The Metro Show is a big retailer and buyers market. It was Aug. 9-13; yes, Wednesday to Sunday.
It's held in 12 locations (according to the map) to visit over 5 days. Each location has many agencies who offer various goods to buy (apparel, accessories, etc.) to retailers.
What does it looks like? Kind of like a mall, only everything is half-price, because you mark it up to the MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price).
Only you can't really buy things the way you normally do. Many of the stores are by appointment only. Most are taking orders for merchandise that will be delivered in Spring, around Feb. Oh, and the minimums, some as low as $300, some start around $7,000! Yes, that's right place an order for $7K of product...uhm...not there yet.
There is another type of store there too, the cash and carry. These seem to be mostly accessories stores. They carry a lot of very inexpensive merchandise, lots of hat, gloves, scarves, jewelry, etc. All very cheap and you can buy it right away in any quantity.
The other similarity to the mall, was the shopping experience for women's clothes. I decided to just see if there were any items that I might be able to offer, clothes that would fit an hourglass figure.
The results were sadly typical of any trip to the mall with an hourglass figure. Most items just didn't fit right, they didn't fit well. Many styles didn't look right either, the styling just didn't flatter the figure and/or showed bra straps or the bra itself.
The part that was completely unlike a mall, there were no changing rooms. Some agencies had a curtain or a back room that could be used. Others, well, let's move some racks of clothes and we'll close this glass door. There we go, almost no privacy, and mirrors everywhere. Hope you're not shy about changing clothes in front of people! LOL
Oh, what a learning experience. I'll post more about it this week and some more pics. This evening though I think is rest time. :)