The IR Show is Moving to Las Vegas Summer 2024

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.

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.