JA Summer Show: Despite the Rain—Hotter than Expected

As the second day of the JA Summer Show at Jacob Javits Center came to a close, the general consensus among visitors to the exhibition was “better than expected.” Despite a reduction in the number of exhibitors, vendors who did show experienced the upside of exposure.

The first day of the show started sluggish with buyers trickling in throughout the day. But by the time the complementary sangria started pouring at 4 o'clock, the aisles had a very nice turnout. During the first day, buyers were browsing and taking their time before making any purchasing decision. Buyers are more cautious and thorough before making trades.

The booths attracting the most traffic were those selling branded lines, offering retailers a name that can independently push the goods. Other booths boasting a high turnover are those that showed that the vendors listened to retailer needs and produced interesting options in software, displays, leasing and inventory maintenance programs.

For buyers, the best part of the show are the deals. This year, it is definitely a buyer’s market, regardless of what you are looking to buy, technology advancements, marketing solutions or new pieces to spruce up showcases.