United States Of America : Source International to return to New York Jan. 12-14, 2004

CMP Princeton Inc., organizers of Si Source International, the global sourcing and supply chain management trade fair, announced a positive outcome to the inaugural event held recently in New York. The organizers announced the show''s second edition has been scheduled for Jan. 12-14, 2004.

Participating in the premiere event were 320 exhibitors from 24 countries spanning Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Scandinavia. Si attracted a total attendance of 3,351 to the three-day exhibition, including 1,003 exhibitor personnel, 24 press representatives and 2,041 unique visitor attendees.

Demographically, all principal business types were represented with manufacturers at 26.5 percent, importers at 13 percent, designers 10.5 percent and wholesalers at 8 percent of visitor attendance. In all cases these were from senior and mid-level management.

Si Source International drew sourcing executives from major brands including some of the biggest names in the business -- The Gap, Wolverine, Kate Spade, Coach, Banana Republic, Armani Exchange, Liz Claiborne, Cole Haan and Global Brand Marketing Inc. (which holds the footwear licenses for Deisel, XOXO, Nautica and Mecca).

Consulting company Four Trend Services, whose clients include Clarks, K- Swiss, Royal Elastics and New Balance, also visited the show sourcing leather and footwear textiles.

Serving the North American sewn products market, the show is designed to bring together the companies that make up the supply chain for the worldwide footwear, luggage, bag, apparel, leather goods and accessories industries. Si drew suppliers and vendors from each sector of the supply chain, including companies that create technologies for managing the complex logistics in the process of changing raw materials into finished products.

"This was our first time exhibiting in the United States, although we participate in shows in Europe and Asia," said Gavin Watson, group managing director of Blair Accessories (HK) Ltd., which designs, manufactures and merchandizes fashion bags and accessories. "We saw it as an opportunity to introduce our products to the U.S. market, and we''ve made some good contacts. We even signed several orders during the show, which we never expected to do."

Roger Sitrin, director of professional services for supply chain software maker Information Solutions, said that the show has provided a learning experience.

"We''ve talked to big name brands like The Gap as well as to small entrepreneurial companies during the show," Sitrin said. "They''re all -- large or small apparel and accessory marketers -- looking for the same things in a supply chain software product - security, longevity and full support," he said.

Si comprises three vertically integrated shows:

Material Source showcases leather, textiles, synthetics, trims and components.

Technology Source highlights leading-edge systems and technologies implemented for design, supply chain management, logistics, packaging, on-line payment and marketing.

Fashion Source features the world''s suppliers of footwear, leather goods, luggage, leather apparel and accessories.