Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market Opens Strong:
First Fashion Trade Event of the Year Welcomes 34% More Stores than January 2020; 26% New Buyers from Across the Country
DALLAS – January 14, 2021 – Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market, the first U.S. market for fashion serving retailers from across the country, opened with strong attendance and order writing. Dallas Market Center reported store attendance 34% ahead of last January’s show and a record number of first-time Dallas buyers. More than 25% of buyers at the show are attending for the first time, according to the market center, which is unprecedented.
After a successful holiday sales season, retailers from across the country are visiting the Dallas marketplace to see first-hand the latest trends, order new products in permanent showrooms and Temps, and experience the show safely with comprehensive health and safety measures.
“This is an extremely successful January market by all measures,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Loyal buyers and new buyers from across the country are choosing to do business in Dallas. They are eager to see first-hand the new products and intent on ordering to restock their stores. These buyers are confident, full of positive energy, and ready for a successful 2021. We are thrilled to offer a safe and inspiring marketplace for them.”
The fashion marketplace in Dallas encompasses more than 1 million square feet of apparel and accessories on multiple floors of the World Trade Center. Many apparel and accessories buyers, in addition to sourcing from hundreds of fashion exhibitors, also source products from adjacent neighborhoods of gift and gourmet, home décor and holiday goods. The recent Total Home & Gift Market of the year also saw a dramatic increase in new buyers.
“There is positive momentum and a positive attitude here in Dallas,” said David Rhea, owner of the Indigo Agency showroom which represents nine brands. “Just yesterday I saw buyers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, and Colorado. Retailers ended the year strong and need new products.”
Said Alexis Rayon, owner of UnCommon Fashion, a new multi-line contemporary showroom debuting at the show: “Tuesday alone was double what we expected. We are writing lots of new business and seeing Midwest and Southeast buyers, too. They are confident and ready to buy and want to have an in-person experience for making important choices. We are looking forward to the next wave of buyers attending the Western show.”
“Dallas is the only national show right now that’s fully open and doing business,” said Scott Harner, whose showroom represents more than ten brands including AG Jeans. “We’ve already seen quite a few out of territory buyers and the orders have been steady. The higher-end customer is choosing Dallas, and this is a month of opportunities for us as we move from market to market including The Men’s Show later in the month.”
Yana Khromova, founder and designer of Yana K, exhibiting in the Temps, said: “We have had great traffic and orders from stores across the U.S. We did the gift show and the apparel show—both stronger than expected. The whole U.S. is coming to Dallas where we enjoy working with the DMC to offer great customer service to support independent business.”
LinnyCo, an accessories company exhibiting in the Temps, is represented by founder Lindsey Williams: “This show has been amazing. We love that Dallas supports makers and independent retail. I’ve seen buyers from California, Nebraska, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, and even someone who drove from Chicago. These are serious buyers placing deep orders.”
New Buyers Choosing Dallas
The record number of new buyers included retail decision makers from across the country. Ashley Alderson, founder and CEO of the Boutique Hub organization supporting independent businesses, welcomed more than 800 of their members to Dallas including many first-timers: “This is another home for me and where we got our start. We’re proudly standing up and helping retailers across the country. We love being in Dallas.” First time attendee Lenora Coffey from The Coffey House Boutique in Vero Beach, Florida commented: “Absolutely love it! Everyone is so nice and it’s so organized and safe.” Melissa Orthun from the Bluff Creek Boutique in Jordan, Minnesota said: “This is my second trip in one year and it’s hands down my favorite market. Fabulous layout, wonderful staff, great community!” Amanda Carrasco, from Kingsburg, California’s Heritage Co. Boutique commented: “I love the amazing variety of brands. Well worth the travel for me!”
Debut of World’s Largest Western & English Marketplace
Another element of excitement was added to the marketplace, and a new set of buyers arrived, for the grand opening of the world’s largest marketplace for Western and English products. WESA’s International Westeran/English Apparel & Accessories Market takes place January 14-17. More than 70 new showrooms are debuting and more than 1,000 brands for the western and equestrian lifestyle will be presented in temporary exhibits and permanent showrooms, including apparel and accessories, footwear, hats, and tack alongside complementary categories of gift and home décor.
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.
Health & Safety Guidelines Supporting Buyer Comfort
Supporting the comfort, health and safety of all attendees, the market center continues measures that include mandatory face covering and temperature screening for every person entering the marketplace
every day. Other efforts include enhanced cleaning with hospital grade products, hundreds of hand sanitizing stations, limited food service, no gatherings, and signage for social distancing. Along with these new steps, there are safety measures that are part of the design of the marketplace: open parking, large entryways, quick registration in multiple areas, wide hallways, multiple escalators to each floor, and showrooms with controlled access to allow for the ap propriate distance between customers.
Future Trade Events
Upcoming trade events include the Dallas Men’s Show (January 31-February 2), KidsWorld Open House (February 2-4), Apparel & Accessories Market (March 23-16), Total Home & Gift Market and Lightovation (March 23-26), KidsWorld (March 23-26), and AETA International Trade Show (March 23-26). Dallas Design Week will take place April 5-8.
For upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center mobile app. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the DMC Daily Dose.
About Dallas Market Center
Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in gourmet and housewares, home décor, holiday/floral, gifts, lighting and apparel. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. The marketplace is located in the strongest economic zone in the country. In addition, more than 80% of Dallas Market Center buyers report that they do not shop other market centers. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center App. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the Dallas Market Center blog.
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