There has been a lot of confusion, last-minute decisions, and worry in the trade show community and it is an ongoing problem as long as COVID-19 sticks around. Many trade shows have been postponed or cancelled all-together, and some are even moving to virtual trade shows for the rest of 2020.
Last month, Independent Retailer created a list of the major trade shows that were cancelled or postponed for the near future. As time continues to tick on, postponed trade shows are still unsure whether or not they will take place, and if they do, who will even show up? Here’s a look at some of the major trade shows and what their situation now looks like for the rest of 2020:
NY NOW at the Javits Center, New York
Originally scheduled for August 8-12, 2020, NY NOW and Shoppe Object are working together to reschedule the New York Market Week to October 2020. The NY NOW Fall Edition will showcase at the Javits Center on October 18-20, 2020, and Shoppe Object will stage at Pier 36 October 20-22, according to a press release.
Even though the show has been rescheduled, NY NOW is still waiting for the final decision from New York state, which owns the Javits Center. New York, along with other nearby states, are still in the process of slowly reopening and lifting stay-at-home orders. The concern for whether or not the show will go on is based off of the governor’s decision on large gatherings and how many people will show up to the event.
NY NOW is consistently posting updates to their website (nynow.com) with COVID-19 related news, so you can always know what’s happening. Emerald Expositions, who owns NY NOW, JA New York, and ASD Market Week, along with other trade shows, posted a Preparedness, Prevention & Response Plan in regards to how they’re handling any upcoming events and the steps they’re taking to ensure everyone’s safety.
JA New York
Rescheduled from August 9-12, JA New York’s (www.ja-newyork.com) new trade show dates are October 25-27, 2020 at the Javits Convention Center in New York. Since JA New York is also taking place at the Javits Center, the stability of the show also relies on the state governor and his allowances on large gatherings and whether or not the building will be open.
As JA New York continues to monitor the situation closely, they also stated in a release that they will be vigilant in employing all health and safety protocols published by the CDC, WHO and relevant state governments to ensure a safe and successful event. The Javits Center also plans on following EPA and CDC guidelines by implementing disinfection and sterilization measures throughout the facility.
ASD Market Week
Originally scheduled for August 2-5, 2020, ASD Market Week (asdonline.com) has decided to cancel their event all together. According to a release that ASD put out, this is due to developments regarding COVID-19 as well as restrictions on congregating and large gatherings imposed by the State of Nevada.
The next ASD Market Week event is currently scheduled for February 28 – March 3, 2021 and they have partnered with the Las Vegas Convention Center to host the most productive, safe, and healthy event for both vendors and buyers. Many trade shows that were scheduled in Las Vegas this year have been cancelled or switched to online only events, including Army Navy Military Expo and OFFPRICE, among others.
COVID-19 news is constantly changing, so the best way to keep up to date on trade shows and their schedules is by checking their websites. Independent Retailer does our very best to keep our readers informed of the latest retail industry news, so you can also check for updates on our website at blog.wholesalecentral.com.