May 2, 2017

Dallas Market Center debuts Market 360

Dallas Market Center, a business-to-business marketplace and technology leader connecting its customers with the latest products on-site and meaningful business content through online channels, announces the debut of Market 360, an interactive market experience for June Total Home & Gift Market (June 21-27, 2017) and Lightovation – Dallas International Lighting Show (June 21-24, 2017). Market 360 will connect attendees via new and existing media platforms and will provide custom content to market attendees in order to inspire and educate.

Market 360 programming will be available via Dallas Market Center’s existing social media channels as well as courtesy of on-site monitors and will include real-time and on-demand streaming content of market events and exclusive reports available on desktop, tablet, or mobile device.

“We are transforming the market experience from independent to collaborative, from anonymous to personal and from centralized to customer-driven,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “The latest statistics show that 90% of retail shoppers use a digital device while shopping in-store. In a similar spirit, we know that buyers come to market using a digital device to make their experience more successful. This blended experience of digital and in-person is not the future; it is the technologically enabled present.”

Market 360 programming will include the following:

DMC TV includes a new live broadcast morning show taking place Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9:00 a.m. in the atrium of the World Trade Center. Produced “The Today Show” style and hosted by Dallas Market Center’s Kadee Coffman, the show will feature special guests and segments previewing market events, trends, personalities, and the latest market news. DMC TV will broadcast via social media. In addition, exclusive DMC TV video content will be broadcast on more than 100 video monitors throughout campus.

The Podcast Studio, a new market event, will take place in partnership with James Swan, well-known host of the Million Dollar Decorating podcast. James will record his must-subscribe podcast while at market, and will interview special guest Greg O’Neal. Greg is the Chief Collaboration Officer for Cur8, an online marketplace debuting this summer as a comprehensive destination for “what’s next” in design including smart, healthy, socially responsible products. James has interviewed hundreds of thought leaders with a goal of entertaining, educating, and inspiring. The Million Dollar Decorating podcast is available on milliondollardecorating.com and via platforms like iTunes and Stitcher.

Continuous engagement will take place via Dallas Market Center’s industry-leading social media platforms, blog, apps, and daily buyer emails:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Snapchat will reach more than 100,000 followers with exclusive and shared content including Facebook Live broadcasts, new exhibitor highlights, important trends, and market discoveries.

The DMC Daily Dose is a dynamic online digest of news and reports from Dallas Market Center. For the June shows the blog will feature enhanced content spotlighting new resources, trend reports, sneak peeks, and must-see showrooms.

The Dallas Market Center app will deliver a complete guide to the show including updated exhibitor listings, events, maps, and local dining options.

The Lightovation App engages the lighting industry with posts, events, exhibitor listings and activities specific to Lightovation, the largest lighting trade event in North America and the primary buying venue for lighting retailers.

The Market Morning Report will be delivered to the inboxes of all market attendees via email each morning and will offer special content and links to Market 360 programming.

The backbone of the Market 360 experience is enhanced technology inside the 5 million square foot marketplace, thus providing customers with the ability to quickly access, view, and share more content. In the last year, Dallas Market Center has increased total bandwidth by 250 percent, allowing for faster data rates including streaming; increased its total wireless access points by more than 25 percent; upgraded backend system to facilitate seamless roaming; and has worked with cellular carriers to upgrade their onsite networks to LTE thus improving service.

“Market 360 is a dynamic opportunity for customers to access and share content across multiple platforms that improves the at-market experience and provides inspiration, ideas, and business tools that may be immediately implemented by our customers,” said Allen Davis, executive vice president of marketing. “We are leading by example within the fast-paced and challenging world of the digital customer experience now expected inside retail environments.”