Jan 26, 2023

January Total Home & Gift Market sets exhibitor records

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market reported a year-over-year attendance increase, especially among new buyers and retailers from key U.S. regions as well as internationally, according to Dallas Market Center.

The organization said it was its largest January show in more than ten years and experienced steady order-writing among its thousands of exhibitors, including hundreds of first-time participants.

Buyer attendance was ahead of the record-breaking January 2022 show as retailers and interior designers from all 50 states attended as well as international buyers from Canada, Central America and South America. According to Dallas Market Center, the number of buyers visiting for the first time outpaced pre-pandemic shows. Attendance also widened geographically: buyers from the western U.S. grew over last January’s show, and attendance from international buyers also increased.

“The January show continued our momentum as more buyers and exhibitors choose to do business in Dallas,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Our numbers show that buyers arrived steadily throughout the week, we expanded our reach, and we experienced a second wave of buyers arriving for additional trade events during the second week of the year. Most importantly, we saw consistent order writing approaching or surpassing our record-setting show last January, especially among exhibitors who offered new products or unique items. I want to thank our retailers and designers for choosing Dallas and creating a great first market of the year.”

Among the market attendees were influencers from gift and home décor who descended upon Dallas, including Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley, Tamara Day, Adam Glassman from Oprah Daily, the Antiques Diva Toma Clark Haines and a long roster of top interior designers, including Corey Damon Jenkins, Barry Goralnick, Charles Pavarini and others.

“I love finding new vendors, looking at what’s new in the market, and connecting with a lot of people in the industry,” Filicia, celebrity designer, said.

Added Day, star of Bargain Mansions from The Magnolia Network: “There is so much one of a kind and unique. It’s hard not to stop in every single space.”

In addition to influencers and thousands of independent retailers, the buying power from major stores and buying groups added to the marketplace energy and commerce. Attendees included Army & Air Force Exchange Services, At Home, Brookshires, Buc-ees, Choctaw Casino, Dillard’s, Dillard’s eComm, Harry & David, HOM Furniture / Gabberts, JC Penney, Landry’s, Lily Rain, Michael’s, Neiman Marcus, Omni Hotels, Reasor’s, Saadia Group / Lord & Taylor, Silver Dollar City, The Container Store, The Paper Store, Tuesday Morning, Winstar Casino, United Supermarkets and World Market.

More than 300 new and expanding permanent showrooms and Temps debuted during the show, together with special exhibits, events, and seminars.

Angela Schmook with multi-line gift showroom RoadRunners commented: “Going into January Market we were cautious with our projections. January 2022 was extraordinary, and the early market dates were both factors of consideration; however, we experienced strong traffic and successfully exceeded 2022.”

“We were very pleased with the results of the Dallas show,” said Brad Gullion, vice president of sales and marketing with Melrose International. “Last year, we set a sales record that we thought would be very difficult to attain this year. We were just a few points down from that and 25% above 2019 totals. Both traffic and show orders were up significantly. Buyers were all positive about both Melrose and the Dallas Market.”