Dallas Market Center Accepting Entries for The Next Big Thing
Dallas Market Center today announced it is accepting entries for The Next Big Thing – its national product search contest. Three finalists will show their products in front of more than 50,000 attendees during the Dallas Temp Show to be held June 20-23, 2013 (with staggered opening and closed dates) during the Total Home & Gift Market (June 19-25).
The contest is for anyone who has the next hot product – a product designer, entrepreneur, artist, stay-at-home mom, your next door neighbor, or any other creative mind. It offers the opportunity for those with innovative products to make their dreams a reality.
“The Next Big Thing has proven to be a high profile vehicle for introducing new home or gift products to a large audience,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “Finalists meet retailers from throughout the world and many have gone on to great success. Our marketplace welcomes fresh, innovative products through the contest and from all of our exhibiting companies.”
The Next Big Thing allows three contest finalists, whether companies or individuals, to show their product in front of domestic and international retail buyers at Dallas Market Center. Products should be new and unique and cannot have been shown in retail or wholesale prior to January 2012. Products can be the perfect gift, latest gadget, or a must-have home good.
The finished product should be distinctive with an outstanding design and concept. Applications can be downloaded at http://www.dallasmarketcenter.com/contests/thing. Entries should be submitted via email to thenextbigthing@mcmcmail.com or mailed to The Next Big Thing; c/o Dallas Market Center; 2100 Stemmons Freeway, MS 630; Dallas, Texas; 75207 no later than April 8, 2013.
The three finalists will be selected by a panel of industry experts as well as Dallas Market Center representatives and announced on April 24, 2013. The finalists will receive airfare and hotel for the Dallas Temp Show (June 20-23) to show their product in a complimentary, custom exhibit space.
Judges from consumer and trade media as well as industry experts will help select the winner based on the finalists’ products. In addition, the public will have a chance to vote to show their support for their favorite product/finalist on the Dallas Market Center Facebook page. The winner will be selected based on a combination of judges’ feedback and popular vote.
The Next Big Thing winner will be announced on Saturday, June 22 and receive a prize package worth more than $12,500 including a $2,500 cash prize. The package includes exhibit space at the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market in January 2014, a profile in Dallas Market Center’s award-winning custom publication, and consultations from industry experts regarding branding, marketing, public relations, visual merchandising and more.
For information on past winners or additional information on the contest, visit http://www.dallasmarketcenter.com/contests/thing or email thenextbigthing@mcmcmail.com.
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 78 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 http://www.dallasmarketcenter.com/.
