Dallas Market Center Moves Summer Total Home & Gift Market to August

May 5, 2020  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The August trade event, which includes permanent showrooms as well as temporary exhibits, will draw exhibitors representing top brands, retail buyers from leading independent stores, and top interior designers to review and place orders for best-sellers and new products debuting at the show. Earlier summer buying events will offer retailers the opportunity to make appointments and place orders for immediate delivery items as well as fall and holiday delivery products to help refresh shelves and entice customers back into the store. Buyers are being encouraged to check with showrooms for appointments and availability prior to visiting the market center.

“After careful consideration we are shifting our summer show to new dates to best serve our customer community,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Our primary concern is the well-being of our customers, and throughout this pandemic we have been in close contact with state and local officials as well as our customer community to seek their perspective on business conditions, health and safety measures, and travel concerns. This critical input, unlike a moment-in-time survey that’s immediately outdated, has taken place in real time.

“As conditions changed so did customer thoughts on planning for marketplace visits. The  consensus, made even clearer after states announced their plans to get back to business, is that we should begin carefully ramping up our marketplace in sync with the reopening of retail but hold our larger events later in the summer including the Total Home & Gift Market followed by the August edition of Apparel & Accessories Market. By holding these events back-to-back over ten days we will spread out attendance but also allow for multi-category buying, a key Dallas advantage,” added Morris.

“We are confident in the strict measures we have put into place in partnership with our exhibitors. In advance of the announcement by the Texas governor reopening retail, we were already instituting safeguards to support a healthy, secure, and socially distant marketplace. In addition to these measures there are also natural design features of our campus that promote minimal contact and social distancing: open parking, large entryways, quick registration in multiple areas, multiple sets of escalators in each building, wide hallways, and showrooms with controlled access to allow for the appropriate distance between customers. We will be ready when the buyers are ready—and while we know that might take some time, we are confident in our ability to balance good health and good business,” continued Morris.

The specific market events, on-site services, and hotel partners for August Total Home & Gift Market will be announced soon. All traditional market elements that involve close contact and/or gatherings will be adjusted or removed completely.  

“We will be reaching out to our loyal buyers as well as buyers impacted by so many shows cancelling or delaying their events until later in the year,” said Eva Walsh, EVP of Retail Development for Dallas Market Center. “We understand that for many retailers their first steps are reopening their doors, restarting their sales, and then making a careful decision about visiting the marketplace. We fully expect more drive-in business for our summer events given our location within a few hours’ drive of most of the territory served by exhibitors and sales representatives. Even if buyers decide to visit for only a day or two we will be prepared to help make their trip quick and successful.” 

Dallas Market Center officially reopened to buyers on Monday, May 4 including many open-daily Design resources. Details regarding the reopening and rigorous health and safety measures in place are available on the company’s website. Buyers are highly encouraged to call ahead to make appointments with open showrooms. 

The full schedule of summer trade events in Dallas is as follows:  

• June 1-2: First Monday & Tuesday 
• June 2-4: Apparel & Accessories Open House: select showrooms open by appointment   
• June 23-26: Apparel & Accessories Market, KidsWorld; Gift & Home Open House: select showrooms open by appointment  
• July 6-7: 1st Monday & Tuesday 
• July 21-23: Gift & Home + Apparel & Accessories Open House: select showrooms open by appointment   
• August 3-4: 1st Monday & Tuesday 
• August 19-25: Total Home & Gift Market  
• August 25-28: Apparel & Accessories Market, KidsWorld, Dallas Western Market, and Dallas Men’s Show