Define buying center Explain how buying centers impact

local economies Identify important buying centers in

the U.S.

Central district in a city where fashion businesses sell products to retail buyers› Garment districts› Regional marts

Market weeks› Scheduled time for fashion producers to

show fashions to buyers› Each fashion line scheduled during

different weeks Mart

› Building that houses thousands of showrooms for specific merchandise categories

Nation’s leading buying center 5000 fashion showrooms $14 billion annual sales! Garment Center

Non-profit corporation

Promote NYC apparel industry

Improve quality of life Strengthen economic

status

New York Fashion International› Exporting› Develop foreign

markets Fashion Walk of Fame

› 7th Avenue Fashion Center Banners

› Increase unity› Community pride

Largest buying center in western U.S.

$8 billion sales Small to mid-size

businesses Funded by property

owners

California Market Center

World’s largest wholesale merchandise resource› 7 million square feet

$7.5 billion wholesale transactions annually Apparel and accessories focus

› Sportswear› Western wear

50 markets/year 200,000 buyers yearly

Chicago› Merchandise Mart› Apparel Center

Atlanta› AmericasMart

Miami› International

Merchandise Mart

AmericasMart Building 2