The Winter 2024 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market experienced a dramatic increase in buyers attending for the first time, especially from the western U.S. states, according to Dallas Market Center.

The number of buyers attending for the first time was at its second-highest level in five years; attendance by buyers from the western U.S. including California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington was up 27% compared with January 2023; southwest U.S. buyer attendance including from Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico was up 30%.

“We are seeing an acceleration of buyers choosing Dallas especially from the western U.S.,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “This expansion of our buyer base began during the pandemic and quickened in January 2024 as independent retailers and sales representatives determined where they wanted to conduct business. Our January post-market buyer survey shows that retailers are seeking a single marketplace that best presents a wide range of trending products inside an inspiring and efficient marketplace. They also want to attend trade events in a city that offers lower travel costs and is safe.”

A recent Gallup poll ranked Dallas as the safest among sixteen large U.S. cities. The Dallas area is the headquarters for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, resulting in more daily non-stop flights at competitive rates, and the city is #1 in the U.S. in the number of new hotel projects underway.

Tens of thousands of buyers from across the country attended the January seven-day trade event that welcomed single and multilocation retail, interior designers, buying groups and major stores. The marketplace debuted more than 30 new or expanded showrooms across its campus and hosted the largest presentation of Temps in more than ten years,  according to Dallas Market Center.

“We noticed a significant number of new buyers from the West, which is great to see,” said John Keiser, CEO of OneCoast. The company opened a new, flagship showroom on the first floor of the World Trade Center.

Added Diverse Marketing’s CEO, Wes Hardin: “We’re impressed with the number of new West Coast stores, especially California and Washington, in attendance. There is good energy and positive momentum in Dallas.”