Oct 9, 2013

Dallas Launches Christmas HQ Brand Initiative

Dallas Market Center today announced the launch of “Christmas HQ,” a strategic brand initiative to promote Dallas as the Christmas Headquarters with its expansive collection of Christmas products across its marketplace. The official launch of Christmas HQ will be at the January Total Home & Gift Market, January 15-21, 2014.

“If you’re in the business of buying or selling Christmas, you have to be in Dallas. We have hundreds of companies in more than 800,000 square feet of exhibit space that offer Christmas product,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “The more than 16,000 buyers who represent stores that carry Christmas product recognize how important it is for their fourth quarter, and in many cases, year-round business.”

“With the National Retail Federation reporting that U.S. holiday retail sales were almost $580 billion in 2012 and projected to be $602 billion this year, Dallas is responding with unmatched resources – many exclusive to our marketplace – as well as innovative product and inspirational merchandising,” said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center.

Christmas HQ will involve a sweeping marketing communications program to highlight Christmas exhibitors and their products, provide trend and business education at market and via dallasmarketcenter.com/ChristmasHQ, engage a Christmas community through social media with Christmas manufacturers and importers, wholesalers and retailers, product developers, event planners and visual merchandisers. The social media program will include “tweet-up” sessions with Christmas trend watchers and industry leaders as well as Christmas trends and inspiration highlighted on Pinterest.

Christmas HQ will be introduced at January Market:

Christmas-themed displays, including a decorated 16-ft. Nature’s Own® Fraser Fir from Santa’s Own® – Christmas Tree Company, the most life-like commercial tree ever produced, seen for the first time ever in the World Trade Center Hall of Nations

More than 20 product demonstrations on the new Christmas HQ Design Stage in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart (1st floor) and on the Design Stage in the World Trade Center

Christmas party in the International Trade Plaza Thursday, January 16 at 6 p.m. At the event the Holiday & Decorative Association will announce the winners of its National Christmas Tree Design Competition, awarding $8,000 in cash prizes.

Christmas HQ “Best of Show” award to the showroom with the best Christmas merchandising

Special “Holiday Lane” next to the Christmas & Floral section of the Dallas Temp Show, with exhibitors giving demonstrations and distributing incentives and awards

Programs on the Design Stages will include Christmas Tree Trimming Techniques, Christmas Entertaining and Holiday Gift Wrap with J Schwanke AIFD, PFCI, AAF; Personalizing Christmas with Coton Colors; The Workmanship of Fontanini Nativities with Roman, Inc.; Holiday Floral Arrangements with Matt Wood AIFD, Color Influences of the Season with Sandy Schroeck AIFD, PFCI, CFD and much more.

Buyers may take advantage of a special negotiated rate of $119 per night (single/double) with free parking and complimentary shuttle service to and from market at the Crowne Plaza Downtown by calling Market Travel at 214-744-7444 and mentioning Christmas HQ. Hotel and air travel information is available at dallasmarketcenter.com/travel.

For more information, visit dallasmarketcenter.com/christmashq. Also, keep up to date on Christmas HQ by engaging with Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter (#ChristmasHQ) or by visiting Know It All.

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 85 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 dallasmarketcenter.com.