Nov 8, 2011

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market: New Resources for Inspiration in 2012

Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, today announced that the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market being held January 18-24, 2012 will provide new resources for buyers throughout its 5 million square foot campus, as well as special events including the 23rd annual ARTS Awards gala and the presentation of “Digital Day”—a full day of digital marketing mini-seminars. The Total Home & Gift Market is being held in conjunction with the Dallas Holiday & Home Expo (January 18-24), Dallas International Lighting Market (January 19-23), and FINDS Dallas Temp Show (January 20-23).

“January Market is an important buying opportunity for stores, as they restock following the holiday season and continue to buy for spring and summer,” said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center. “We look forward to beginning another successful year.”

New showrooms debuting during January Market include: Creative Connections by Teter’s, World Trade Center (WTC) 4-420/422; Entrada Collection, WTC 6-6470, JK Max, WTC 6-6282; Lounge Lizard, WTC 6-6262; Primitives by Kathy, WTC 3-334; Recesso Lighting, Trade Mart (TM) 3-3656.06; Rustic Lodge Furniture, WTC 6-6896; SLV Lighting, TM 3-3656.02; Star Fire Crystal, TM 4-4509; The Three Gentries, TM 2-2222; Wholesale Glass, International Trade Plaza (The Plaza) 1-1F466; and Willow Group, TM 2- 2901.

Expanded showrooms include: Adesso, TM 4-4906; Cal Lighting, TM 4-4323; Cathy & Company, TM 1- 1600; Cliff Price & Company, TM 1-1800; Edge Lighting, TM 4-4515; Elegant Lighting, TM 3-3050; Eurofase, TM 4-4012; Hinkley Lighting/Fredrick Ramond, TM 3-3210; Lite Source, TM 4-4804; Murray Feiss/Monte Carlo Fans, TM 4-4010; Next Generation, TM 1-1028; Park Hill Collection, WTC 3-318; Quoizel Lighting, TM 3-3200; The Royal Standard, WTC 2-239/TM 2-2030; Seasons Direct, The Plaza 1- 1F121; Source One Marketing, TM 1-1949; Varaluz, TM 3-3808; and Worldwide Lighting, TM 3-3420.

An exciting event taking place during the Total Home & Gift Market is the University Hall product design competition, sponsored by furniture designer Groovystuff. University Hall launched in December 2010 and is a competition that gives students from universities throughout the United States the opportunity to design new and innovative home and lighting products. The winner has their product manufactured and promoted by Groovystuff at marketplaces throughout the country. Students from Auburn University, University of North Carolina Greensboro and University of Georgia are currently competing for this year’s grand prize. The students’ designs will be displayed in WTC 6-6642 during January Market. Buyers and exhibitors are invited to come view the finalists’ products and those of past winners.

The 23rd annual ARTS Awards gala will take place on Saturday, January 21. The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry. The Academy of Achievement honor is awarded each year to recognize companies and/or individuals that have made significant contributions to the industry. This year’s recipient of the Academy of Achievement award is Allan H. Palecek, founder/CEO and lead designer of PALECEK. The awards will be presented at the ARTS Awards new location, the Hilton Anatole Hotel in a gala event including a cocktail party and dinner.

Dallas Market Center will present “Digital Day” on Friday, January 20. During this full day of educational mini-sessions, digital marketing experts from Constant Contact®, SnapRetail and a website consultant will teach the ins-and-outs of marketing tools including social media, email marketing, website optimization and more. Classes will be held for all levels of expertise — from true beginners to advanced users. Each session will include a question & answer portion for attendees who have additional questions. Classes will be held in the Internet Lounge, WTC 1-147A, behind Starbucks.

Highlights of the “Digital Day” mini-seminars include:
• “Five Tips for Effective Marketing on Facebook” at 9 a.m.; “Case Studies: Retailer Successes Using Social Media” at 10 a.m.; and “Taking on Twitter, One Post at a Time” at 11 a.m. presented by Crystal Vilkaitis, director of social media at SnapRetail
• “The Power of Email Marketing” at 1 p.m. and “Getting Started with Email Marketing” at 2 p.m. presented by Julie Niehoff, senior regional development director at Constant Contact®

Other January Market events and seminars include:
• “InStore LIVE! and WhizBang Retail Boot Camp: How to Make 2012 Your Best Year Ever” presented by InStore magazine and WhizBang! Training featuring Bob Negen on Wednesday, January 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in WTC 5-554; to register call 1-800-842-1660 or visit www.whizbangtraining.com/bootcamp
• “J’s Top Christmas Picks” presented by J Schwanke, AIFD, PFCI, AAF and floral expert, on Thursday, January 19 at 11 a.m. in The Plaza 1-1F423
• “Twelve for Twelve: A Dozen Trends You Can Bank On” presented by Mary Liz Curtin, owner of Leon & Lulu, on Thursday, January 19 at noon in WTC 5-554
• “Easy Flower Arrangements for the Outdoor Table” presented by Carol Caggiano, AIFD, PFCI, on Friday, January 20 at 10 a.m. in Outdoor Living, The Plaza 1-1F201
• “Walking Tour: FINDS Hot Picks” presented by Rawlins Gilliland, retail expert, on Friday, January 20 at 3 p.m.; meet on the WTC 13th floor
• “What To Do When the Customer Says No” presented by Norman Hamilton, publisher of Casual Living magazine, on Saturday, January 21 at 9 a.m. in the Seasons Gallery
• “Christmas in the White House: My 30 Years” presented by Nancy Clarke, former chief floral designer for the White House, on Saturday, January 21 at noon in the Seasons Gallery A complete list of all special events and seminars is available on the Dallas Market Center website. Also, keep up-to-date on market information visit Dallas Market Center on Facebook and Twitter.

Make plans now to attend the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, January 18-24, 2012. Attendees may contact Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel®, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men’s, western, women’s and children’s apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 78 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com.