Apr 10, 2023

Dallas March Market hosts record number of temporary exhibitors

The recently held March Market in Dallas united brands with retail buyers eager to place orders for the coming season, according to Dallas Market Center.

The March 21-24 trade event was a combined market when Apparel & Accessories Market took place concurrently with Total Home & Gift Market.

Retailers reviewed new collections and top brands at the event, a marketplace for women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, accessories and footwear. Complementing the fashion resources were hundreds of showrooms of gift, gourmet, home décor, holiday and more.

Among the buyers attending the market were thousands of independent boutiques as well as major stores and multi-location retailers including Dillard’s, Neiman Marcus, Julian Gold, JC Penney, Hemline, Magnolia Market, Buckle, Von Maur, Apricot Lane, Buc-ee’s, Pink Lily, Monkee’s, Scheels, Tylers, At Home, Hudson Group, AAFES, NRS, Michael’s, Omni Hotels & Reports, and Good Morning America–Steals and Deals.

Adding to the traffic were attendees of the Boutique Hub Summit, which was held at Dallas Market Center and welcomed more than 500 retail buyers to introduce methods being used by top boutique owners, show how the best online boutiques are generating traffic, and demonstrate the best methods to drive conversions and sales.

“This show was about quality of brands and quality of buyers,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “March is a unique show that attracts leading fashion retailers plus top gift stores. Our post-show surveys show that top buyers are choosing Dallas because they can easily discover what’s trending and find better merchandise.”

Buyers visiting the show experienced a record number of temporary exhibitors, according to show executives, including a growing number of footwear brands on the 10th floor including Gabor, All Black, Nero Giardini, Frankie4, Lady Couture, Think!, Arcopedico and Biza.

Also on the 10th floor, the showroom and trade experience THE GOODS by Brand Assembly welcomed buyers to their 17,000 square foot space showcasing dozens of exceptional and elevated brands in apparel, accessories, footwear, gift, home décor, and western. Stand out brands included Alp N Rock, Stoney Clover Lane, Intentionally Blank, Whimsy and Row, Mohinders, Sierra Winter Jewelry and Spiritual Gangster.

“We rang in our March Show at THE GOODS by Brand Assembly with a wide breadth of inspiring brands — from all things contemporary, western, accessories, beauty, footwear and more, ” said Hillary France, CEO and co-founder of Brand Assembly. “Both buyers and brands engaged with dynamic activations — from permanent jewelry, live hat-making, lipstick color-matching, herbal tea tastings, to smudge-stick crafting — and enjoyed a curated, boutique-like experience at the show. We’ll be back from June 27-29 for Apparel Market with a variety of exciting brands, and we can’t wait to be back in our Dallas home on the 10th floor!”

On the 15th floor debuting in a permanent showroom was WBC Clothing from Los Angeles in WTC 15442 representing brands including Brave + True, Gold + Stone, Holiday, and Talisman. Expanding on the 15th floor was Style Consortium (WTC 15018), which features brands including Hale Bob, Bel Kazan, Caryn Vallone, Fresh Laundry, River & Sky, Skemo, StitchDrop, Sundown Lounge, Tractr, and WordsCount.

“The retail mood is still positive, which is good news, and we saw many of our best customers,” said Doris D’Angelo, owner of D’Elementstyle showroom.

Gift and home showrooms were also open for the show, including several new and expanding showrooms that debuted in January in the Trade Mart, World Trade Center, and IHDC.

New showrooms in the Trade Mart included Kimberly Wahlberg Company (TM 2242) Giftcraft (TM 2727, TM 2741); Reason and Remedy (TM 2353); and Seda France in the 2301 Collection (TM 2301-13). In the World Trade Center, Regency International (WTC 407) has a new showroom on the 4th floor; Kalalou expanded to feature florals in Botanica by Kalalou (WTC 360); wrought-iron chandelier and furniture manufacturer Ashore (WTC 531, TM 3383) has relocated and expanded. Importer of French and Italian ephemera Monahan Papers (WTC 251) has a new showroom; and home décor destination; and Gabby (WTC 150) expanded their first-floor location on the atrium. In the Interior Home + Design Center (IHDC), recently added in The Gallery are ceramics tabletop leader Arte Italica (IHDC 1D202-GL24), Palmwood furniture builder Pacific Green (IHDC 1D301-GL110/118), hardwood flooring at PID Floors (IHDC 1D202-GL78), high-end textiles from V Rugs & Home (IHDC 1D301-GL116), and boutique wallpaper that turns heads at Wall Snobs (IHDC 1D202-GL12).

Market events

In addition to new and expanded exhibitors, buyers attended a variety of industry, social and hospitality events.

Ashley Alderson, founder of The Boutique Hub, hosted two events including seminar and gift showroom walking tour. The all-market party and fashion show on Tuesday evening presented a 45-minute fashion show with the theme of Grand Romance featuring on-trend looks from the community of exhibitors.

The next markets in Dallas take place in June including Apparel & Accessories Market (June 27-30), KidsWorld (June 21-27), Total Home & Gift Market (June 21-27), and Lightovation (June 21-24).