The IR Show is on the move again.
After relocating the footwear trade show to the San Diego Convention Center in February 2022 to facilitate its expansion, organizer Gary Hauss told FN this week that IR’s next two summer events will now be held in Las Vegas.
“I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to make this move, but I thought it’d be 10 years the making. [Outside circumstances] just kind of sped it up,” Hauss said.
Those circumstances were San Diego Comic-Con, which takes over the city in the summer months. Hauss said that as a result, he struggled to find dates for accommodations that worked for his attendees.
“I want to be an earlier show, not a later show,” said Hauss. “I think it’s better for the vendors and the buyers, and I don’t want to step on the toes of The Atlanta Shoe Market in any way by being right on top of theirs. I have a great relationship and respect for [Atlanta organizer] Laura Conwell-O’Brien. So I will not do that. But what was happening was I was getting pushed into June, which is too early, or August.”
Instead, the 2024 and 2025 summer editions of IR will take place at the Horseshoe casino on the Las Vegas Strip — the former Bally’s property that recently underwent a renovation and rebrand. Hauss said that for now, IR’s winter shows will stay in San Diego, though he’s open to moving those to Las Vegas in the future if the summer events go well.
Hauss did acknowledge past concerns throughout the industry about the high costs of attending and exhibiting at trade shows in Las Vegas. To address that issue, he’s negotiated favorable room rates at Horseshoe, for $140 per night, and the booth rates for exhibitors will remain the same as in San Diego.
Hauss said he’s able to keep costs down because of low overhead. “Our entire staff is just me and my daughter,” he said. “The plan wasn’t to get rich doing this; it was just to stay in the business after I closed my retail stores. And that’s what I’ve done.”
As for what to expect at The IR Show in San Diego in January, Hauss said the event continues to grow, with more fashion brands joining the roster of exhibitors. Among some of the newer brands slated to participate next month are Kizik, Andre Assous, Cole Haan, Miz Mooz, A.S.98, Victoria, Hoff, Camper, Yellow Box, Arche and Diba True.
And buyers from Zappos, Comfort One, QVC, Tradehome, Shoe City and Beck’s Shoes are expected to attend.
The show will offer an opening night cocktail party on the first evening, from 5:30-7 p.m. And on night two, Hauss will host his “Conversations Over Cocktails” talk from 6-7:15 p.m., where he will sit down with leaders from the independent retail chain Beck’s Shoes, based out of Northern California. Previous guests have included David Kahan from Birkenstock; Larry and Evan Schwartz from Aetrex Worldwide; and execs from Tradehome Shoes in Wisconsin.
The IR Show’s next event will take place Jan. 28-30 at the San Diego Convention Center, followed by its summer edition on July 28-30 at the Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas.
