15 Jan Light Up Your 2019 in Dallas – Top 8 Pillow Goddess Pre-Market Picks!

Happy New Year!  I’m super excited to be headed to Dallas in the morning to the 2019 LIGHTOVATION and the Total Home & Gift markets.  Dallas is well known as the International Home of Lighting and for good reason.  It is THE number one largest lighting market in the United States, featuring hundreds of top lighting brands and showrooms. As it says above, it is THE place “where bright minds gather” to meet industry professionals and discover the latest lighting trends and advanced technology, see new showrooms, and come away inspired. I know I do.

Last year, I was formally introduced to LIGHTOVATION by my friend Laura Van Zeyl, Vice President of Lighting Technology Development & Marketing, during the Grand Opening of the new SMART Center. (Laura has such a long title, that I call her The Lighting Goddess.) Because Laura knows everything about lighting and leases showroom space, I was able to attend many ribbon-cutting ceremonies, see new showrooms and meet the geniuses behind some of the best lighting manufacturers. (See June 2018 Top 5 Picks and fun photos HERE)

For this year’s January market, there are new showrooms and designer collection launches that I’m really excited about.

So this is how I start my new year every year. But the big difference is that instead of attending for Deborah Main Designs’ luxury decorative pillows, I’m attending as Press for The Pillow Goddess design blog. A new and exciting change for my business!

Drum roll please. Today is the “Official Launch” of our brand NEW blog design, The Pillow Goddess! Many thanks to my web master, Beth Been of Groovee Fortune and friends and followers who helped vote on the final font. I still can’t believe we got this done in time. SUPER happy! Below is our brand NEW design. (Still working out kinks, but let us know what you think and please subscribe in sidebar for an exciting 2019 ahead!)

One of the most innovative moves that Dallas Market made in 2018, was the launch of the SMART Center. It is a new seminar, event space and lounge powered by Dallas Market Center and the American Lighting Association.  It brings in top talent, with educational seminars, to LIGHTOVATION for interior designers and brands to share and learn more about lighting, social media, technology and more.

If you are a designer, retailer, or manufacturer, you should also be heading up to Dallas Market tomorrow. There are TOO many fantastic events at The Total Home & Gift Market AND LIGHTOVATION to list here, but I’m so looking forward to seeing my friend, Leslie Carothers, be a featured presenter again this year, hearing the trends from The 2019 Style Eyes, re-connecting with old friends and clients, seeing new showrooms, and meeting new people and brands.  Follow along friends for a fantastic 2019 Dallas Market!

Here are my TOP 8 Pillow Goddess Pre-Market Picks:

TUESDAY, January 15, 2019

#1 “PROPEL YOUR SALES FORWARD” KEYNOTE WITH LESLIE CAROTHERS

(plus a few more of her social media events below are included in this #1 Pick!)

3:00 P.M., The SMART Center – TM 4826

Leslie Carothers, CEO of Kaleidoscope Partnership + Savour Partnership, will deliver a Keynote jam packed with valuable information. I heard her speak last year and was blown away. Come with a speedy hand, because she goes fast with a mission to share as much of her knowledge with you as she can.  I can’t wait!

But that’s not all. Leslie has several more events throughout LIGHTOVATION. (See below and read Leslie’s Top 10 reasons to Attend Lightovation HERE).

WEDNESDAY January 16, 2019

#2 GRAND OPENING OF CWI LIGHTING NEW SHOWROOM

Wednesday, Jan 16th, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 2:45 p.m. at 3327-TM

CWI Lighting, a client of The Pillow Goddess design blog, has been in the process of re-branding and this is an exciting new larger showroom for them. Congratulations Maher Shaheen, National Sales Manager!  Join me at the Ribbon-cutting ceremony and see their NEW in-house “original” lighting designs. Below is a sneak peek of one of their brand NEW designs….how breathtaking! WOW, I can’t wait to see this beauty up close and personal. (June Market blog post HERE.)

THURSDAY, January 17, 2019

#3 JEFFREY ALAN MARKS LIGHTING LAUNCH + BOOK SIGNING

Thursday, January 17th, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Progress Lighting, Suite 3840-TM

Lighting industry leader, Progress Lighting, announces a new designer collaboration with acclaimed interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks. Launching at LIGHTOVATION during Dallas Market, is a 38-piece collection by Jeffrey called Point Dume.  With a desire to create statement pieces and add value to the designer marketplace, Progress Lighting’s first designer collaboration with Jeffrey is part of a NEW Design Series featuring lighting fixtures with an artistic influence on trend elements and details for affordable luxury interiors.

