Back from market

The Dallas Gift Market is a big deal for us as we have a permanent space there in the Hemisphere Design Gallery on the 9th floor of the WTC. There are two major gift markets a year, January and June and two smaller gift markets, March and September and I attend all four. We always try to have new products to present for each market and sometimes run a special of some sort for our customers as well. We do a mailer to our customers to let them know we’ll be there too.

We look forward to market on a number of levels:
1. A way to directly interact with our customers and potential customers which gives us not only the opportunity for sales but also for feedback on our products as well as ideas for new products.

2. A place to interact with other small business people -- the Hemisphere Gallery where we exhibit is a shared showroom and so there are a number of other exhibitors there that we get to see at each of the markets. We not only socialize but get to share ideas for better marketing as well as our thoughts on trends and the overall market.

3. An opportunity to learn new ways to improve our business -- our showroom is located right next to the conference hall where DMC hosts many informative seminars on diverse topics such as customer service, new trends, utilizing the internet and marketing. They are free and I always walk away with some good ideas so I take advantage of them whenever I can.

4. A first hand look at what else is out in the marketplace. Often new business will first come to exhibit at market in the temporary spaces. I like to walk through the aisles and get a look at what products and brands are new.

We spend quite a bit of time and effort getting ready for and participating in the markets that occur during the year but we feel it is well worth it and hopefully benefits our customers and makes us a better company as well.

I have here a video I shot that gives you a quick little tour through our Hemisphere showroom. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the booths and meeting our manager.