Marx Industries, Los Angeles, observed, “Everybody is showing much closer to delivery, because a lot of merchandise can’t be moved out of stores.
“We’re talking about fall ideas and showing sketches to retailers in New York this week and next week, but we’ll be showing our fall collection at Super Show.”
Marx added that she plans to “show a lot more fashion looks that are dual purpose at Super Show.”
“That’s what’s selling at stores right now,” she said.
Ava Garrett, national sales manager for the Aerodynamics division of Weekend Exercise Co., said, “January is no longer a big market week, because a lot of our major accounts see us at Super Show.”
Garrett noted that the San Diego-based firm will show bodywear and activewear by Aerodynamics for fall at the Atlanta show. The late spring and summer lines by Marika and licensed Baryshnikov will be shown there as well, she said.
Mindy Solkin, director of marketing at Attitudes in Dressing, maker of BodyWrappers bodywear, said, “This week’s market has been very slow, almost nonexistent.
“But we’ve been spending a lot of time on the phone, and we’re busy mailing out a couple of hundred invitations for retailers to see us at Super Show. Our sales reps in several territories also are making presentations.”
At Nautilus Wear, a division of Delta Woodside Inc., Greenville, S.C., Nick De Marco, president, said: “We had no business on Monday, and some business on Tuesday with some stout-hearted retailers. You don’t get ‘let’s get an early start on fall’ anymore from anybody.”