Dallas Market Center, home of the largest residential lighting marketplace in North America, recently held the Dallas Lighting Expo in advance of the January edition of Lightovation, taking place January 7-10. The August 19-21 event welcomed a largely regional audience to review new products from among 60 lighting and ceiling fan companies.
The June 2020 edition of Lightovation was previously cancelled amidst concerns about the pandemic. However, as retail re-opened and as many Lightovation exhibitors sought a live platform for mid-2020 introductions, an August event met the immediate needs from retail showrooms and others to be able to source all categories of lighting for the home in Dallas.
The January edition of Lightovation is traditionally the largest showcase of new lighting and ceiling fan products for the year, and reports from exhibitors indicate that the January 2021 event will feature a record number of new products across all categories to meet retail demand. The January 2020 edition of Lightovation welcomed more retail decision makers than the previous year, including a dramatic 29% increase in stores attending for the first time.
“We were thankful for the opportunity to serve lighting retailers this summer in a safe manner in advance of the next Lightovation show,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Looking ahead, we are gearing up for a larger than usual January event meeting the demands of retailers seeking more new products and the latest technology. Retailers want to be here in-person reviewing trends, meeting directly with company principals, and deepening their connections in order to thrive.”
As previously announced, January 2021 Lightovation will feature a new Thursday to Sunday date pattern, Winter shows will continue this pattern through 2023, still running concurrently with the Total Home & Gift Market, which will retain its Wednesday to Tuesday dates
The August Dallas Lighting Expo ran concurrently with the Total Home & Gift Market, which welcomed 55% of the attendance compared with last summer’s market. In addition, the number of new buyers doubled from January, with the largest increase coming from the Southeast. Supporting the retail rebound and flourishing design business, 97% of gift and home exhibitors in Dallas were open to build or deepen relationships, help buyers discover what’s new, and to facilitate the significant orders placed at the show.
For lighting buyers, having two events take place in one marketplace allowed for discovery and sourcing of non-lighting categories, a benefit underscored by previous customer surveys, where 93% of lighting buyers indicated that they carried home accessories and 76% said they found it beneficial to be able to shop both shows during the same trip.
Recognizing the importance of health and safety, comprehensive measures were in place for all summer shows. New guidelines included mandatory temperature checks for every person entering the marketplace as well as required face coverings. Individual lighting showrooms also made important efforts from basic social distancing and hand sanitizing up to the high-tech installation of temperature scanning technology and new air filtration systems. For the January 2021 edition of Lightovation, strict measures will remain in place.
Along with these new steps, there are safety measures that are part of the design of the Dallas marketplace: open parking, large entryways, quick registration in multiple areas, wide hallways, multiple escalators, and showrooms with controlled access to allow for the appropriate distance between customers.
Looking forward to January, a special lighting industry host hotel rate of $189/night is available for the show in a limited quantity at the Sheraton Dallas downtown. To take advantage of this special rate or to learn about other accommodations available, contact Market Travel via the Dallas Market Center website or at 214-744-7444.
