Dallas Market Center presents a wide range of inspiring and educational events during its upcoming Total Home & Gift Market, Jan. 8-14, 2025.

The headline event open to all buyers is “Speaking of Retail: A Collective of Conversations,” taking place Jan. 8-10 and presented by Dallas Market Center, Coco & Dash, and ART. This engaging conversation series features industry experts directing honest conversations during three sessions over three days. The sessions are open to all market attendees and will take place in the new Textile Salon, IHDC 2F215. Lunch will be provided. An RVSP for this speaking series is highly encouraged.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, noon-1p.m., IHDC 2F215 

Family Ties, Navigating Family Dynamics in Business Ownership

Panelists – Teddie Garrigan and Courtney Garrigan/Coco & Dash; Kathy Adams, Kelly Clark, Kristy Adams/Kathy Adams Furniture

Beneficial information for every business owner, experts share insights on leveraging strengths and resolving conflicts while exploring the unique challenges and benefits of working with family.

Thursday, Jan. 9, noon-1p.m., IHDC 2F215 

Visual Storytelling, Merchandising & Creating Spaces that Engage

Panelists – Laura Hodges/Domain by Laura Hodges Studio; Kenneth Ludwig/Kenneth Ludwig 

Moderators – Teddie Garrigan/Courtney Garrigan

Focusing on the art of using design to tell a brand’s story and captivate customers, experts discuss strategies for creating immersive environments through thoughtful displays, layout, and decor.

Friday, Jan. 10, noon-1p.m., IHDC 2F215 

Studio to Storefront, Making the Journey from Design to Brick & Mortar

Panelists – Susan Hoechner/Barbara Stewart Interiors; Jamie Merida/Bountiful Home 

Moderators – Teddie Garrigan/Courtney Garrigan

Experts share experiences and strategies for overcoming challenges, attracting customers, and balancing a studio-based design business with the demands of a physical store environment.

Other events highlights include the following. Visit the Dallas Market Center website to view a full schedule of events. Note that buyers new to Dallas are invited to the DMC Scoop taking place Wednesday to Saturday at 9am in the World Trade Center atrium. As well, open daily is the Buyers Lounge on WTC 13, the Designers’ Lounge in the new Textile Salon, IHDC 2F214, and the New Product Gallery on the WTC 12th floor.

Tuesday, Jan. 7

• 4 p.m. | Interior Designer VIP Preview of LUXE Design – TM – Atrium

Dallas Market Center invites Interior Designers for an exclusive preview of LUXE Design in the Trade Mart Pavilion. This juried collection of temporaries features DMC’s most prestigious, curated collection of high design home accents, specialty gift & tabletop items. Enjoy drinks, light bites, fun giveaways, and discover unique luxury items to complete every lifetsyle design.

Wednesday, Jan. 8

• 10 a.m. | WTC 11 Temps Launch Party – WTC 11 Temps
  Join us to celebrate the premiere of the NEW home of fashion during Total Home & Gift Temps on WTC 11, showcasing BOUTIQUE, a curated collection of design-led jewelry, accessories & fashion, alongside Young Contemporary Apparel and Jewelry & Fashion Accessories. Discover your new destination for style and sophistication!
• Noon | Taste of 12 at 12: Gourmet Category & Wine Tasting – WTC 12 Gourmet Temps
  Join us on WTC 12 at 12pm to savor the delicacies of the Gourmet Temps and pair tastings with our complimentary selection of red and white wines. 
• 1 p.m. | Temps Power Hour – WTC 12 Temps
  Join us for swag bags, a DJ, and giveaways including hotel nights, American Express gift cards, restaurant gift cards, and an iPad.
• 3 pm | Bubbles & Baubles – WTC 7
  Visit the bar to grab a glass of champagne and a bag for all your SWAG, then visit participating showrooms to fill it with exclusive gifts (available to the first 50 Buyers in line).
• 3:30 p.m. | Cocktail Chats with Heart on Main Street: The Power of Photography to Drive Sales – WTC 12 Temps
  Heart on Main Street is excited to bring you an exclusive, hands-on session with Janzen Tew of Denim & Velvet, where we’ll explore the essentials of photography and lighting to elevate your brand’s marketing. Heart on Main Street, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting independent retailers, is committed to providing tools and resources small business owners need to thrive. This seminar is part of their ongoing effort to help local retailers harness the power of branding and marketing in today’s visual-first world.
• 6 p.m. | Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA) party –  WTC 15, D15strict Lounge
  Networking event open to GHTA members and guests with RSVP.

