Kelly Bristol Joins Dallas Market Center as Vice President of Tradeshow Business Development

Furniture World News Desk on 11/15/2018

Dallas Market Center recently announced that Kelly Bristol has joined the company as Vice President of Tradeshow Business Development, responsible for the strategic planning, merchandising, and leasing of the temporary exhibits at Total Home & Gift Markets. Kelly brings more than 20 years of experience in the tradeshow, wholesale, and consumer show industries. She reports to EVP of Leasing Joan Ulrich.

Bristol joins Dallas Market Center from Emerald Expositions, where she served in leadership positions since 1999 most recently as Show Director for the National Stationery Show.

“Kelly is a respected leader who has anticipated important shifts in the industry while creating and maintaining positive relationships with manufacturers, buyers, and agents around the world,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “I am confident that her innovative and creative approach to tradeshows will deliver tremendous value for our marketplace, including adding many new resources and enhancing the overall market experience.”

Bristol joins Dallas Market Center amid marketplace growth in key categories including gift and home décor. In addition to new and expanding permanent showrooms, the most recent Total Home & Gift Markets welcomed hundreds of temporary exhibitors including 150 new exhibitors across multiple categories. Her mission will be to evaluate and advance the temporary shows as the discovery destination and center of trends at Dallas Market Center and to produce an inspiring collection of new and bestselling resources for buyers.

In addition to corporate leadership, Bristol has served as the amfAR liaison to the board of Gift for Life, the industry charitable organization, and as a board member of the Greeting Card Association. In 2017, Kelly co-founded Writes for Women, an association for Stationery industry professionals raising funds for the Ms. Foundation for Women.

More about Dallas Market Center: Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and women's, western, men’s and children's apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 85 countries, Dallas Market Center also offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits.

Dallas Market Center offers buyers from around the world a complete marketplace of best-selling and unique products in temporary and permanent showrooms including the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; the largest and most successful open-daily design center; dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday and floral; and the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories marketplace featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers.

Dallas Market Center serves retailers and interior designers from all 50 states and 85 countries and is located in the strongest economic zone in the country. In addition, more than 80 percent of Dallas Market Center buyers report that they do not shop other market centers. For more information, visit dallasmarketcenter.com.