Informa Markets Fashion rebrands as Mmgnet Group

Informa Markets Fashion is going the Edsel way.

Starting Thursday, the parent company of MAGIC, Project, Coterie and Sourcing at MAGIC will be rebranded as Mmgnet Group. The move, pronounced “magnet,” aims to support the fashion industry by uniting brands within its portfolio.

Kelly Helfman, president of Mmgnet Group, describes this as “matchmaking,” in which the company builds “a web of connections outside of traditional market cycles.” Mmgnet will continue with its “live events,” or trade shows, but will also work to “support the industry in ways that foster mutual benefit going forward.”

She added: “This is more than a rebrand or launching a new parent brand. This is about addressing how we serve our audience and the industry going forward, as an evolution of our business. is focused on doing better than ever in connecting with our customers through live events, with enhanced year-round support both online and offline. “We are your go-to partner for discovery and commerce. With Mmgnet, you can also be our industry resource for industry connections, insights, business resources, and inspiration.”

For 90 years, the company’s trade shows have served as a meeting place for retailers and manufacturers. The show will continue at key market times throughout the year, but will now feature exclusive programming, research-based market insights, seasonal trend forecasts and other business resources throughout the year, both in live events and online. Become.

Teodora Nicolae, Mmgnet’s vice president of marketing, said the company “continues to lead our Hero brand within the segments and communities we serve.” However, there are many untapped opportunities such as the MAGIC community, project community, sourcing community, and doujin community. These things don’t exist in silos. There are many opportunities to create more webs. ”

So whether it’s connecting emerging technology companies with brands in need of help or helping emerging brands navigate complex supply chain challenges, Mmgnet wants to be the link.

Nicolae said the rebrand had been in the works for about two years and was driven by “a lot of market research, a lot of customer feedback and a lot of conversations across all customer segments.” A lot has changed in general over the last 10 years, not just due to the coronavirus. So our answer to that is to migrate groups to help build this ecosystem. We will continue to support not only events but also the fashion industry. ”

Helfman added that the key is “power through information” and “sharing knowledge.”

In a teaser email sent to the fashion industry on Monday, the company said: “We want to connect with industry players throughout the year, creating more opportunities for ideas to blossom and partnerships to blossom. We want to be a catalyst for collaboration, progress, and innovation. The Fashion Community To not only create spaces for people to learn and share, but also to spark conversations, ignite passion and drive change. We believe this is not just about business, it’s about community and creativity. Because there is.”

Mmgnet also provides new opportunities for more live connectivity across the fashion calendar, new digital market opportunities, and a platform to pilot new formats that support current and future industry needs. Masu.

The first concrete piece of this new initiative will be the 20-plus page 2024 U.S. Consumer Outlook, which will be released in the coming weeks. Learn more about consumer shopping habits, key decision-making drivers, and other relevant points.

Nicolae stressed that Mmgnet will “conceptualize” these findings to make them “easy to understand” for viewers. “Nobody needs more data than this. So the first step is to provide that information and make it practical to make it available to the small boutique owners and fashion conglomerate CEOs who join MAGIC.” It’s about making it something.”

Helfman said there may be more “premium products” available in the future, but for now the insights will be provided free to the industry.

Mmgnet’s parent company is Informa PLC, a UK-based listed company with hundreds of brands in more than a dozen markets including healthcare, health and nutrition, beauty, construction, aviation, and luxury goods and lifestyle. And while the initial push will be in the United States, the team did not rule out the possibility of leveraging its global network eventually.

Mmgnet is categorized into four pillars. The first is hosting meetups and community events, new conferences and content-driven live events, and facilitating meetings between different categories at trade shows.

Second, invest in market research and data-driven reporting to identify changes in the global fashion landscape, macro and micro trends, changes in consumer behavior, etc.

The third pillar is to provide seasonal trend forecasts across market segments and categories. The final pillar is to encompass the industry’s sustainability, environmental stewardship, social empowerment and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Helfman summed it up this way: “At Mmgnet Group, we have a huge responsibility to truly support and guide our customers and provide them with the information that allows them to learn and connect. It is our responsibility and now is the time to invest. , it’s time to really move the industry in the direction it needs support.”