There is nothing that makes me prouder than DMC being the talk of the industry. I continue to hear about the Dallas Momentum. Wes Hardin with Diverse Companies summed it up in a LinkedIn post this week in which he claimed, “I don’t know that I have ever seen the building at full capacity or felt so much momentum...The January trade show should be the most attended in modern history!”
In addition to historically high showroom occupancy, our temporary exhibitors are the perfect complement to our permanent exhibitors and round out our ecosystem to deliver the complete shopping experience. And our temps have never been better!
Two years ago, we hired Jo Ann Miller Marshall who has a 30-year history of building premier gift and home temp shows. Jo Ann and her talented team have reorganized the temps, launching several new categories including the design collections -- High Style and High Style Boutique -- as well as MADE, comprised of handmade, Made in America and Made in Texas.
Nancy Barlar recently joined the team and is solely focused on bringing new companies to Dallas - reinforcing the importance of bringing exciting new product to our buyers. Expansion of Gourmet Market and the collaborations with Go Texan! and The Toy Association add even more layers of depth to the Temps at Total Home & Gift.
Meanwhile, our apparel temps have set record after record and our success and position is unparalleled within the industry. In the past three years, we have launched a half million additional square feet of curated temp space. We partnered with WESA, the Western/English Sales Association, to relocate the international western market to Dallas from Denver where it had been held for over 100 years. In addition, we acquired AETA, the American Equestrian Trade Association, and their tradeshow, creating the premier English riding show in Dallas which has attracted many European exhibitors to showcase their product. While these two shows are Dallas exclusives, they are only the tip of the iceberg as it relates to the Dallas Apparel temps.
Our women’s apparel shows are a national destination for retailers across the country. We have added collections such as emerging designers and SHINE for Indie Beauty. And we have experienced dramatic growth in our Footwear, Young Contemporary, Apparel and Accessories categories.
Our Men’s show is six times larger than pre-COVID, occupying almost the entire 12th floor. Our partnership with PGA and golf brands has been a huge success and we have added categories such as outdoor to our collection of premium men’s European and contemporary brands.
Our success is a result of our industry partnerships and the support of our exhibitors and buyers, our staff, and our commitment to establish durable relationships. We are also fortunate to have Crow Holdings as our family ownership as they celebrate their 75th anniversary.
As I always say, your business is our business, and thank you.
Cindy Morris,
CEO, Dallas Market Center