Record Breaking January Market in Dallas Signals Growth
Dallas, TX – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, today announced the exciting results of a record breaking Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, held January 19-25. Motivated by optimistic retail buyers and strong order writing signaling retail confidence for 2011, the January Market set the following records:
- The strongest opening day in the past 40 gift and home markets
- A near double-digit percentage gain in attendance
- Buyers from all 50 states and 52 countries
- Increased attendance from every region in the country
- More new buyers than in five years
- The addition of 50 new permanent showrooms
- A record number of new resources shown in the FINDS Dallas Temp Show
“Attendance was up, buyers were writing orders, exhibitors were thrilled, and we were encouraged to have such a strong Market,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “It was a great Market to welcome so many new companies to Dallas – our campus was full of energy and our team was busy creating an inspiring and helpful venue for business success.”
Buyers were perpetuating the momentum in the retail industry that began in 2010 with the best holiday sales in six years, according to the National Retail Federation. “We have been at Dallas Market Center for 47 years,” said Kim Mount, J. Brandes. “This is the biggest Market we’ve ever had. The buyers are upbeat and pleased with a successful Christmas. There is a lot of energy.”
“Customers are very optimistic about the first quarter and are buying accordingly,” said Rex Yoakley, vice president of sales, IMAX World Wide Imports. “We felt that our Dallas show would be good, but it was excellent. Buyers are buying entire looks and back to writing at 2007 levels.”
In addition, the Market featured dozens of special guests and educational opportunities, and inspiring visual displays throughout campus.
The FINDS Dallas Temp Show offered products across 500,000 square feet. Home FINDS and Hill Country FINDS made a new home on the World Trade Center 6th floor and showcased more than 20,000 square feet of products. The Outdoor Living shared showroom debuted its new location on the 1st floor of the International Trade Plaza. A ribbon cutting was held the morning of January 20 and there was a party that evening celebrating the new location.
The 22nd annual ARTS Awards were held on Saturday, January 22 in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Market. Guests attended the ceremony that recognized ARTS Awards recipients in 28 different categories. HGTV was honored with the Academy of Achievement Award for their significant impact on the home and garden décor industry. Sabrina Soto, HGTV designer, and Freddy James, senior vice president of program development and production, accepted the award on behalf of the media and marketing company. The approximately 600 attendees included a wide range of retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives, media and designers from across the U.S. and Canada.
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.
