Jan 15, 2011

Dallas Market Center Welcomes Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Star & Dozens of Designers and Artists

Dallas, TX – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale resource, today announced that dozens of artists, designers and special guests will be attending next week’s Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 19-25). Buyers will have the chance to meet those behind their favorite products and learn from their expertise.

“Hosting artists, designers and special guests allows attendees to develop a personal connection to the resources we offer,” said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center. “It’s great to hear about the inspiration behind the products seen throughout our campus.”

Ed Sanders, star of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, will give two educational presentations during the Dallas International Lighting Market (January 20-24). The presentations will be held on Friday, January 21 in Kichler Lighting, Trade Mart #4103. He will present “Make It Personal: The Ultimate Customer Connection” at 2 p.m. and “Make It Fun: Ed Sanders Shares His Personal Story” at 5:30 p.m. Sanders will also be available to meet with fans and sign autographs after each presentation.

Another appearance during January Market will be from Caroline Rose Hunt, one of the founders of Lady Primrose, Trade Mart #2153. Hunt will attend the party celebrating the 20th anniversary of Lady Primrose in its showroom on Friday, January 21 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Founder of Peru Paper Company, Grace Bateman, will be available to speak with attendees during the FINDS Dallas Temp Show (January 21-24), World Trade Center 12th floor, Booth #3519. Peru Paper Company produces and sells high-quality, handmade stationery and paper products from recycled materials, employing underprivileged and marginalized women in Peru who would otherwise not have the opportunity to make a livable wage to support their families.

Bateman is joining jewelry designer Elizabeth Carlock in FINDS. Carlock’s charity collection benefits the Akola Project, an initiative of the Ugandan American Partnership Organization (UAPO), and Reconciliation Outreach, a Dallas-based organization for men and women who struggle with alcohol, drug abuse and/or homelessness.

DEMDACO, Trade Mart #1418, will host several artist meet and greets during the Total Home & Gift Market:

• Marjolein Bastin of Nature’s Journey on Friday, January 21 from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Lori Siebert of Glass Fusion on Friday, January 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Holly Moody of Colorful Devotions and Lisa Frost of Lisa Frost Collection on Saturday, January 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Susan Lordi of Willow Tree on Saturday, January 22 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Caffco International, Trade Mart #2232, will have three artists appearing in their showroom:

• Mandy Bagwell, designer of ceramic dinnerware, and Dana Wittmann, designer of ceramic serving pieces, Friday, January 21 through Saturday, January 22
• Donnie Sasser, painter of angels and crosses on canvas, Thursday, January 20 through Saturday, January 22

Seasonal Whispers, World Trade Center #13727, will celebrate the grand opening of its showroom throughout Market. Both Yafit Goldfarb, creative director and CEO of Seasonal Whispers, and Esther Lixenberg, designer for Seasonal Whispers, will be in the showroom to meet with buyers.

Other highlights include:

• Mark Landres, designer for Burton James Upholstery, will be in Ambari, World Trade Center #11019, the afternoon of Thursday, January 20 and all day Friday, January 21.
• Artist Jay Hylton will be at the 10th anniversary celebration for The Faith Collection, Trade Mart #2050, on Friday, January 21 at 2 p.m.
• A meet and greet with Ricardo Zuniga, owner and designer of Leaders in Leather, World Trade Center #13727, will be held throughout Market. The showroom will provide complimentary food and live music.

Make plans now to attend the next Dallas Total Home & Gift Markets: March 24-27 and June 22-28, 2011. Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

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 www.dallasmarketcenter.com.