EDB promotes participation at MAGIC apparel trade fair

by Shirajiv Sirimane

The World's largest apparel trade event, MAGIC, will be held from August 29 to September 1, 2005 at Exhibition and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 15 companies from Sri Lanka will attend.

With the end of the quota system under the Multi Fibre Agreement, the Export Development Board (EDB) has taken the lead to promote this event. "This would be an ideal platform for Sri Lankan manufacturers to meet face to face with world renowned buyers," an official of the EDB said.

MAGIC is a tremendous opportunity for Sri Lankan apparel companies to start new business, cultivate existing relationships, and discover new sources of revenue. There is simply no better investment you can make to market your company's product and services to this many buyers.

Apparel buyers from over 80 countries would attend this event and sales worth over $ 168 billion are made at the event while over 90% find new suppliers at the show. It is estimated that over 79% leave purchase orders at the show.

The MAGIC has a base of 3,500 companies that are receiving orders at the show. Most of these companies do not manufacture products, but need to source them. Thus, MAGIC can provide a built in prospect base, making MAGIC an integrated apparel marketplace.

The event is held every February and August and at the last show there were over 98,000 buyers out of which 4,800 were new buyers while there were over 3,500 exhibitors from 80 countries.

According to exclusive representative in Nepal and Sri Lanka for the MAGIC, Chairman Summit Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, H. Jayasinghe said this year the MAGIC show also partners with the JCK Jewellery Resources Show, which is the leading event in the U.S. serving the jewellery market.

"The Shows provide the jewellery industry invaluable information from both a practical and global perspective on subjects that impact not only the jewellery industry but its consumer as well," he said.

The MAGIC also produces a post-show publication that promotes both the show and its exhibitors. This MAGIC Newsletter is sent to 80,000 of North America's top buyers.