The Vendor's Guide to MAGIC Las Vegas: Booth Display, Mannequin Choices, and What to Pack

Quick answer: MAGIC Las Vegas (and the co-located Project, Sourcing at MAGIC, and ASD Market Week) draw 35,000+ buyers across 3,000+ booths twice a year. Standing out means getting the basics right: a tabletop mannequin or two with your hero pieces facing the aisle, warm-white lighting, clean signage with one clear pitch, and samples that buyers can touch. Pack light: a portable mannequin like Nomad fits as airline carry-on and saves you the $200 to $400 round-trip cost of shipping a fiberglass form to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

What MAGIC Las Vegas is and who goes

MAGIC Las Vegas is the largest apparel trade show in the United States, hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center twice a year (February and August). It includes WWDMAGIC (womenswear), MAGIC Men's (menswear), Project (contemporary fashion), Sourcing at MAGIC (manufacturers and materials), and FN Platform (footwear). Across the four sub-shows, MAGIC typically draws 35,000 to 50,000 buyers and 3,000 to 4,000 exhibitor booths.

Most exhibitors are small to mid-sized fashion brands looking to sell wholesale to boutiques, department stores, and online retailers. Buyers walk the floor looking for new lines, fresh aesthetics, and brands they can stock for the upcoming season.

Booth basics: sizes, costs, and what's included

Standard MAGIC booth options:

• 10 by 10 booth (single): $3,500 to $6,000 for the show. Comes with pipe-and-drape walls, a single table, two chairs, an ID sign, and one trash can.
• 10 by 20 booth (double): $6,500 to $11,000. Same as single but doubled.
• 20 by 20 island booth: $14,000 to $20,000. No surrounding walls; open on all four sides.

None of the standard packages include mannequins. You bring your own, rent through the official show vendor (expensive: $250 to $400 per mannequin per show), or skip the mannequin entirely (not recommended).

Additional MAGIC-specific costs to budget for:

• Drayage (material handling from loading dock to booth): $50 to $150 per piece
• Electricity for lighting: $150 to $300
• Wi-Fi: $200 to $400
• Carpet (if not bringing your own): $100 to $250

Booth display strategy that works at MAGIC

Aisles at MAGIC move fast. Buyers walk a 6 to 8 foot booth in 3 seconds unless something stops them. Your job is to give them a reason to slow down.

The vendors who consistently book the most orders at MAGIC follow this pattern:

• One hero piece on a mannequin at the booth edge facing the aisle. This is the visual hook. Not a rack. Not a folded stack. A mannequin with your single best sample dressed correctly.
• A second mannequin inside the booth showing a coordinated look or alternate colorway. Helps buyers see range without overwhelming the entrance.
• A simple sign with your brand name, category, and one differentiator (e.g., "Bridal jumpsuits, sizes 0 to 24"). Buyers scan signs before they look at product.
• One touchable sample on a hanger or laid flat. Buyers want to feel fabric weight before they place orders.
• Order sheets and line cards within arm's reach. Don't bury them.
• Two chairs facing each other for buyer meetings. Not facing the aisle.

Mannequin choice for MAGIC vendors

MAGIC exhibitors fall into three categories on mannequin choice:

1. Vendors who rent on-site

The official show vendor offers fiberglass mannequins for $250 to $400 per show. This includes delivery to your booth, but most vendors find the available styles dated or off-brand. You also don't control sizing precisely.

2. Vendors who ship their own fiberglass mannequins

You can ship your own forms from your home or studio. Expect $80 to $180 each way per mannequin (UPS or FedEx ground), plus $50 to $100 in drayage at the Convention Center. Round trip per form: $210 to $460. For two mannequins, that's $420 to $920 just in shipping per show.

3. Vendors who fly with portable mannequins

Vendors with portable wood-ring mannequins like Nomad pack the form into a 17 by 12.5 by 8 inch carry case and bring it as airline carry-on. Total weight including the case: 12 lbs. No shipping cost. No drayage charge. The form sets up in under 2 minutes at the booth.

