18 Jun Pillow Goddess Pre-Market Picks – 5 Must See Dallas Market Events!

This is the week!! We’re so excited for the start of two amazing tradeshows, LIGHTOVATION and the Total Home & Gift Market, both at the World Trade Center, Trademart and the Interior Home + Design Center at Dallas Market Center. There’s always waaaaay more to see and do then humanly possible, so you’ll want to plan ahead. To help you navigate all the fabulous events, (obtain CEUs if you’re a designer), hear the wonderful speakers, and see all the fantastic new products and showrooms, we’ve selected a few choices for you.

The Pillow Goddess’ TOP 5 Picks:

1. Wednesday, June 20th. 3:00 p.m. Leslie Carothers at the NEW Smart Center

LIGHTOVATION is launching a brand NEW Smart Center. with two keynote speakers, Leslie Carothers and Jon Schallert. Spearheaded by a collaboration between LIGHTOVATION and The American Lighting Association the NEW Smart Center is sure to please as it is 6,000 square feet of space dedicated as an education and activity center at THE largest residential lighting trade event in the U.S.

It’s located in Trademart 4826 and “includes a seminar suite, lounge space, and reception area that will be open to all registered attendees, exhibitors and guests throughout the show. The SMART Center replaces, expands, and upgrades ALA’s previous seminar location in the World Trade Center.”

One of the keynote speakers featured at 3:00 is remarkable! Leading home furnishings social media expert Leslie Carothers is presenting “Social Media Tools Proven to Drive Store Traffic.”  Leslie’s session covers “results-driven methods for using digital assets and platforms to increase foot traffic, website engagement and mobile search”.

You will learn so much if you attend this ONE session because Leslie’s so incredibly knowledgeable, talented and awesome in a million ways, and, full disclosure, she’s a dear friend. Her latest venture is Savour Partnership with partner Sam Henderson. Be sure to check out all of their services!

Here’s a piece Leslie wrote announcing her upcoming keynote speech that’s a must read HERE.

One brand I wrote about last June, CoeLux ,will have some of their NEW lighting in the new Smart Center. For a complete list of all the events click HERE.

2. Wednesday, June 20th  – 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Libby Langdon at Cyrstorama

I finally had the wonderful opportunity to meet the talented Libby Langdon in real life (#irl) at market in January. Check out my blog post HERE.

Her wise words of wisdom I learned were “Small victories lead to big victories” and she is so right.  Meet Libby and see her amazing new lighting collection for Crystorama.

RSVP to the invitation HERE.

3. Thursday, June 21st. Barclay Butera “A Body of Work, A Lifetime of Dreams”, 2:00 in WTC-Atrium

Internationally known, and highly-regarded interior designer, Barclay Butera, is sharing his whole 25 year journey of becoming the “King of Licensing”. I had the honor of meeting, and learning, from him, at the BOLD Summit in Chicago last fall.  His presentation, “A Body of Work, A Lifetime of Dreams”, which I can’t wait to hear, will be followed by a “Mix & Mingle with Barclay Butera” in Designer’s Patio showroom, WTC 9009, at 3:30 p.m.

4. Global Views Grand Opening, 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Interior Home + Design Center, showroom ID209.

The Grand Opening of Global Views NEW showroom is all day with several designer events throughout the day, but the BIG ribbon cutting ceremony and party starts at 5:00 p.m. Check out my blog post about the Grand Opening HERE. and be sure to stop by during the day to meet Aviva Stanoff, Julia Buckingham and more!

5. “Style Eyes” Panel Discussion, 4:00 p.m. moderated by Adam Glassman, creative director for the magazine “O”. (That’s right,THE Opra Magazine!)

Dallas Market has set another new trend with the first group of  “Style Eyes”! The new program “leverages the knowledge and taste-making skills of many of the leading industry social media influencers for their insights and discoveries during Total Home & Gift Market (June 20-26, 2018).” The list of interior designers below will also be instagramming their finds EVERY day during market, so be sure to follow them and use the hashtag #dallasstyleeyes.

Attend the 4:00 p.m.panel discussion chaired by Adam Glassman, creative director for O, The Oprah Magazine, where the Style Eyes will share their insights.  “Adam will serve as moderator for an hour of dishing about trends, treasures, and the talents of companies across the product spectrum.”

Style Eyes team members include:

–   Julia Buckingham (@juliabbuckingham), founder and principal of Buckingham Interiors + Design and owner of Modernique boutique in Phoenix, Arizona

– Shayla Copas (@shaylacopas), principal designer with Copas Interiors of Little Rock, Arkansas

– Julie Dodson (@dodson_interiors), creative director for Dodson Interiors of Houston, Texas

– Dann Foley (@designerdann), principal, Dann Foley Lifestyle from Palm Springs, California

– Teddie and Courtney Garrigan (@cocoanddash), ARTS Award-winning retailers with Coco & Dash of Dallas, Texas

– Shay Geyer (@designershay), owner and designer, IBB Design Fine Furnishings of Frisco, Texas

– Toma Clark Haines (@theantiquesdiva), owner of Venice, Italy-based The Antiques Diva touring and sourcing company

– Denise McGaha (@denisemcgaha), principal of Dallas-based Denise McGaha Interiors

– Greg O’Neal (@gregonealphilosophy), chief creative officer and co-founder of CUR8, the innovative marketplace for what’s next in furniture and decor

– Glen Peloso (@glenpelosodesigner), designer and television personality based in Toronto, Ontario

– J Schwanke (@ubloom), globally recognized flower expert and CEO of UBloom based in Grand Rapids, Michigan

– Jenny Tamplin (@jennytamplin), principal with College Station, Texas-based Jenny Tamplin Interiors

That’s the Pillow Goddess Top 5 Dallas Market Picks!  But please know there are TONS of other fabulous events going on all at the same time. Be sure to check out The Antiques Diva, Toma Clark Haines panel discussion and Robin Baron’s new showroom and so much more. Here’s a list of more LIGHTOVATION SMART CENTER events HERE and the Total Home & Gift Market events HERE.

Till tomorrow when you’ll learn all about a new lighting company re-branding and the brand partners at Global Views, have a lovely evening! XO PG

Note: This is not a sponsored post. Images and event details are from Dallas Market Center. Opinions are my own.