In May ATS connected thousands of buyers and manufacturers with the Industry’s first-ever virtual trade show, this Fall they will connect thousands more with two virtual events
MIAMI, AUGUST 24, 2020 – Apparel Textile Sourcing (ATS) is returning to the virtual spotlight this fall with their second and third virtual editions. ATS connects buyers and brands largely from North America and Europe with suppliers and manufacturers from across the globe.
As safety concerns continue to make international business travel and tradeshows prohibitive, ATS event producers JP Communications, Inc.- publishers of B2B trade sourcing platforms TopTenWholesale.com and Manufacturer.com – have pivoted to digital to facilitate global trade for their flagship ATS events.
The virtual events will take place live online October 26-30 and November 16-20. These state-of-the-art digital events will connect more than 300 manufacturers and suppliers from over a dozen countries and regions online via voice, text and video chat with attendees and buyers from Canada, the USA, Latin America, Europe, Australia & elsewhere.
One of the key interactive features at all ATS events – which proved to be a highlight at the premier ATS Virtual event in May – is the live complimentary matchmaking – made available to registered attendees and exhibiting manufacturers pre-show, post-show and during both virtual 5-day events.
The ATS October 26-30 event will have an educational and market focus on global and Canadian trade issues with special attention on the new USMCA trade agreement, pre-exisiting Foreign Trade Agreements, Least Developed Country trade benefits, sustainability and COVID-19.
The ATS November 16-20 event will feature panels and sessions focused on the global supplier and the USA buyer, with an emphasis on the USA Presidential election result and the likely ripple effects on the industries we serve. Analysts, economists, influencers and experts will recap 2020 and provide advantages to seek out in 2021.
Both ATS virtual event seminar tracts will be focused on Sourcing, Design and Sustainability with an emphasis on marketing, logistics, fashion, design and trade. From near-sourcing in the western hemisphere to continued sourcing from the far-east; from the benefits of automation to the affects of COVID-19 on factories, from sustainable products to a sustainable workforce….from the perpective of the Canadian, the American, and the world audience.
The importance of online peer interaction, learning from experts, plus finding new products and suppliers has never been more valuable. “In a year when physical sourcing shows are not taking place, now more than ever it’s important to take advantage of free opportunities like ATS Virtual to learn, network, and meet new global suppliers,” said Bob Kirke Executive Director of the Canadian Apparel Federation and ATS partner & speaker. “New trade agreements, the US presidential election, and COVID-19 all will significantly impact the near-term future of sourcing in North America.”
All ATS international sourcing events provide FREE ACCESS for attendees to meet the top manufacturers of apparel, fabric, home textiles, ready-made garments, accessories and Personal Protective Equipment. PPE is the fastest growing category in the textile & apparel industry and at ATS.
More than 2000 attended the first ATS Virtual Trade Show in May – an event that was built in a month to serve as the first virtual trade show for the textile and apparel industry. “We saw the writing on the wall in February for the potential damage COVID-19 would cause,” said Jason Prescott, CEO of JP Communications, producers of ATS Trade Shows. “Our team worked very hard to launch the industry’s first-ever fully digital virtual sourcing fair with numerous live components, like matchmaking, back in May. The entire supply chain has accepted virtual as the ‘GO TO’ for trade facilitation and discoverability. It’s now been many months and we’ve had time to make the right investments in a true state of the art virtual sourcing trade fair. “
Major brands and retailers previously attending ATS include Kohl’s, Nordstrom, REI, Giant Tiger, Nike, Grafton Apparel, Bealls, Burton, Canada Sportswear, brrr!, GAP, Disney, Levis, TJ Maxx, American Eagle, Simons, Macy’s, Li & Fung, and thousands more.
Virtual events have filled a void in a market facing numous challenges and uncertainty. Li & Fung COO Weizhong (Wilson) Zhu said, “While it all looks challenging and disrupting to the industry, Li & Fung see this time as a true opportunity. It enables us to build the supply chain of the future at a speed and scale we could not have dreamed of and with a sense of urgency we never had before. We see opportunities for us to create and deliver even more value to both our customers and our suppliers. It’s truly exciting.”
Sustainability at ATS comes from many perspectives including partners Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), TESTEX, and Better Buying Company. Fashion is covered from business and style perpectives, with experts in design and trade. The business side of fashion will be discussed by United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) President Julia K. Hughes. She will provide an outlook to 2021 and a review of 2020 from the retail brand perspective. “The long-term outlook for the fashion industry remains essential for partnerships between brands, retailers and suppliers around the world,” Hughes said. “Our data shows there is confidence among sourcing executives that we can navigate these difficult times and remain connected with our customers.” Joining for the discussion will be Economist Dr. Sheng Lu, Associate Professor – Department of Fashion & Apparel Studies University of Delaware, and author of the USFIA 2020 Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study.
About Apparel Textile Sourcing
Apparel Textile Sourcing is the apparel industry’s link to the entire global supply chain. Resources, experts, and manufacturers come from over 40 countries and cover the worlds of fashion, apparel, textiles, and sourcing. New sources, products, and ideas come to life with education, fashion shows, and trade opportunities. The ATS brand produces a range of shows in the United States, Canada, and Europe. ATS partners with the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Textiles (CCCT), Canadian Apparel Federation, US Fashion Industry Association,
Outdoor Industry Association, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, TESTEX, US Dept of Commerce, Export
Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, BGMEA, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, FICCI, Pakistan Hosiery
Manufacturers Association, ProColombia, PROESA, VESTEX, CFI HAITI, HKTDC, Ghana Export Promotion Bureau, Better
Buying Co, African Bridges, BeConnected, Economic Development Board of Mauritius, PromPeru, CCL – Lima Peru Chamber of Commerce, Taiwan Textile Federation, ITKHIB (Turkey), Canadian Merchandiser, Trade.org, and many more governments, agencies, and organizers around the world.
About JP Communications
JP Communications runs the most expansive network of business-to-business sourcing platforms in the U.S. Anchored by TopTenWholesale.com and Manufacturer.com since 2005, these B2B platforms are leaders in connecting and facilitating domestic and international trade and currently maintain a 2.5 million-strong database of domestic and international buyers, brands, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, e-commerce, and retailers.