For a vendor doing two MAGIC shows per year, this saves roughly $500 to $1,500 annually compared to renting or shipping fiberglass. A Nomad pays for itself ($240) inside the first trip.

Lighting that makes mannequin displays pop at MAGIC

Convention center overhead lighting is harsh and flattens fabric texture. Most experienced exhibitors bring their own lighting.

• Warm-white LED clip lights (3000K to 3500K) clipped to the booth frame, pointed at the mannequin. Two per mannequin. Approx. $30 to $80 per light at Home Depot or Amazon.
• Avoid daylight bulbs (5000K and up). They wash out fabric color and make warm tones look cold.
• Side lighting, not overhead. Side lighting shows fabric drape and texture; overhead flattens it.
• Aim for the mannequin chest or face area to draw attention to the garment, not the floor.

Packing list for MAGIC Las Vegas

What experienced MAGIC vendors bring (besides their booth fee receipt):

• 1 to 2 portable mannequins (Nomad fits in carry-on)
• 2 to 4 hero pieces (steamed, on hangers in a garment bag)
• Line card and lookbook (50 to 100 copies)
• Business cards (500 minimum; you will give out more than you expect)
• Order forms (digital and paper backup)
• Square reader or other mobile POS
• Booth signage (printed at home and shipped ahead, or compact pop-up banner)
• Warm-white clip lights (2 to 4)
• Extension cord and power strip
• Steamer for refreshing samples
• Comfortable shoes (you will stand for 8 hours a day)
• Snacks and water (convention food is expensive and slow)
• Notebook for buyer notes

Cost savings: portable mannequin vs. on-site rental at MAGIC

A 5-show MAGIC cycle (over 2.5 years at 2 shows per year) breaks down like this:

• On-site rental: $300 per show x 5 shows = $1,500
• Ship your own fiberglass: $350 per round trip x 5 shows = $1,750
• Bring portable mannequin (Nomad): $240 one-time + $0 per show = $240

Savings over 5 MAGIC shows: $1,260 to $1,510. That's enough to cover an entire MAGIC booth fee for one show, or upgrade to better booth signage.

What about Project, ASD Market Week, and Sourcing at MAGIC?

All three are co-located at the Las Vegas Convention Center alongside MAGIC. Same booth pricing structure, same drayage costs, same lighting and display strategy. The differences:

• Project: More contemporary and streetwear-focused. Lots of menswear brands. Same mannequin needs as MAGIC.
• ASD Market Week: Broader product mix (gifts, accessories, novelty). Mannequins still useful for apparel exhibitors.
• Sourcing at MAGIC: Manufacturers and materials. Mannequins less critical here; physical samples and bolts of fabric are the focus.

After the show: follow-up that wins orders

Most MAGIC buyers don't place orders at the booth. They take your line sheet, your business card, and your line card home, then decide weeks later. Your follow-up is what wins the order.

• Send a personalized email within 48 hours referencing what you discussed.
• Include your line sheet and minimum order details.
• Share booth photos with the buyer in the frame if they took a picture.
• Follow up again at 2 weeks and 4 weeks if no response.
• For buyers who request samples, ship within 5 business days. Delays kill momentum.

What we recommend for MAGIC vendors

For any vendor exhibiting at MAGIC, the single biggest operational upgrade is switching from rented or shipped fiberglass mannequins to a portable mannequin you carry in your suitcase. The savings compound: every show you skip rental fees and shipping, you put the money toward better samples, signage, or booth space.

If you're exhibiting at MAGIC Las Vegas for the first time, shop the Nomad Mannequin (Female or Male, $240 each, with $30 off when you buy 2). For more on cost trade-offs, see our Renting vs. Buying ROI breakdown or the guide to flying with a mannequin through TSA.