Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas, the first market of the year for retailers from across the country, opened with strong attendance and order writing. Dallas Market Center reported buyer attendance at 75 percent compared with January of 2020 and a boost in first-time buyers visiting the show. More than 25 percent of buyers at the show are attending for the first time, according to the market center, which is a significant increase from previous years.
“Dallas is the center of business success for 2021 by hosting a first show of the year that is full of positive energy, confident buyers and strong order writing,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “We are thrilled with the attendance especially the number of new buyers from the east and west seeking a central, safe, and efficient marketplace to get business done more easily.”
The market center previously announced that during the month of January more than 150 new and expanding exhibitors will debut including iconic names and exciting new companies. They join legacy showrooms presenting new collections and lines in gift, home, holiday/floral, toy, gourmet/housewares, and fashion.
Patrick Ongena, owner of Patrick & Company in the Trade Mart noted: “Our pre-show and opening day far exceeded expectations. Traffic was good and orders were deep. We have had double-digit increases for several of our key lines, and we are anticipating steady traffic into next week’s apparel and western shows.”
“The buyers are here and they are ordering,” said Kyle Camp, owner and CEO of K&K Interiors in the World Trade Center. “Many of them had terrific years and they need products now. We are extremely pleased with the show traffic but also anticipate steady design business week by week. Consumers have completely changed their homes recently and want quality products.”
Wes Hardin Sr., president of Diverse Marketing noted: “The pre-show and opening days were strong for us, and we are tracking to at least 75 percent of usual. Retailers feel very comfortable in Dallas and they are optimistic. Buyers need a place to find what’s new, and Dallas is one of the very few locations giving buyers both the inspiration they want and the comfort and safety they need.”
“Traffic has been more brisk than anticipated,” said Ronald Nguyen, chief customer care officer for AllState Floral in the Interior Home & Design Center. “We believe the safety protocols set by the DMC have supported a safe buying experience, and we remain optimistic and encouraged by early numbers.”
In addition to permanent showrooms, The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market, which runs January 6-9, is presenting hundreds of new and returning exhibitors with four distinct neighborhoods to discover hot new products and brands.
“The opening day was the biggest ever for our company,” said Rusty Phillips, co-owner of Bourbon Royalty Candle Company, showing on the 12th floor. “We are used to ramping up day by day but the show began very strong. We are thrilled.”
A Virtual Lightovation
From January 7-29, a virtual edition of the Lightovation trade event is taking place. The in-person edition of Lightovation, the largest trade event for residential lighting in North America, was rescheduled to March. The online event, the first of its kind in residential lighting, enables qualified retail buyers worldwide to shop products from more than 50 leading brands in multiple categories and to seamlessly and conveniently make purchases. The show is being produced by Dallas Market Center’s partner company, MarketTime. More information is available at www.lightovation.markettime.com.
The HEARTS Awards Auction
During the show, Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, are hosting an auction to benefit No Kid Hungry. More than 70 dinner plates donated by Rosenthal and reimagined by VIPs spanning Justina Blakeney to Jane Seymour, Thom Filicia, Alexander Julian and Bobby Berk are up for bid. The auction is live now. The auction is part of The HEARTS Awards, an event taking the place of the annual ARTS Awards and honoring those who showed outstanding leadership during the pandemic. Uniting multiple industries for the first time, The HEARTS Awards event will take place in March. More information is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com/artsawards.
DMC + MarketTime = Omnichannel Digital Tools
Also during the show, a MarketTime Experience Center has debuted and is open daily. The MarketTime Experience Center, located on the first floor of the World Trade Center adjacent to Starbucks in WTC 139, is showcasing MarketTime’s full suite of software solutions supporting business management and growth as well as supporting the only global e-commerce marketplace. MarketTime is the only fully integrated, cloud-based platform supporting the complete omnichannel customer ecosystem across the consumer products spectrum including fashion, home, lighting, gift, and toy.
