Dallas Market Center (DMC)

Go red, make green.

Main Profile

Dallas Market Center, the largest wholesale merchandise resource in the world, is the one location where retailers from around the globe source a wide range of products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories, lighting, garden accessories and gourmet items to textiles, fashion accessories and women’s, men’s, children’s and western apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 buyers, Dallas Market Center offers an array of services geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits.

Dallas Market Center

Covering more than 100 acres, the Dallas Market Center is composed of four buildings— the World Trade Center, Trade Mart, International Floral & Gift Center, and Market Hall. Just a short distance from downtown Dallas, visitors to the Dallas Market Center will find the city’s finest restaurants, hotels, and entertainment facilities conveniently accessible.

Facts

Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise mart, conducts 50 markets annually, attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers. Founded in 1957 by real estate developer Trammell Crow, Dallas Market Center was the first permanent facility to unite regional wholesalers under one roof. Today, the comprehensive marketplace attracts specialty and department-store buyers from all 50 states and 84 countries.

Size

Dallas Market Center is comprised of four buildings containing nearly 7 million square feet, making it the largest wholesale merchandise mart in the world. The buildings contain 2,200 permanent showrooms and 460,000 square feet of temporary show space.

The Trade Mart and World Trade Center house approximately 25,000 lines of gift product, decorative accessories, home furnishings and lighting. In March 2004 Fashion Center Dallas, the new home for apparel and accessories, opened in the World Trade Center.

The International Floral & Gift Center, opened in January 1999, is the nation’s only mart dedicated to permanent floral products, holiday trim and related accessories. The IFGC is home to the American Flower Importers Association.

Buildings

Trade Mart: Opened in 1959 and expanded in 1976 and January 2007, the building has approximately one million square feet of showroom space housing 7,000 lines of gifts, decorative accessories, housewares, lighting, tabletop and stationery. Four display floors surround the Grand Courtyard atrium. Dallas Market Center management and marketing offices are located on the fifth floor.
World Trade Center: Dedicated in 1974, the building was expanded from 7 to 15 floors in 1979, reaching 3.1 million square feet. The ground floor of the 15-story atrium features the Hall of Nations, a display of flags from around the world. Also located on the first floor are exporters, Market Travel, a U.S. post office, shipping services and The Gourmet Market, the largest permanent wholesale gourmet showroom in the world. The upper floors house showrooms of gifts, decorative accessories, lighting, furniture, rugs, bed, bath, and linen, fabric, jewelry, toys and design furnishings. FashionCenterDallas, the new home for apparel and accessories, opened in March 2004 and offers more than 12,000 product lines. Related temporary exhibits are located on floors 1, 12 and 13 during markets.
International Floral & Gift Center: Opened in January 1999, the IFGC is the rebirth of the Dallas Market Center’s original building, the Home Furnishings Mart (1957). Connected to the World Trade Center, the 440,000-square-foot, two-story building is the only U.S. mart dedicated to the permanent floral and holiday trim industries, and hosts two shows annually.
Market Hall: This consumer exhibit hall, opened in 1960 and last expanded in 1963, contains 214,000 square feet. The Hall houses temporary exhibit space during market weeks and hosts 60 consumer shows and exhibits annually, attracting more than 400,000 patrons. Best known in Dallas as the site for popular boat, RV and car shows.