For seven days in January, Dallas Market Center presents its largest trade event of the year, the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 18-24).

“No other market center is experiencing more dynamic growth across more product categories than Dallas,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Across all four buildings we continue to see remarkable additions to the marketplace creating unmatched opportunities for our loyal buyers. Every product neighborhood of the Dallas marketplace will have new resources from highly respected companies.”

For gift buyers, hundreds of new manufacturers and new products from current exhibitors will be displayed across more than 2 million square feet dedicated to gift. Highlights include the 6,000 square foot expansion of Portico, a multi-line showroom in the World Trade Center, which will add 25 new product lines, and the 4,000 square foot expansion of Goetz Inc., a luxury multi-line showroom in the Trade Mart. Among the lines debuting in Dallas: Finchberry and Fine & Folded in Roadrunners; Pendulux, Les Georgettes and Thomas Sabo in the Patrick & Co showroom; Plum & Punch in Diverse Marketing; Rendezvous Style in Keith Smith; Travelon, F’Lint, and Harman in Cliff Price; and Bovi Home and Lucid Liquid Candles in Goetz Inc. and the addition of Simply Southern in Ivystone. In tabletop, Ryan Associates will debut Portuguese collections in porcelain by Vista Elegre and ceramics by Bordallo Pinheiro.

The biggest growth category in Dallas for 2017 is home décor. Home décor manufacturers include Stein World, debuting inside new space in the World Trade Center; the full collection from Julia Buckingham, debuting in Global Views; more than 130 pieces from the new Kirk Nix design collaboration with Palecek; more items from Golden Oldies presented in GO Home; more than 400 new items in Cyan Design; textile collections from Pyar & Co debuting in the Trade Mart; Handley Drive launching in Codarus; and Universal Furniture debuting in Charles Ray & Associates.

For Lighting buyers, the twice annual Lightovation shows provide the largest selection of residential lighting in North America. Resources in the Trade Mart and World Trade Center include all major lighting manufacturers, and January represents the biggest event of the year with hundreds of new product introductions.

The 2500 aisle of the Trade Mart has recently been expanded. This space houses lines like Columbian Home Products, new for January, and Wine2Go and The Wand by Pure Wine, new in the SourceOne showroom. In addition, the Housewares Training and Information Group (HTI) continues their partnership with Dallas Market Center by offering retailers the ability to buy on a corporate discount plan, and the first Gourmet Gold Housewares Awards, in partnership with Gourmet Insider magazine, will take place on Thursday, January 19 in the Trade Mart Atrium at 5:00 pm.

The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market will feature more than 500 temps in 15 categories ranging from gift and home to kids, collegiate, personal care, furniture, holiday, artisan, gourmet, vintage, paper, garden, fashion and high design. On the 12th floor, the American Made Show will deliver hand-crafted products from dozens of artisans; the Home temps on 6 will feature more than 14 new exhibitors; on the 13th floor, fashion resources specifically for gift stores will be featured; in the Trade Mart the Design temps will showcase 20% new exhibitors; and in Market Hall, more than 235 exhibitors will be featured across the vintage marketplace, furniture area, and Cash and Carry.

Corey Damen Jenkins and Robin Baron will present a Lunch and Learn program on Thursday, January 19 at noon in Light + Design on Ten (WTC 10085). On Saturday, the floral industry receives front-row attention as the Texas State Florists’ Association hosts their Floral Cup competition at Dallas Market Center and a duo keynote takes place in the World Trade Center atrium at noon featuring Jim Marvin and Matt Wood.

Finally, Dallas Market Center will host the 28th Annual ARTS Awards. The awards will be presented at a black-tie gala on Friday, January 20. The celebration includes awards in more than 20 categories, as well as two special awards: Mark Phillips of Phillips Collection is the recipient of the Academy of Achievement Award, and Connie Lineberry will receive a Legendary Leadership Award.

(Source: giftsanddec.com  Author: Lauren Davidson)