June Total Home & Gift Market draws a fresh wave of new buyers to Dallas
Dallas Market Center closed out the June Total Home & Gift Market — held June 24-30, alongside KidsWorld and The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market — with a strong rise in new buyers. New company registrations rose 14.5% year-over-year, with registrations for Total Home & Gift Market specifically up 15.9%, as retailers and interior designers from many parts of the country discovered Dallas for the first time.
The Texas-Oklahoma-Louisiana-Arkansas (TOLA) region remained the market’s home base, representing 77.9% of total new company registrations. But the sharpest growth came from further afield, with new companies from the Southwest, West, and Midwest all up compared to June 2025, evidence that Dallas is steadily expanding its reach as a national sourcing destination.
“Retail has shown remarkable resilience, and the businesses that are thriving are the ones staying connected — to trends, to vendors, and to each other,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “This June market told an encouraging story. Buyers came back, and just as many came to Dallas for the first time. New retailers from the Midwest, the Southwest and the West are choosing Dallas because they can source across categories on one campus, and that kind of growth tells us we’re building the right market for where retail is headed.”
Exhibitors across the marketplace echoed that new-buyer energy in their own results. Cynde Stewart, president of RAZ Imports, said: “We leave the Dallas Summer Market encouraged by another strong show, with year-over-year sales growth and an increase in new customers giving us great momentum heading into the season.”
J. Wesley Hardin Sr., CEO of Diverse Companies, was similarly enthusiastic, calling it “…the biggest Dallas Gift Show of all time!”
“Everybody comes to Dallas. You are going to see a lot of great stores that you probably have heard of, that you know and love, but you’re also going to get a lot of new customers,” said Tart by Taylor’s Brooke Kennedy. “We are constantly opening new accounts here.”
Oprah Daily’s Adam Glassman commented on his experience at the June show and the unique reasons why a number of exhibitors stood out: “As I’ve walked Dallas Market, the showrooms that stand out are the ones that give buyers a reason to come back and see something new. Whether it’s updated merchandising, new brand introductions, or a fresh presentation, those changes make a difference. Those are the kinds of experiences that capture my attention.”
New showrooms reshape the campus
June 2026 marked a notable period of showroom growth for Dallas Market Center, with more than 100 brands moving into the first and second floors of the Interior Home + Design Center and new and expanded showrooms opening across the World Trade Center and Trade Mart.
In the World Trade Center: Brayden and Brooks (WTC 305-1), Craig Bachman (WTC 474), The Light Garden (WTC 306), and The Import Collection (WTC 511) all opened new showrooms, while Old World Design (WTC 521-C) expanded.
In the Trade Mart: B’s Knees Fragrance Co. (TM 1339) and Shine Décor (TM 1309) were new, while Roman Inc. (TM 1418), NextGen (TM 1028, 2040), and Roadrunners (TM 1743, 1521) all expanded. Elite Accessories (TM 1034) relocated and expanded.
In the Interior Home + Design Center: Ethan & Associates (IHDC 2F336), C. Maddox (IHDC 2F310), Design Directions (IHDC 2F423), and Rose Casual (IHDC 2F430) opened new showrooms. Corston (IHDC GL66A), Hue & Dot by Mirth Studio (IHDC 2F215-TS 9A), Nightscaping (IHDC GL84), Pom Pom at Home (IHDC 2F201), and Scandia Home (IHDC GL28) debuted at the market.
Sam Leiaghat, CEO of Pom Pom at Home, reflected on his showroom’s first market in its permanent space: “Opening our showroom here feels like a true grand opening in every sense, not just a new address, but a new chapter in how closely we can work with the clients who have supported us for so long. For years we exhibited in multiline showrooms, so having a dedicated space of our own here is a meaningful step forward for how our retailers and designers recognize and experience the brand.”
The Masters Series and show highlights
The Masters Series returned with daily live demonstrations from four tastemakers across the week. John Mark Sharpe, founder of John Mark Enterprises, opened the series on the World Trade Center atrium stage with “Beyond the Bow,” a live demonstration paired with a conversation about his career journey, and returned later in the week for a session on retail displays that drive sales, plus a meet-and-greet.
Reflecting on the market, Sharpe said, “Dallas Market Center is truly where community thrives and connections are made. It’s been wonderful to feel the love from them and feel like part of the family so quickly. Thank you for creating a special community to not only do business in but create new ideas and concepts from business relationships to products. It’s really been a treat to work with you all.”
Also appearing on the Masters stage were Chris Norwood of Norwood Day Floral Co. with “The Art of Entertaining,” Presley Pierce with “Deck The Halls – Christmas in July” (with Sharpe making a surprise appearance) and “Styled for Summer – Your Guide for Gatherings,” and Jeff & Jody Long of The English Cottage live-styling an autumn display.
KidsWorld joins June lineup
June marked the return of KidsWorld to the Total Home & Gift Market calendar, giving buyers a dedicated destination for children’s apparel, toys, gear and gifts alongside the broader home and gift assortment. The addition gave retailers another reason to build a fuller buy in a single trip to Dallas, pairing category depth with the efficiency buyers have come to expect from the campus.
Honoring excellence
The 75th annual Retailer Excellence Awards, sponsored by Dallas Market Center and hosted by Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine, honored the gift industry’s top retailers, reps, and vendors at the Hilton Anatole on June 24. The evening also included a special ceremony for the first-ever Diamond Retailers, who were announced earlier this year, in honor of the gala’s big anniversary.
During the event, Gift for Life honored founder Peter Schauben with its newly created Lifetime Humanitarian Award. Founded by Schauben in 1992, Gift for Life has united the gift, home, and stationery industries in support of charitable causes for more than 30 years. The evening raised a record-breaking $162,000 to benefit World Central Kitchen.
Best Visual Presentation awards
Dallas Market Center recognized standout showroom and Temps merchandising with its Best Visual Presentation awards, along with a special Best of Show award in The Temps that went to Hunt Slonen. The remaining winners include:
- Fosters Point (IHDC 01)
- Rose Casual (IHDC 02)
- Poetic Pillow (IHDC Gallery)
- Hunt Slonen (Temps TM 01)
- AntlerWorx (Temps WTC 11)
- Fabuplates (Temps WTC 12)
- Wipstitch Needleworks (Temps WTC 13)
- Burton & Burton (TM 01)
- Glitterville/Goetz (TM 02)
- Eichholtz (TM 03)
- Minka (TM 04)
- Shadow Catchers (WTC 01)
- Cody Foster (WTC 02)
- Zucker Feather (WTC 03)
- McMennemin Companies (WTC 04)
- Hi End Design (WTC 05)
- Cattlemen’s Home Interior (WTC 06)
Spark magazine: Summer issue
More than 50,000 customers received the summer issue of Spark magazine ahead of market, spotlighting showroom news, fruit-themed gifts, the return of classic games, stylish fashion accessories, profiles of artists Jan Barbolgio and Sally Bennett of Mirth Studio and Hue & Dot, organic lighting design trends, and an introduction to the new Design Ambassadors.
Planning ahead: Upcoming markets
Future markets include the Dallas Men’s Show, July 25-27, 2026; August Apparel & Accessories Market and KidsWorld, Aug. 18-21; WESA’s International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market, Aug. 18-21; AETA International Trade Show, Aug. 18-21; and next year’s Total Home & Gift Market, which includes The Temps, Jan. 6-12, 2027.
