WSN Développement cancels new Paris trade show scheduled for June

By

Anaïs Lerévérend

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Apr 4, 2018

WSN Développement has changed its mind about the 'Nom de code June' (Code-name June) trade show. The potential which the French show organiser had identified, for staging an event at the start of the commercial season during the Paris men's Fashion Week in June, isn't strong enough to sustain a new trade event. 'Nom de code June', as the show was known, has therefore been cancelled.

The show was due to be held in Paris' place de la Concorde at the end of June, at the same time as Tranoï, and in parallel with several other fashion events like the new Man/Woman mixed show, and the Parisian version of Danish trade show CIFF (which has yet to confirm whether it has found a venue). 'Nom de code June' would have slotted earlier in the calendar of womenswear labels, keen to meet buyers at the start of the season, a time more suited to the latter's order schedule. 

"After discussions with several industry professionals and our own teams, we realised that adding a traditional event to the June calendar wasn't the best solution; there are many options in Paris in this period and, by adding another one, we risk overtaxing buyers, a situation which isn't to anyone’s advantage," said Frédéric Maus, joint General Manager of WSN Développement.

The change of heart also stems from the conviction that the world of trade shows is changing, and that organising new physical events isn't the direction in which WSN Développement wants to go. "Our shows at Porte de Versailles and the Tuileries [in Paris] are leaders in the industry and continue to strengthen; outside of these unmissable events, clients need another kind of year-round, long-term service, catering to their requirements wherever they are exhibiting," said Maus, as he also provided more information on the other novelty he has planned for this year.

Online is where WSN Développement reckons the best opportunities lie, and Maus outlined his new project in this direction: a website which is planned to launch in June, designed as a tool labels can use to present their collections to buyers, with the chance of also interacting with them. For the time being, it doesn't appear to be a means for managing orders, as is the solution Tranoï is working on. It will be more of a communication tool to extend the connection between exhibitors and visitors, though not just that. The website is in fact supposed to be open also to brands which do not exhibit at the physical trade shows organised by WSN Développement.