Off Price Specialist Show Apparel Pre-Registration Strong For August 2008

An Influx of New Buyers, International and Traditional Retailers are Seeking Off Price Treasures to Breathe New Life into their Stores

The Off-Price Specialist Show is pleased to report early July Pre-Registration numbers for their August offering that have already exceeded the 2007 August Show’s “pre-reg” from four weeks out. Significant increases in new buyers, international and traditional retailers coupled with a rise in buyer participation in special hotel rates and other Off Price programs are strong indicators of an August marketplace that will be very active.

“We are very energized by the interest level from our buyers, in particular their requests for more details on the show,” said David Lapidos, Group Vice President for Off Price. “The specific questions they are asking now (as opposed to previous shows) strongly suggest that they intend to write a lot of business and spend more time at our show. They do not want any missed opportunities.”

To better accommodate this motivated delegation, the Off Price Show is pleased to announce the following developments:

NEW! Deals on the Floor Now! Now buyers can get a list of specials deals from Off Price Show exhibitors on the last two days of the show. Buyers can subscribe (for free) to get the “Deals” hot sheet emailed to them by contacting Don Browne at 262.754.6910 or dbrowne@offpriceshow.com.

New Interactive Floor Plan helps buyers and exhibitors connect before the show. Visit www.offpriceshow.com to tour the new plan and map out your show using the MyShow Agenda Planner.

T.O.P.$ is a promotional program that highlights fashion-forward opportunities from the show floor. Trendy outfits sourced by fashion students from the International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT) are displayed in mannequins located next to the Registration Center in the Sands Lobby, enabling Off-Price buyers and Fashion Week visitors a birdseye view of what’s hot at Off-Price. Since the program, has been launched in August 2007, T.O.P.$ has been a critical to educating Fashion Week visitors on the trendy products that are available at below wholesale prices.

Buyer Tours – Not just for New Buyers. Led by David Abbate, Senior Buyer for Lady Rose/Masters in New York, who has been attending Off-Price since its inception in 1995, the tours show retailers how to shop the Off-Price market, how to negotiate with Off-Price Specialists, and how to find the buys that will make your season. Buyer tours are scheduled for 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (August 23, 24 & 25) – meet at the TOP$ Pavilion located next to the Show Registration Center. Buyers are encouraged to sign up by contacting Don Browne at dbrowne@offpriceshow.com or 262.754.6910. Note: Several seasoned buyers have signed up for the tours in order to maximize their buying opportunities at the Off Price Show.

Virtual Tours of offpriceshowrooms.com. This new online platform will enable buyers to source from the Off-Price markets leading suppliers 24/7 year-round.

To further help Fashion Week buyers prior to the show, the Off-Price Specialist Center is adding a new page to its website called “The Art of Shopping Off-Price.” Based on an article written by veteran buyer David Sacks from the 1^st quarter 2007 issue of Off-Price Apparel magazine, this “how to” guide helps apparel retailers new to Off-Price “Buy Right to Sell Right.”

The Off-Price Specialist Show also invites buyers and industry professionals to a Cocktail Reception on Saturday, August 23^rd at 6:00 pm at the Show Information Center located in the front of the Exhibit Hall.

The Off Price Apparel Association will be honoring their “Man of the Year” for Peter Hayes, COO & CMO of Variety Wholesalers at a special gala taking place on Sunday, August 24^th at 6:00 PM at the Treasure Island Grand Ballroom. Cocktails will be followed by dinner and entertainment. For tickets and more information, contact Steven Forman at 702.364.2637. Net proceeds from the event benefit the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Building Fund for Wake County Hospice and the Brain Center of New Seabury, Massachussetts.

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