Dallas Market Center, the wholesale trade center uniting buyers and sellers from around the world, announces exclusive details of the January launch of the world’s largest marketplace for Western & English brands.

From January 14-17, WESA’s International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market will take place together with the AETA International Trade Show. More than 1000 brands for the western and equestrian lifestyle will be presented, including apparel and accessories, footwear, hats, and tack alongside complementary categories of gift and home décor.

Dallas Market Center announced in August of 2018 that the WESA shows would relocate to Dallas beginning in 2021 and in May of 2020 announced the acquisition of AETA shows. To prepare for these global events, a large-scale construction project was undertaken, the final stage of which is near completion: an entire floor of permanent showrooms joined by 250,000 square feet of updated space for temporary exhibits.

“We are thrilled to count down the days to the grand opening of the world’s largest marketplace for the Western and English lifestyle and to host an inspiring event with a more than 1000 top brands,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “We look forward to delivering new products, first-rate hospitality, and inspiration to loyal and new buyers competing in a challenging business environment. Collaborating with WESA and AETA is a tremendous opportunity to work with organizations that serve their members with a passionate commitment to success.”

WESA is anticipating a tremendous event in Dallas in just a few weeks,” said Amy Dill, executive director of the Western and English Sales Association. “The market center is rolling out the red carpet for our members as we collaborate on creating a world-class Dallas debut inside a world-class facility. We encourage everyone to register now and pay attention to pre-event communications to plan ahead for a successful experience inside the show and in the city of Dallas.”

When buyers arrive in January, the WESA International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market will feature hundreds of brands including temporary exhibits on the 11th floor of the World Trade Center. The AETA International Trade Show has sold out of space and will feature leading brands together on the 13th floor. The permanent marketplace of Western and English showrooms is located on the 14th floor of the World Trade Center building and includes more than 70 new showrooms from leading brands such as Ariat, Justin Brands, Dan Post, Hooey, Hatco/Resistol, Wrangler, Scully, Panhandle, Partrade, Equibrand, Rios of Mercedes, M&F, Lucchese, Milano Hat Company, Cripple Creek, and Roper/Stetson.

Adjacent permanent showrooms for women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, accessories, and footwear plus hundreds of showrooms of gift and home décor, holiday and gourmet will present buyers with a complete lifestyle assortment of goods under one roof for unmatched efficiency and inspiration.

The new location, convenience, and selection are already being recognized by retailers. “I’m excited for WESA to come to Dallas,” said McClain Cavender of Cavender’s Boot City. “I love getting to see new items each year., what the trends are, what the vendors we work with are presenting for that season.” Said Reagan Harris of The Pearl Antler in Boerne, Texas: “I really am excited about the fact that I can knock out all of my business in one trip.”

Business growth is a top priority for the exhibiting companies. Doug Naylor of Wrangler put it best: “We really anticipate exponential growth, both in excitement, awareness, but also the number of appointments we get and the number of customers we serve.”

A full schedule of events, promos and seminars will be announced closer to the shows.

Supporting the comfort, health and safety of all attendees, the market center will continue measures that include mandatory face covering and temperature screening for every person entering the marketplace every day. Other efforts included low contact entry via online pre-registration and the Market FastPass as well as enhanced cleaning with hospital grade products, hundreds of hand sanitizing stations, and signage for social distancing. Along with these new steps, there are safety measures that are part of the natural design of the marketplace: open parking, large entryways, quick registration in multiple areas, wide hallways, multiple escalators to every floor, and showrooms with controlled access to allow for the appropriate distance between customers.

During the month of January, Dallas Market Center hosts additional trade events including Apparel & Accessories Market from January 12-15 and KidsWorld from January 12-15. The week prior, Total Home & Gift Market takes place January 6-12 with Temps January 6-9; and Lightovation takes place January 7-10.

Pre-registration is now open. For WESA, please visit wesatradeshow.com and for AETA or other events please visit dallasmarketcenter.com.

In addition to its longstanding Western & English Markets, Apparel & Accessories Markets and Total Home + Gift Markets, Dallas Market Center is the new home of the WESA’s annual International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Markets and the AETA International Trade Show, taking place January 14-17, 2021. The marketplace features Western and Equestrian lifestyle brands serving retail buyers from across the U.S. and internationally. No other marketplace in the world attracts more buyers seeking Western and Western-inspired products.

(Press release courtesy of Dallas Market Center.)