Thursday, Jan. 9

• 10:30 a.m. | East Coast VS West Coast: Reality Wars with Jill Zarin & Sabrina Soto – Texas Showdown – WTC 1- Atrium
  Experience an exciting style showdown as design icons Jill Zarin and Sabrina Soto, moderated by Johnathan Miller of JSquared Design, explore East Coast vs. West Coast aesthetics. Sponsored by Unique Loom and Dallas Market Center, the panel will highlight their rug collections and together, they’ll explore what it means to meet in the middle—in Texas style. Attendees will walk away inspired by regional design influences and the power of rugs to anchor and elevate any space.
• Noon | Taste of 12 at 12: Gourmet Category & Wine Tasting – WTC 12 Gourmet Temps
  Join us on WTC 12 at 12pm to savor the delicacies of the Gourmet Temps and pair tastings with our complimentary selection of red and white wines. 
• 1 p.m. | Temps Power Hour – WTC 11 Temps
  Join us for swag bags, a DJ, and giveaways including hotel nights, American Express gift cards, restaurant gift cards, and an iPad.
• 2 p.m. | Patti Carpenter Reports & IHDC Home Accents Trend Tour – The Textile Salon, IHDC 2F215
  Get inspired and informed with Patti Carpenter, Global Trend Ambassador, as she reports on color, materials, prints, and surface design in the US Home Decor market for 2025 and beyond. Join her after the presentation at 3p.m. for a tour of the Interior Home & Design Center as Patti introduces you to key showroom contacts and contextualizes her talk by showcasing trending Home Accent product in 2025.
• 3:30 pm | Cocktail Chats with Heart on Main Street: AI 101 for Independent Retailers. Location – WTC 12 Temps. Join Heart on Main Street, a dedicated non-profit organization focused on helping independent retailers thrive in an ever-changing marketplace, for an informative seminar on demystifying the power of artificial intelligence (AI) for small business owners. During this exclusive Cocktail Chat, The Gerson Companies will dive into how AI can transform your retail business, making it more efficient, data-driven, and competitive without a huge tech budget or complex systems.
• 5 p.m. | Fireside Chat with ARTS Awards Product Designer Finalists & Sharon Davis – IHDC 2F212
  Kick off the excitement for the 35th Annual ARTS Awards with an exclusive panel discussion featuring product design finalists who are shaping the home accents industry. Designers David Kitts, Dann Foley, Breegan Jane, and Lisa McDennon will share their insights on design trends, sources of inspiration, and what excites them about the future of product design. Moderated by Sharon Davis, this lively discussion will also include revealing the unique perspective and personality behind each designer’s work. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with industry leaders ahead of awards night!
• 6 p.m. | 35th ARTS Awards Gallery Preview Party – IHDC 2F212
  Join us the night before the 35th Annual ARTS Awards gala for an exclusive Preview Party, celebrating the remarkable talent of this year’s honorees. Step into a curated gallery showcasing standout products from our manufacturing and product design finalists, offering a unique preview of the innovation and craftsmanship that define the home industry. Mingle with finalists, industry leaders, and fellow guests as you explore these exceptional pieces up close, all in anticipation of the awards celebration. 

Friday, Jan. 10

• 9:30 a.m. | DMC Live Podcast Studio: Redesigning Life with Sabrina Soto – WTC 12 Temps
  Join us live from market for a live recording of Redesigning Life, where TV personality and designer Sabrina Soto hosts open, honest conversations on life, growth, and purpose. This special market edition will feature insights and stories from top designers, retailers, and gift exhibitors, bringing inspiration and a fresh perspective on redesigning life and business. Come for motivation, connection, and a reminder that we can all use a little redesign sometimes.
• 10 a.m. | Build Your Dream House with Tan France & Cara Fox – WTC 1 – Atrium
  Join iconic fashion designer, entrepreneur, and television personality, Tan France for an exclusive conversation with renowned interior designer Cara Fox, of The Fox Group, as they discuss the exciting journey of building Tan’s dream home in the picturesque landscape of Utah. In this intimate, behind-the-scenes event, Tan & Cara share their design preferences, vision, and the highs and lows of working to create a space that perfectly reflects his personality, lifestyle, and love for classic elegance with a modern twist.
• 11 a.m. | LUXE Design Brunch – TM Atrium
  Enjoy brunch bites, a seasonal spritz, and exploration of this juried collection of temporaries featuring DMC’s most prestigious, curated collection of high design home accents, specialty gift & tabletop items.
• Noon | Taste of 12 at 12: Gourmet Category & Wine Tasting – WTC 12 Gourmet Temps
  Join us on WTC 12 at 12pm to savor the delicacies of the Gourmet Temps and pair tastings with our complimentary selection of red and white wines. 
• 1 p.m. | Temps Power Hour – Market Hall
  Join us for swag bags, a DJ, and giveaways including hotel nights, American Express gift cards, restaurant gift cards, and an iPad.
• 1:30 p.m.| Fireside Chat with ARTS Awards Interior Design Finalists – WTC 1-Atrium
  Join moderator Patti Carpenter, global trend forecaster, in dialog with ARTS Awards finalists including Ginger Curtis, Christi Barbour, Corey Damen Jenkins, and Christopher Todd. 
• 3:30 p.m. | Cocktail Chats with Gifts & Decorative Accessories: Winning Retail Strategies with Former Retailer Excellence Award Finalists
  Lenise Willis of Gifts & Decorative Accessories provides insights into the upcoming Retailer Excellence Awards in June 2025 and what makes for a winning nomination. She will be joined by past REA Finalists to discuss some of their best retail tips, tricks, and strategies. The group will share advice and success stories regarding store events, social media and digital promotions, visual merchandising, and upsell techniques. Panelists:
  • Abbie Tracy – Apple Blvd. | Frisco, Texas 
  • Beth Rich – Mix It Up Gift and Mix It Up Home | Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• 6 p.m. | The 35th ARTS Awards Gala – Hilton Anatole
  Annual event honoring the best in the business of home including retailers, sales representatives, manufacturers, designers and special awards. RSVP and ticket required.