Historic Opening for Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas: Attendance Up 25%; New Buyers Up 31%; Deep Order Writing at the First Show of the Summer
—Retailers from coast to coast arrive in Dallas to place orders first—
DALLAS – June 24, 2021 – The first show of the summer season has opened with record-setting attendance as retail decision makers from across the country attend Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas and place deep orders to fill depleted inventories. Dallas Market Center reported a 25% increase in buyer attendance versus June 2019 and a 31% increase in new buyers.
“This is the strongest show opening we have experienced in years,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Buyers want to be first in line to see new products and place orders quickly. The energy and confidence are incredible and together they are driving deep order writing across the marketplace. Buyers from every state are here eager to fill shelves and discover new products.”
Tens of thousands of buyers from across the country and internationally are attending the seven-day trade event that welcomes single and multi-location retail, buying groups, and major stores. Exhibitors noted the historic traffic and order writing:
“The opening day was the best day we’ve ever had here in Dallas,” said Paul Michael, owner of Market Hill on 6, a home furnishings showroom in the World Trade Center. “This market is exploding and has amazing momentum.”
“Orders are way up and we are setting records,” said Patrick Ongena, owner of the Patrick & Co. showroom in the Trade Mart. “We are booked solid with appointments through the weekend, and buyers are enthusiastically ordering all they can.”
“Buyers clearly wanted to order early to secure product,” said Frederic Barrouquere with Barefoot Dreams, exhibiting in the Goetz showroom in the World Trade Center. “This first show of the season helped them do that. We’ve been very pleased with order volume and order depth.”
“Yesterday was our biggest day in the history of exhibiting in Dallas,” said Susan Shaw, principal with Susan Shaw Jewelry exhibiting in Luxe Temps on the first floor of the Trade Mart. “Orders were big and buyers included both loyal and new.”
“We have already beaten our January numbers, which were double the previous year. This has been a great show,” said Rusty Phillips, co-owner of Bourbon Royalty Candles exhibiting in the Temps on the 12th floor.
New, Expanding Showrooms and Temps
Among the dozens of new or expanding showrooms are legendary brands and hot new companies across gift and home, housewares and gourmet, holiday and floral to lighting and fashion. A complete list of additions is printed in the upcoming summer edition of Spark magazine, the official pre-market publication. The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market, which runs June 23-26, presents hundreds of new and returning exhibitors in four distinct neighborhoods including the largest collection of vintage home ever seen in Dallas and expanded sections of bath, body and spa.
The HEARTS Awards
On Friday evening The HEARTS Awards celebrate and honor those who showed outstanding leadership during the pandemic. Uniting multiple industries for the first time, the invitation-only event in the World Trade Center will be hosted by Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia and will pay homage to 12 “hearts and heroes” of 2020-2021.
ARTS Awards Nominations Now Open
Nominations are open for the 32nd ARTS Awards. The Awards will return to their usual schedule during the January 2022 Total Home & Gift Market after a one-year staging of the HEARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to home industry excellence and achievement. The ARTS Awards process begins with the nomination of retailers, manufacturers, designers, and sales representatives. Nominations may be provided online at dallasmarketcenter.com/ArtsAwards/nominations/ through June 28.
Spark Magazine: Summer Issue
The stylish pre-market publication is available at the show and online highlights trends, what’s new inside the market center, and insights from makers and influencers. The cover story, a profile of lifestyle expert and home décor celeb Sabrina Soto, includes key business lessons. Inside its pages are other timely topics including notable gifts, sustainable fashion, holiday glam, floral muses, nature-inspired interiors and lighting, and Danish design. The magazine also spends quality time with artist Shima Shanti, western lifestyle guru Shaley Ham, and the founders of gift company Talking Out of Turn. Personal insights are what makes Spark unique: delivering practical business advice and inspiring trends alongside real stories of artists and entrepreneurs.
Health & Safety Guidelines Supporting Buyer Comfort
Supporting the comfort, health and safety of all attendees, the market center continues important measures outlined via the plan available on the front page of their website.
Shuttles, Transportation, and Hotel Offers
Campus and hotel shuttles have returned for Total Home & Gift Market, allowing buyers to easily navigate between the marketplace and accommodations. Likewise, exclusive ride share discounts are available via partners Uber and Alto. Details are on the Transportation page of the website.
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.
###