We are thrilled to be partnering with a talent like Jeffrey as the inaugural guest designer of our Design Series brand. We have long admired Jeffrey’s talent seen through his beautiful livable residential projects as well as his impressive brand collaborations. Jeffrey delivers style with ease as is evidenced in his Point Dume Collection for the Design Series. – Colleen Visage, VP Product Management, Progress Lighting

Here’s a sneak peek at one of Jeffrey’s 38 designs called Wandermere.  It is my fave so far, but I can’t wait to see all the others in person, particular some in his signature color “Maliblue”.  FYI: the first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of his book.  So line up my friends for a thrilling event!

#4 GRAND SHOWROOM OPENING & LIGHTING LAUNCH AT MEET & GREET WITH THOMAS O’BRIEN

Thursday, January 17, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Generation Lighting, IHDC- 1D321

I’m so excited to see Thomas O’Brien again and his new lighting designs, as he was THE first interior designer I heard speak in 2014 and the first designer’s book I bought. (I actually attended Dallas Market’s Sneak Peek as a blogger for the very first time.) I was so impressed with his candor and how open he was about how he started his design business and store, the ups and downs along the way, to where he is now.  I will always remember that first Dallas Market Keynote I heard and learned from Thomas because I believe it helped ignite my desire to meet more designers and learn about great design. Here’s Thomas and I back in 2014….WOW…5 years ago!  My how time flies!

Thomas O’Brien and me in 2014, Dallas Market Center. Read all about my sheer joy at meeting him and purchasing my first designer book HERE. 

#5 ARTS GALLERY PREVIEW NIGHT 

Thursday, January 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Light + Design on 10, WTC 10085

I’m super excited about previewing all the products that were nominated for the 30th Annual ARTS Awards because I am not able to attend the Awards event Friday night. The ARTS Awards is THE event to be at, be seen, where a fabulous gown, AND celebrate the innovation by extremely talented designers.

Several of my designer friends have been nominated. CONGRATULATIONS to you all!! I wish everyone much luck and a fantastic evening!

FRIDAY, January 18, 2019

(Hope to catch both of these exciting Friday events before I have to head back home to Austin.)

#6 DESIGN ELEVATED PANEL moderated by Julia Molloy

Friday, Jan. 18th, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

I have heard Libby and Dann on a panel before, last June (along with Michelle Workman) and it was one of the most informative and helpful panel discussions I’d ever seen. These two are super stars and so approachable. So go and learn! And since I know Julia, a dear friend and founder of BOLD Summit, I know this will be a fantastic panel discussion.

Me and interior & Product Designer Extraordinaire, Libby Langdon, with her beautiful new lighting at Crystorama, June 2018. She has some more coming out 2019 too!

#7 The 2019 Style Eyes Trend Panel 

Friday, Jan 18th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

TM1- Koi Pond

It is so exciting to know 4 our of 12 interior designers on the 2019 Style Eyes Panel this year.  That means I get to meet 8 new ones for the first time!  Last year’s panel was AMAZING with O Mag’s Creative Director Adam Glassman as the moderator.  He was so much fun to meet and I loved how interior designer Denise McGaha had a totally different response to one of his questions. I wish I could remember exactly what she said, but it was spot on. You will not want to miss this event because you get to hear so many different view points. I don’t know who the moderator is this year?? I guess it will be a surprise! (June Market blog post HERE)

Me, The Pillow Goddess, and moderator Adam Glassman. June 2018.

SATURDAY, January 18, 2019

#8 BOLD BRANDING with Julia Molloy

(This is a not-to-be missed event. Julia doesn’t come to Dallas often, so you’ll want to learn everything you can for going BOLD with your design business. She’s a gem!!)

Saturday, Jan 18, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
IHDC -1D404

And if you’re still not sure why you should attend Dallas Market LIGHTOVATION? Watch this video below and you’ll be as excited as I am.  I look forward to seeing many of you there! If you can’t make it, be sure to subscribe to The NEW Pillow Goddess Blog on the sidebar as I’ll be doing a recap later this month. See you there! XO PG