Dallas Market Center's recent Total Home & Gift Market, which concluded last Tuesday, showed steady attendance, a significant increase in international buyers and offered the largest F!NDS Dallas Temp Show to date. The market offered more than 25,000 lines of gift products, decorative accessories, lighting, floral, gourmet, furniture, toys and seasonal items.

"The most important market indicator is showroom sales, and our exhibitors reported that retailers came to market ready to buy," said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center. "Domestic attendance at market was softer than the record-setting January market, while international attendance was up significantly over last year."

In addition to loyal international buyers from Latin America, buyers from countries such as Uruguay, Ecuador, Barbados, Indonesia, the West Indies and the United Kingdom were among guests visiting market. Special delegations of dozens of international lighting buyers were welcomed from Mexico (Monterrey and Guadalajara), Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Brazil. These buying groups represented significant buying power from growing economies.

The F!NDS Dallas Temp Show was bigger than ever and offered more new products across categories. HomeF!NDS moved from Market Hall to the 13th floor of the World Trade Center, offering buyers additional products near the permanent home showrooms; and the introduction of Red HauteF!NDS, a juried selection of high-end, boutique fashion accessories, was a hit.

Another highlight of this June's market was the debut of "Home for the Holidays" -- introducing Dallas as the national home of Christmas with a spectacular 4,200-square-foot, nine-room home furnished and decorated for the holidays. The home featured products from showrooms throughout Dallas Market Center and was located in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.

The next Dallas Total Home & Gift Market will take place September 13-15, 2008. Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center's in-house travel agency, MarketTravel, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 800-DAL-MKTS.