The WSA Show has rapidly devolved into a regional show once again – but the company that owns the show still has the floor space for a much bigger event.  The empty aisles at the Sands Expo and Mandalay Bay had many wondering why show management had not consolidated the show into one location. 

 

Perhaps timing or late exhibitor exits prevented show parent ENK International from making the same type of move MAGIC made for their show next week, when they took the unprecedented move of closing the South Hall at the LVCC and moved all remaining exhibitors to the other halls.


There was but a handful of sports or outdoor brands left on the floor and even those were not in the same location as before.  K-Swiss, a fixture on their usual corner in year’s past, stayed to support the show, but was moved to Mandalay Bay.  Most other brands were in meeting rooms at the Sands.


Some tried to spin their exhibiting experience as positive by suggesting they got the attention with their competition missing, but it was clear by Day Two that that notion had worn thin as well.  However, there were a number of retailers that seemed pleased by the opportunities they found at the show.


After cleaning out much of their inventories at year-end, retailers were licking their chops as they found a wide array of off-price buys to help boost margins this spring.  Skechers and adidas were the brands mentioned most often, but everyone had inventory to move.  Many retailers that spoke with Sports Executive Weekly said February had started off pretty solid, with some reporting mid- to high-single-digit comps for the month-to-date period.


Still, there was clear consensus among retailers that spoke to SEW that this was not an event on the top of their list going forward.  Most suggested they may still have to come, but were splitting their teams between WSA, regional shows like Atlanta, and MAGIC.


There was also a lot of buzz about retailers in trouble.  The list of the retailers expected to enter Chapter 11 protection continues to grow, with most of the companies mentioned being private.