Dallas Market Center Opens Summer Season with Retail Optimism & Ordering

June 29, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

“We were extremely pleased with the show given the shifting economic and global trade conditions,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Not only did retailers arrive in force but they were optimistic and eager to place orders especially with exhibitors who had in-stock items or new products. The consistent message we heard from exhibitors was that the show ‘exceeded their expectations.’ We have worked hard to stand with retail, oppose tariffs, and promote the in-person market experience as the best opportunity to have conversations, make informed decisions, and discover products that will make a difference for their business.”

Attendance included a large number of buyers who have never attended market in Dallas. This trend of attendance by more new buyers, which began during the pandemic, has remained consistent as retailers and interior designers choose Dallas.

Those buyers cite convenience, ability to source across categories, travel cost, and safety as their main factors. These motivations were summed up by Karen Wooten with Hallmark in Mesa, AZ, "There’s something special about this market. We discovered at least three to five new vendors we didn’t expect."

In addition to welcoming retailers and interior designers, across the marketplace new showrooms debuted with an immediate strong return on their investment.

Fashion accessories company Julie Vos opened a new showroom in the Trade Mart and reported their results: “We had record-breaking sales, unprecedented attendance, and a surge of new business at both Dallas Apparel and Dallas Gift shows,” said Marissa Alfano, vice president of wholesale. “The momentum and enthusiasm from our retailers exceeded expectations, marking one of our most successful market weeks to date!”

Ida Mae Home opened a new showroom in the World Trade Center and commented on their immediate results. “We were overwhelmed by the positive energy, excitement, and support we received from our buyers,” said Kristin Kiseljack, CEO.  “Overall, great markets for us and we feel very positive about our position coming out of them.”

Among the showrooms that have been a part of the marketplace for years, the feedback was also largely positive.

“K&K Interiors had an awesome Dallas show,” said Mark Walls, vice president of sales. “We were up in sales compared to a year ago, and June 2025 was the largest summer show in Dallas history.”

Addressing orders and retailer attitudes, Chuck Fraelich, president of tag, commented: “This show was tag’s most successful Dallas summer show to date—both in terms of total booked dollars and the volume of orders written. Retailers came prepared: they valued transparent communication, prioritized in-stock inventory, and were eager for updates on their holiday orders.”

One persistent theme was exceeding expectations. Cynde Stewart, president of RAZ commented: “We really had no idea what to expect … but the show was up, our average order was up, and we opened dozens of new accounts.” Added Ginnie Brand, director of operations: “We repeatedly heard that we exceeded their expectations—and the ones who came were buying.”

The Portico showroom shared their positive results. “I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but we had our best June show ever,” said Randa Crisler, VP of Portico. “We had two weeks of markets between Apparel & Accessories then Gift & Home, and I firmly believe our success has to do with how hard we work to drive traffic and put on a party for buyers in Dallas.”

Other exhibitors noted the positive retailer attitudes in Dallas. Andy Bjorn, chief sales officer with Ivystone, said: “We had retailers with positivity and who were planning and buying for the second half. The more experienced retailers asked good questions while we also noticed that many retailers didn’t seem too worried about surcharges.”

The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market welcomed hundreds of exhibitors to remerchandised destinations inside the discovery zone for new products that will help retailers stand out. Veteran and new exhibitors commented on their experience.

Megan Mitchell of Reminder Nail Polish notes, “Before we came to Dallas Market, we were in 12 stores. After just three markets, we’re now in over 220. The Temps were key to our success." Added Brooke Laroe Phillips of House of Happy, "This is our first year showing at the Temps, and we were super excited to show off our products. We did some advertising ahead of market and it really paid off... being in Spark Magazine brought people directly to our booth."

Retailer Excellence Awards
One of the most important values of the in-person market experience is community, and the 74th annual Retailer Excellence Awards united the industry to celebrate excellence. The event, held at Union Station Hall in downtown Dallas, welcomed hundreds of guests and honored eight retailers, including the home décor store category. Sales Representative of the Year winners were recognized, and the 2025 Manufacturer of the Year, DM Merchandising. The evening concluded with Doug Cofiell, CEO of Ivystone Group, receiving the Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award.

Style Eyes Trendspotting

The Style Eyes returned for summer as the program leveraging the knowledge and taste making skills of social media influencers for their insights and discoveries. Designer Presley Busenbarrick (@presleypierce_) served as Style Eyes for June Total Home & Gift Market. Presley owns Presley Pierce Interiors, a cheerful boutique in Atchison, Kansas, offering curated home décor, gifts, and accessories.

Spark Magazine: Summer Issue

More than 50,000 customers received the summer issue of Spark magazine, the stylish pre-market publication highlighting trends, what’s new inside the market center, and insights from makers and influencers. For June, the magazine focuses on top lighting trends featuring natural materials including stone, Palm Beach versus Palm Springs design style, and design trends for the home, along with features and profiles exploring gift and fashion. The magazine is available on the Dallas Market Center website.

Planning Ahead: Upcoming Markets

Future markets include August Apparel & Accessories Market, August 12-15; September Total Home & Gift Market, September 16-18; Dallas Design Week, September 16-18; October Apparel & Accessories Market, October 21-24; and January Total Home & Gift Market, January 7-13, 2026.

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, Instagram, LinkedIn and the DMC Blog.