The 2014 PGA Fashion & Demo Experience (formerly the PGA Expo), Aug. 18-20, will spotlight golf fashion and accessories in Las Vegas with a two-day golf fashion extravaganza at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Aug. 19-20. The PGA Fashion Experience, located in a sophisticated new Venetian ballroom and complemented by multiple special events and merchandising workshops, directly follows the inaugural PGA Demo Experience day-long schedule of golf events, Aug. 18, at Cascata Golf Club in nearby Boulder City, Nevada.
“The PGA Fashion Experience is building off popular programming and capitalizing on the sophisticated Fashion Week environment to offer a modern, upscale and exciting marketplace for golf fashion and accessories,” said PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions Senior Vice President Ed Several. “We are especially pleased with the recent industry response to the new event format and look forward to offering a first-class experience uncovering the newest trends and innovations in golf fashion and accessories.”
The PGA Fashion Experience
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 19-20, the hottest fashion trends and newest accessory collections will be exclusively showcased for attending PGA Professionals and buyers at the new PGA Fashion Experience. The PGA Fashion Experience is moving to a new ballroom on the fifth floor of the Venetian Conference Center with a fresh, contemporary show floor tailored to the golf lifestyle apparel and accessories market.
Vendors will have access to move-in ready, elegant and stylish displays presented in clean lines, favorable lighting and white flooring to show off collections and accessories at their best. Fashion displays will surround a central main stage and networking lounge where merchandising workshops, a fashion show and industry reception will be held. The PGA Fashion Experience will share the marquee with several Las Vegas Fashion Week shows co-located in the Venetian with golf fashion displays and signage at prime vantage points to direct PGA Professionals and golf buyers, while attracting fashion buyer crossover attendance, to the new ballroom location. Once on the PGA Fashion Experience show floor, buyers will also be able to take advantage of more restaurant kiosks for business dining options to maximize their time with vendors. The PGA Fashion Experience will open each day at 8:30 a.m. and with exhibits closing on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 4:00 p.m.
While the PGA Fashion Experience show floor is an exclusive showcase for apparel and accessories, a limited number of golf equipment, products and technology companies will follow their PGA Demo Experience interaction by hosting PGA Professionals and buyers in private Venetian meeting space on the fourth floor of the Venetian.
Top Brands & Buyers
Golf’s leading companies and brands have responded positively to the new format with many making early commitments to display their newest collections and merchandise including: 2UNDR, AHEAD, Antigua, Callaway Golf Apparel, CHASE54, COBRA PUMA Golf, Columbia Sportswear, Cutter & Buck, Devereux, Dunning, EP Pro, Fairway & Greene, FJ, Full Turn Direct, Greg Norman Collection, J. Lindberg, Linksoul, New Balance, Nike, PGA Authentic, PING Apparel, Pukka, Sport Haley, Sunice, Tommy Hilfiger, Travis Mathew, Under Armour and more.
Influential PGA Professionals and golf buyers typically attend the event representing top golf resorts, clubs and retail stores from around the world. In 2013, Fashion Week crossover attendance of fashion buyers increased by 37 percent and international attendance grew by 25 percent. Attendees traveled to the 2013 event from all 50 U.S. states and more than 20 countries.
The top five countries represented in attendance were Australia, Canada, China, France and Japan. The top 10 states represented in attendance were Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Utah. Some 80 percent of attendees do not attend the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando each January, representing a fresh marketplace for vendors.
Runway to Fairway Fashion Show, presented by Chase54
On Tuesday evening, Aug. 19, at 5:00 p.m., the main stage and networking lounge will be transformed for a special evening affair as industry guests are invited to the “Runway to Fairway Fashion Show,” presented by Chase54. The live runway production will showcase many of the latest golf lifestyle collections by the industry’s top designers. Additionally, the popular “Fashion Row” program returns to the event, displaying the latest golf lifestyle apparel to the Fashion Week audience at multiple levels of the Venetian in secured mannequin displays and leading to the new PGA Fashion Experience ballroom.
Opening Night Reception, presented by Chase54
All registered event attendees are invited to the Opening Night Reception, presented by Chase54, featuring complimentary wine, beer & light hors d’oeuvres in a social, lively atmosphere on the show floor. Exhibitor booths will be open for business during this networking event for PGA Professionals and buyers to enjoy the extended hours to explore, browse and discuss all the latest finds the show floor has to offer.
Las Vegas Fashion Week
The PGA Fashion Experience is co-located with Capsule, Agenda, Liberty, MRket®, ACCESSORIES: The Show®, Stitch, and Curves fashion trade shows, and also held simultaneous to MAGIC™, OFFPRICE and ENK in Las Vegas. More than 650 buyers of fashion week trade shows attended the 2013 PGA event.
National Retail Federation Keynote Address & Merchandising Seminars
The PGA Education Conference, held in conjunction with the 2014 PGA Fashion & Demo Experience, features many retail and merchandising seminars among the four professional education tracks of the conference. Additionally, on Tuesday morning, Aug. 19, the National Retail Federation presents the industry keynote address, “How Tech is Driving the Digital Experience – Learn What Retailers Are Doing Around Consumer Expectations” by Tom Litchford, vice president of retail technology for the National Retail Federation. Education registrants will learn how digital technology is having a transformative effect on retail touch-points and how to navigate the projected 65% jump in consumer mobile purchases in the next two years. Early registration savings are available through July 15, 2014.
The PGA Fashion & Demo Experience details and registration are available at www.pgalasvegas.com