Dallas Market Center announced that its recently held Total Home & Gift Market experienced a dramatic increase in buyers attending for the first time, especially from the western US states.
The number of buyers attending for the first time was at its second-highest level in five years; attendance by buyers from the western U.S. including California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington was up 27% compared with January 2023; southwest U.S. buyer attendance including from Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico was up 30%.
“We are seeing an acceleration of buyers choosing Dallas especially from the western U.S.,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “This expansion of our buyer base began during the pandemic and quickened in January 2024 as independent retailers and sales representatives determined where they wanted to conduct business. Our January post-market buyer survey shows that retailers are seeking a single marketplace that best presents a wide range of trending products inside an inspiring and efficient marketplace. They also want to attend trade events in a city that offers lower travel costs and is safe.”
A recent Gallup poll ranked Dallas as the safest among sixteen large U.S. cities. The Dallas area is the headquarters for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, resulting in more daily non-stop flights at competitive rates, and the city is #1 in the U.S. in the number of new hotel projects underway.
Tens of thousands of buyers from across the country attended the January seven-day trade event that welcomed single and multi-location retail, interior designers, buying groups, and major stores. The marketplace debuted more than thirty new or expanded showrooms across its campus and hosted the largest presentation of Temps in more than ten years.
“We noticed a significant number of new buyers from the West, which is great to see,” said John Keiser, CEO of OneCoast. The company opened a new, flagship showroom on the first floor of the World Trade Center.
Added Diverse Marketing’s CEO, Wes Hardin: “We’re impressed with the number of new West Coast stores, especially California and Washington, in attendance. There is good energy and positive momentum in Dallas.”
The next trade event at Dallas Market Center is the March Total Home & Gift Market (March 19-22), which is held together with the Apparel & Accessories Market.
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.
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.