World’s Largest Western & English Trade Show Debuts at Dallas Market Center
– WESA’s International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market celebrates its Dallas debut in January featuring buyers from across the U.S. and 1000+ brands dedicated to the Western and Equestrian lifestyle –
DALLAS—February 8, 2021—Dallas Market Center, the wholesale trade center uniting buyers and sellers from around the world, and WESA, the Western & English Sales Association (WESA) organized in 1921, announced details of the successful January launch of the world’s largest marketplace for Western and English brands.
Buyers from 46 states and 2 countries attended the January 14-17 edition of WESA’s International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market, held in Dallas for the first time. More than twenty-five percent of the retailers were new to the show.
Throughout the Dallas marketplace, more than 1,000 brands for the western and equestrian lifestyle were presented in temporary exhibits and permanent showrooms including apparel and accessories, footwear, hats, and tack alongside complementary categories of gift and home décor.
The WESA International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market featured hundreds of brands including temporary exhibits on the 11th floor of the World Trade Center. In fact, the WESA show stretched out across more than 210,000 square feet—an increase from last year’s event.
Patrick Powers, WESA’s President commented: “We are thrilled. Buyers all have a great attitude. They're excited to be here. They're excited to see the facility, the opportunity. It has been fantastic.”
The permanent marketplace of Western and English showrooms, located on the 14th floor of the World Trade Center building and including more than 70 new showrooms includes leading brands such as Ariat, Justin Brands, Dan Post, Hooey, Hatco/Resistol, Wrangler, Scully, Panhandle, Partrade, Equibrand, Rios of Mercedes, M&F, Lucchese, Milano Hat Company, Cripple Creek, and Roper/Stetson.
President and CEO of Dallas Market Center, Cindy Morris, observed: “Thank you to our partners at WESA and to the brands and buyers who made this debut such a success. The energy was tremendous, the number of new buyers was historic, and the momentum we have created will continue throughout the year. Dallas is the truly the marketplace of choice for buyers seeking new products and inspiration.”
Exhibitors and buyers were also enthusiastic about their experience:
Anson Gessel with Bear Knuckles said: “We had a great time at the WESA show, including opening 22 net new accounts, a verbal agreement with a big retailer, we brought on 2 new distributors and networked with numerous independent reps.”
Ryan Vaughan, president and CEO, Rios of Mercedes, added: “This place is electric. This brings our Western industry to a new level; this venue is wonderful for our industry. It is first-class. The retailers are here, they're shopping and they're excited.”
A tremendous number of tack and equipment companies joined the marketplace. Ken Bray, president and CEO of Equibrand, commented: “This is the first time that we've ever had a permanent space. We just really look forward to the opportunity to leverage that space really 12 months a year because of the proximity to airports and the ease of logistics with this facility.”
Barry Robinson with Rebel Rose shared that he wrote “80% new business at this show” and his other business welcomed all people that he met last year in Denver who made the trip to Dallas.
First-time exhibitor Jason Lenox with J. Alexander commented: “We were thrilled! It was busy and people were writing great orders and for us it was probably 80% new business.”
Exhibitors in product categories such as gift and home décor also experienced steady traffic and business. New WESA member Cathy Scholin, who owns the Cathy & Co. showroom in the Trade Mart, added: “We had a very good experience and I think overall we had a good show! We will do it again!!”
Supporting the comfort, health and safety of all attendees, the market center will continue measures that include mandatory face covering and temperature screening for every person entering the marketplace every day. Other efforts include low contact entry via online pre-registration as well as enhanced cleaning with hospital grade products, hundreds of hand sanitizing stations, and signage for social distancing. Along with these new steps, there are safety measures that are part of the natural design of the marketplace: open parking, large entryways, quick registration in multiple areas, wide hallways, multiple escalators to every floor, and showrooms with controlled access to allow for the appropriate distance between customers.
The next WESA International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market takes place August 26, 2021 — August 29, 2021. For WESA, please visit https://wesatradeshow.com/ and for other events please visit http://dallasmarketcenter.com/.
Future Dallas Market Center events include the AETA International Trade Show, March 23-26; Apparel & Accessories Market and Total Home & Gift Market, March 23-26; KidsWorld, March 23-26; and Lightovation, March 23-26.
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 home décor, furniture, gifts, lighting and fashion. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus near downtown Dallas, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products via open-daily showrooms and from exhibitors participating in trade events held throughout the year. With thousands of free parking spaces, hotel shuttle buses, efficient dock services, well-maintained vertical transportation, boosted cell phone coverage, enhanced WiFi, and on-site restaurants and catering, DMC’s superior facilities make shopping these markets convenient, enjoyable, and lucrative. Throughout the last six decades, the company has remained committed to ensuring that customers receive the support services they need to make their business experience in Dallas successful. dallasmarketcenter.com
About WESA and the International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Markets
The Western & English Sales Association (WESA) was organized in 1921 and its founders launched an initial trade show in Denver in January 1922, with the goal of creating a forum where retailers, manufacturers, and sales representatives could conduct business in an atmosphere of fair trade and fellowship. Today, WESA is more than 900 members strong and produces the International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Markets, the world’s largest trade events for the Equestrian Industry, attracting a constantly growing global audience. WESA Markets are regarded as the single-sourcing entity for more than 1,300 product lines, bringing more than 4,500 retailers to the WESA Markets each year. WESA also serves as a source for information and education for retailers and exhibitors, bringing soil business and lifestyle expertise to the trade, through Market seminars and demonstrations. wesatradeshow.com
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