National Product Search Contest Accepting Entries
Dallas, TX – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, today announced it is accepting entries for its national product search contest – The Next Big Thing. Three finalists will show their products in front of more than 50,000 attendees during the FINDS Dallas Temp Show to be held June 23-26, 2011 during the Total Home & Gift Market (June 22-28, 2011).
The contest is for anyone who has the next new product – an artist, product designer, entrepreneur, stay-at-home mom, your next door neighbor, or any other creative mind. It offers the opportunity for those with great ideas to make their dreams a reality.
“The Next Big Thing opens the door for innovators to have their new products shown to retail buyers from throughout the country,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “Each year our finalists are offered opportunities because of the search and we look forward to seeing even more go on to great success this year.”
The contest allows up-and-comers, whether companies or individuals, to show their product in front of domestic and international retail buyers at Dallas Market Center. The Next Big Thing should be a new and unique product – the latest gadget, perfect gift, or must-have home good. This is an opportunity to get your product out in the market.
The finished product should be distinctive with an outstanding design and concept. Applications can be downloaded at www.dallasmarketcenter.com/thing. Entries should be submitted via email to thenextbigthing@dmcmail.com or mailed to The Next Big Thing; c/o Dallas Market Center; 2100 Stemmons Freeway, MS 630; Dallas, Texas; 75207 by March 28, 2011.
Three finalists will be selected by a panel of industry experts as well as Dallas Market Center representatives and announced on April 12, 2011. The finalists will receive airfare and hotel for the FINDS Dallas Temp Show (June 23-26, 2011) 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 fan page – www.facebook.com/dallasmarketcenter. 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 25, 2011 and receive a prize package worth more than $10,000 including a $2,500 cash prize, exhibit space at the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market in January 2012, a profile in one of Dallas Market Center’s awardwinning custom publications, and consultations from leading industry experts regarding branding, public relations, visual merchandising and much more.
For information on past winners or additional information on the contest visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com/thing or e-mail thenextbigthing@dmcmail.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 www.dallasmarketcenter.com.
