Dallas Market Center welcomed a record number of customers for the opening of its January editions of Dallas Total Home & Gift Market and Lightovation—Dallas International Lighting Show.
Entering the third day of the show, the number of businesses attending was ahead by 16 percent over the previous year with gains in each of the main buying categories reflecting the expanding Dallas customer base: home/design up 21 percent, apparel up 21 percent, lighting up 15 percent, gift up 13 percent and floral & holiday up 12 percent.
Analyzed by geographic region the results were equally positive: the number of businesses attending from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas was up 26 percent, while more buyers from key regions were also attending: key states in the West up including California; the Northeast up 18 percent including New York and Pennsylvania; and the Southeast up 13 percent including a 106 percent increase in Mississippi, 39 percent increase in Georgia and 11 percent increase in Alabama.
“This is a historic opening for our winter shows,” says Cindy Morris, Dallas Market Center President and CEO. “Motivated by strong holiday sales and seeking a broader range of inspiring best-sellers across all product types, buyers are choosing Dallas in record numbers. Thank you to our showrooms and sales reps for working together to deliver more customers. We have heard from numerous exhibitors that order writing has been tremendous and many of them have already surpassed their show goals.”
Dallas Market Center debuted more than 50 new and expanding showrooms during the January shows including established brands and emerging companies in home, gift, lighting and holiday/floral. In addition, more than 40 partnerships were announced with retail buying groups, trade groups and associations participating in the January shows.
Reflecting its position as the leading lifestyle marketplace, Dallas Market Center recently revealed new branding for the company including a new logo and magazine. Both were announced as part of a comprehensive, multi-stage strategy to lead with purpose in the new era of wholesale buying. The logo, featuring five main design elements, signifies the five main product categories inside Dallas Market Center. Together they reflect the unique energy and unity of a marketplace offering buyers an unmatched assortment of products across lifestyle categories. The new magazine, named Spark, was distributed to more than 50,000 customers and featured practical business advice and inspiring trends, alongside real stories of artists and entrepreneurs. As retailers seek more unique products in order to stand out, the magazine emphasizes the stories behind the creation of goods and brands and the diversity of products available at Dallas Market Center.
In addition to new branding, the marketplace recently announced new global trade events including the World Floral Expo taking place in March 2019 and the WESA International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market in 2021. Each event will welcome thousands of new buyers to the Dallas Market Center campus.
