Dallas Market Center, the leading B2B marketplace in the U.S. for gifts and home décor, and The Toy Association, the business trade association representing hundreds of companies involved in the toy, play and youth entertainment industry, have jointly announced the debut of the Toy Fair Pavilion during The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market, January 10-13, 2024. The market in January will be the largest winter presentation of temporary exhibits in more than twelve years and will feature more than 1000 booths across five distinct product neighborhoods.
The Toy Fair Pavilion, located on the 12th floor of the World Trade Center, will feature exhibitors representing the most important brands in toys and youth entertainment, bringing a plethora of toys, puzzles, games, educational products, plush, art activities, dolls, action figures, licensed products, and more to buyers shopping the show. Youth merchandise is among one of the hottest categories in retail and represents more than $100 billion in global economic impact.
“Products that are trending in the youth entertainment space are some of the most sought-after items by independent retailers as they are increasingly seeking a wider range of products to create lifestyle experiences in their stores,” said Kimberly Carcone, EVP, global market events at The Toy Association. “The opportunity to connect our companies with buyers from diverse retail outlets in Dallas in the first quarter is exciting for us.”
One of Dallas Market Center’s key value propositions is presenting a single marketplace in which retailers may source products for the upcoming seasons across multiple categories. This balance of unmatched new product discovery and business efficiency sets Dallas apart. Independent retailers are increasingly seeking a wider range of in-demand and trending merchandise as they create lifestyle experiences inside their stores, and that includes products for younger customers.
“We are thrilled to welcome The Toy Association, with whom we have worked for many years on events to bring together buyers and sellers,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “The fact that they have selected Dallas for this new venture speaks volumes on our partnership and on the strength of our marketplace to deliver value to the retailer. The January pavilion is a sneak peek of what we know will be a must-see destination.”
The Toy Fair Pavilion is a complement to the hundreds of youth entertainment brands already exhibiting in Dallas in permanent showrooms and temporary space. Showrooms in the World Trade Center including Diverse Marketing, McManemin, Eureka Toy & Gift, and Toyservice Southwest already showcase many leading brands, and dozens of showrooms across campus also carry select brands of children’s apparel and accessories as well as toys, games, and gifts.
The January edition of Total Home & Gift Market (January 10-16; Temps January 10-13) is the first U.S. trade event of the new year and will attract buyers from all 50 states and dozens of countries. Additional January events include KidsWorld (January 16-19), Lightovation (January 10-14), and Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market (January 16-19).
The most recent Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, held in the summer, exceeded expectations as it welcomed more buyers from across the U.S. and internationally. The show experienced steady order-writing among its thousands of exhibitors including dozens of new and expanding permanent showrooms as well as hundreds of first-time participants in the Temps at Total Home & Gift Market. The number of buyers attending for the first time continued to outpace pre-pandemic numbers. Attendance also continued to widen geographically: significant gains were made in buyer attendance from the Southeast, Upper Midwest, and West.
For details on 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, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the DMC Daily Dose