Fall 2020 - 50

RESILIENT,
CONNECTING
AND MOVING
FORWARD:
A CONVERSATION WITH A DALLAS
MARKET CENTER RETAIL BUYER
As we move into the 2021 trade show season, safety is still a top
concern for many wholesalers and buyers. Dallas Market Center (DMC)
delivered that safety at the August Total Home & Gift Market this past
summer, while ushering attendees back into the in-person trade show
experience. DMC is thrilled to welcome buyers back again in January
2021, to the first gift market of a fresh new year.
To hear about how retailers
are doing in these
Mark Snyder
unprecedented times and how the August show
experience felt, DMC sat down with Mark Snyder, owner
of William Glen in Sacramento, CA.
DMC: HOW'S BUSINESS?
Mark: You know, business for us is very good. It's been an interesting
year as everyone knows, but we have been able to pivot ... to adding
additional online presences and strengthening that segment of
our business model. And it was by utilizing our existing website and
expanding on it.
DMC: WHAT CHANGES IN DEMAND DID YOU SEE?
Mark: Right away, we saw an increase in demand of essentials,
basics, everything from kitchen tools and knives and cookware to ways
to serve it, to entertaining and all that. But then also people were
indulging a little bit and buying things that were a little on the higher
price point to probably bring some enjoyment for those people that
were stuck at home.
DMC: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO COME TO MARKET THIS
SUMMER?
Mark: It gave me a chance to see some retailers that I know from the
past and to collaborate on what each other was experiencing. Then
secondly, also looking for that fill-in product.
DMC: TALK FOR A SECOND ABOUT THAT COLLABORATION.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Mark: We can all shop vendor catalogs online and we can all talk
online. But being able to go to the shows and see each other, whether
it's an organized meetup or just passing each other in the hallway and
having a two minute conversation ... that will never be replaced in my
mind. And the shows are truly the best way to do that. I've met some of
my best resources and honestly, best friends at the shows.
DMC: DID YOU FEEL SAFE?
Mark: 100%. It was obvious that the Dallas market was following
specific protocols to make the buyers feel welcome on all levels.
DMC: DID YOU VISIT THE TEMPS?
Mark: Yes, we did. Temps are a great way to find that really new
product that hasn't even been established. And a lot of my vendors do
the temps because they are smaller. It's important.
DMC: ARE YOU GOING TO MARKET IN JANUARY?
Mark: Absolutely. Without question. Dallas has always been my go-to
market. It's a staple of my market plans.
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DMC: DALLAS IS FIRST ON THE CALENDAR IN JANUARY. ANY
ADVANTAGE THERE?
Mark: Being able to hit Dallas first is advantageous because it's a onestop
shop. The campus of Dallas Market Center is also spread out with
wide aisles, bigger showrooms, it's better laid out than other markets.
You can actually step back and have your own private purchasing area,
whereas some of the other markets you're kind of right on top of each
other. Dallas just provides for a better, well-spaced buying experience.
DMC: WHAT'S YOUR HOPE FOR BUSINESS FOR 2021?
Mark: There was tremendous resilience in 2020 so for those who
have been able to make it this year, 2021 is going to be better. One
thing that I've noticed is that our local customers and our repeat
customers have become more empowered and more emboldened to
support the local retailer.
Join Mark Snyder and fellow retailers for Dallas Total Home & Gift
Market, January 6-12 (Temps Jan 6-9) for the first market of the year.
Explore DMC's beautifully spacious campus featuring a wide variety
of permanent showrooms and temps, more one-of-a-kind and artisan
products than anywhere else, interactive and inspirational trend
displays, and a friendly staff full of southern hospitality ready to help
your business thrive in 2021.
For more information and to register to attend, visit
www.dallasmarketcenter.com or call 214-655-6100.
http://www.dallasmarketcenter.com
Fall 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fall 2020
