Feb 4, 2013

High Energy & Strong Attendance in Dallas Signal Success

Dallas Market Center today announced that its recent Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, held Jan. 16-22, had high energy and strong attendance with the largest number of new buyers in attendance since 2008, the biggest Dallas Temp Show in 10 years, and a successful launch of the Total Housewares & Gourmet Market. In addition, buyers experienced the convenience of the increased Wi-Fi on campus and the user-friendly, updated Dallas Market App.

“Dozens of new showrooms, coupled with a significant growth in our temporaries throughout the campus, delivered one of our strongest markets on record,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “It was a great way to start 2013. Retailers showed up in large numbers early and there was definitely a buzz through the final day of Market.”

The Market showed significant double-digit increases in attendance from the Midwest, as well as increases from the West, Mid-America, Southeast and Northeast. Buyers attended from all 50 states and 54 countries and participated in more than 100 special events, hospitalities and seminars. Hundreds of buyers joined keynote speaker John Gidding – designer, architect and host of HGTV’s “Curb Appeal: The Block” as he shared examples and secrets to boosting curb appeal using decorative accessories.

The Market, held in conjunction with the Dallas Temp Show, Dallas International Lighting Market and Dallas Holiday & Home Expo, debuted more than 60 new companies and 25 expanded showrooms with fresh products throughout the 5-million-square-foot campus. The Dallas Temp Show soared with the debut of Boutique2Go, Luxury Home FINDS and the newly renamed Vintage Fashion & Gift, as well as a range of 250 new companies across 21 categories.

January marked the launch of the Total Housewares & Gourmet Market featuring an array of new exhibitors, premier lines and 10 celebrity chef appearances at The Culinary Stage including renowned Australian Chef, author and TV personality Curtis Stone. Housewares Hotspot ran daily in the Trade Mart and featured product demonstrations from a variety of resources within the building. The Marketplace has grown its housewares and gourmet marketplace by more than 25 percent over the past year, and the launch continues to strengthen product offerings and further establishes Dallas as one of the top gourmet products destinations.

“This was one of our best shows – our order-writing was practically non-stop. Buyers were very responsive to our new product offerings and ready to place orders.” – Chris Farris, owner, Farrisilk, Inc.

“We had a great market and are so excited about our future in Dallas. The Market Center’s staff and fellow exhibitors were nice and helpful and everyone worked as a team.” – Teena Davidson, vice president, Pebblehill

“Dallas is centrally located and easy to get to. There’s a great selection of showrooms in the marketplace with large hallways that are easy to shop.” – Danny McDonald, vice president, Regency International

“Our show has been great! We passed our sales goals and opened up new stores. Next time, we’ll need a bigger booth!” – Edward Sejzer, Michal’s Imports in Red Haute FINDS

“There’s a buzz here. There’s excitement, and of course great people.” – Jeff Dross, corporate director, education and industry trends, Kichler Lighting

“Dallas is a great Market, and it is the easiest marketplace out there to work because of the way it’s designed and laid out. The permanent spaces are gorgeous… [Dallas] is bringing the customers here, and that’s where we want to be – where the customer is.” – Charles McKinney, Texas sales manager, SFERRA

“Dallas is a great location, and many of our customers enjoy the building and the ease of use that the marketplace offers.” – Rex Yoakley, vice president of sales, IMAX Corporation

“This is the best show I’ve had since 2004!” – Kim Ferguson, owner, Kilee Distributing in Gift FINDS

“We had an awesome show with consistent traffic throughout. It’s been a real pleasure. Dallas is very exhibitor friendly and we will be in Dallas for years.” – Kelly Lindberg, owner, White River Designs in Table & Houseware FINDS

“[We had] lots of new accounts and re-orders from last year. Our product was well received and we had lots of positive comments.” Mary Ragon, owner, Ragon House in Christmas & Floral FINDS

“We’ve had an amazing show with lots of repeat business, new clients and great feedback. The Dallas show is very well organized.” – Lena Daniels, owner, Sofia’s Rustic Furniture in Home & Hill Country FINDS

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/.