MIAMI BEACH — The growing scope of apparel manufacturing in Latin America gave exhibitors a reason to be upbeat at Bobbin Contexpo, the machinery and sourcing show held last week at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
In its fifth year, the show featured almost 400 exhibitors whose offerings fall roughly into three categories: machinery and technology; contractor and production sourcing, and fabric and trim.
The three-day event was over on Friday, and, according to Bobbin Blenheim, pulled an international audience of 5,779 buyers, compared with 6,052 a year ago. Show management had no reason to offer for the drop in attendance, although some exhibitors conjectured that the growing number of trade shows within Latin America, such as the new Expotela fabric trade show earlier this month in Mexico City, might be having an effect.
A spokesman said it was believed that the assassination last Wednesday night of the leading Mexican presidential candidate, Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta, had no impact on the turnout.
Also, while the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into effect Jan. 1, adds significantly to the possibilities for doing business in Mexico, the pact appeared not to be a singular focus among the exhibitors. Those who are entrenched in Mexico said they expected to continue moving their businesses ahead; still others who have yet to gain a foothold seemed deterred by what they felt was a lot of red tape involved in making deals there.
Rather, it was the overall potential of Latin America, whether it be Mexico, the Caribbean or further south, that appeared to be energizing exhibitors, and there was general agreement that for reaching that market, Bobbin Contexpo is a prime showcase.Views varied, though, on how much business is actually written.
“It’s been an excellent show from the beginning,” noted Rachel Sussman, vice president of Sussman Automatic, manufacturer of pressing equipment and curing ovens for wrinkle-resistant apparel. “We have many repeat customers and have met many agents at these shows. Also, we’ve always gotten enough orders to cover the expense of the trip.”
“We do write new business as well as make contacts,” said Joe Burnett, vice president of sales, YKK Zipper Co. “We also see our normal customers, be they Caribbean Basin, Latin American or Americans that do 807 business.
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For Threads USA, Bobbin Contexpo affords the chance to broaden its contacts.
“We think 807 will continue to grow, and we wanted to be represented,” said Frank MacMillan, director of sales. “For us, this is mostly a contact show. Most trade shows are.”
“I don’t expect to write a lot of business,” agreed Bob McAdam, senior vice president, sales and marketing, for Facemate, a producer of interlinings. “This show gives us the opportunity to expand our market beyond our borders, to attract potential new Latin American business.”
“A shop window to the Latin American market” is how Philip Hirsch, vice president/apparel products, of Macpherson Inc., marketer of embroidery and embellishing machines, termed the show. “We do sell at the show, and at this show we’re showing new product.”
This included a new machine for lithographic printing on paper, which then heat-transfers onto cotton.
Other exhibitors, too, brought out products new to the Latin American market. Kannegiesser, for instance, producers of fusing and shirt-finishing equipment, was showing a new fusing apparatus that features an inflatable rather than a hard roller.
“You can put various fabric thicknesses on the equipment and still have the same pressure throughout,” said Ed Garrison, vice president.
Summing up the overall action at the show, Tammy Barkley, show manager, said: “Sourcing activity was very strong throughout the three days of the event, and new technology, fabrics and trims and international business services were among the top perfomers.”