FAME - A bold new trade show.

A FURTHER DEFINING MOMENT
It started about an hour before the shows opened early on Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. The crowd of buyers began to swell in the registration lobby of the show. It expanded minute by minute until the lines of buyers bulged almost out the door to 11th Avenue. Finally, the Show opening hour arrived and the largest first morning rush we had ever experienced poured into the Show. As buyers surged into the aisles, the industry breathed a sigh of relief.

Let’s face it, the news had been so negative coming into the August Market that I think we all had some degree of trepidation that a significant percentage of the industry’s top buyers might take a season off. Would high airfares, soaring hotel costs and gas prices coupled with sluggish retail sales keep buyers on the sidelines? Judging from the precipitous attendance declines experienced by other industry events and regional markets leading up to the August Holiday/Resort 08 season, there was cause for concern.

As the negative news about the economy intensified, we at FAME decided to take matters into our own hands. Tough times call for bold measures and we responded by launching the most robust and extensive retail development and promotion program we have ever undertaken. As a result of this investment, pre-registrations looked very strong. The telemarketing results were extremely encouraging and on the website the hits kept piling up. All indications were that attendance would defy the odds and be surprisingly strong. Yet, in this business you cannot take anything for granted. Our job is not complete until the buyers actually walk on the floor and hopefully, start writing orders.

Thankfully, our pre-show attendance indicators, not the predictions of doom and gloom proved to be more accurate. In fact, our most expensive and extensive attendee promotion program produced outstanding attendance for the August Market. When all was said and done and the third day brought the Show to a close, FAME was shopped by as many buyers this season as it was last season. Given the state of the economy, equaling last year’s attendance records is an amazing accomplishment and it speaks volumes about the strength of the Show as it drew retailers from all 50 states, 48 different countries and the total number of International buyers continues to increase.

In short, the August market marked a further defining moment for FAME. In sharp contrast to other industry events, with your support, we proved to be the show that the industry’s top buyers from around the world chose to shop. The quality and quantity of buyers shopping FAME this season clearly demonstrates that the Show is unquestionably the world’s premier marketplace of junior and young contemporary resource, which in turn means that it is an event you can count on in times good or bad.

We thank you for your support and hope to continue to serve your market needs for many seasons to come.

FAME - NY OFFICE • 1384 Broadway (38th Street) 11th Floor • New York, NY 10018• Tel: 212-686-4412 • Fax: 212-576-1540 • Toll Free: 800.521.0227