Spark Magazine Winter Edition: Inspired Stories for the New Year

—Latest edition delivers insightful, motivating content to inspire retailers and designers—

The print edition of the magazine is distributed to more than 50,000 retailers and interior designers; the digital edition is available at dallasmarketcenter.com.

“This issue of Spark reflects the best qualities our customers have exhibited during challenging times: resilience, creativity, and innovation,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Our profiles in heart-based leadership, together with the latest trends and new products should inspire every business decision maker for the new year.”

The cover story, “High in the Saddle,” features Ariat International co-founder and CEO Beth Cross, who, over the past 27 years, has expanded the manufacturer of performance products with an equestrian heritage to serve more than 6,500 retail locations. She offers sage advice for independent retailers on resiliency and how to play to advantages.

As Dallas Market Center prepares for the grand opening of the world’s largest marketplace for Western and English products, the magazine spends time with rising professional rodeo star Steely Steiner, who is following in her famed family’s storied footsteps. She joined other seasoned horse riders to alluringly showcase the latest in Western and English apparel, tack, and home décor.

The colorful pages also highlight the latest products trends from around the marketplace. A florist, a children’s furniture designer, an architect/producer power-couple, and an interior designer to put their spins on the holiday hearth—and provide retailers with endless holiday décor ideas—in “Deck the Halls.” In “Leaf an Impression,” inspiration is drawn from nature in both products and plant forms to help shops flourish. “Dress the Part,” meanwhile, is a playful take on inspired children’s clothing and accessories.

Other articles include a painterly, illustrated spin on accessories trends; a chat with family-owned Allstate Floral, celebrating 40 years in business; lighting lessons gleaned from industry icon Robert Sonneman; a recipe from prominent Dallas chef and community activist Janice Provost accompanied by culinary products; marketplace news; and more.

Additional pages are dedicated to an artful HEARTS Awards fundraising campaign which features 74 dinner plates designed by artists, celebrities, and influencers including Jane Seymour; Thom Filicia; Thomas O’Brien; Justina Blakeney; Bobby Berk; Adam Glassman of O, The Oprah Magazine; and others. The wildly creative plates—seen in this issue—are being auctioned online to fight against hunger through the nonprofit No Kid Hungry. To view and bid, visit https://handbid.app.link/hearts4hunger.

Dallas Market Center is creating a series of upcoming trade events with strict attention to health and safety. Those events include January Dallas Total Home & Gift Market and The Temps (January 6-12); Lightovation: Dallas International Lighting Show (January 7-10); Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market and KidsWorld (January 12-15); WESA’s International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market (January 14-17); the AETA International Trade Show and AETA Temps (January 14-17); and the Dallas Men’s Show (January 31-February 2). Masks and temperature checks are required for entry. A complete overview of health & safety protocols is available here: http://blog.dallasmarketcenter.com/new-health-safety-measures.

For more 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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