HEARTS Awards Auction Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Furniture World News Desk on 1/21/2021

Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced that the HEARTS Awards auction exceeded its fundraising goal. The online auction, which featured more than 70 one-of-a-kind plates creatively transformed by artists, designers, celebrities, influencers, and special guests, raised more than $10,000 for No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end child hunger.

Dallas Market Center extends gratitude to all of the associations and bidders who participated in the auction, and also to the large team of figures from the world of product design, interior design, and the arts who reimagined plates. Participants included Jane Seymour, Thom Filicia, Bobby Berk, Justina Blakeney, Thomas O’Brien, Jamie Drake, Libby Langdon, Adam Glassman (O, the Oprah Magazine), Julia Buckingham, Anna Bond (Rifle Paper Co.), Joe Ruggiero, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Jason Phillips (Phillips Collection), George Sellers (Global Views), Dann Foley, Alexander Julian, Bunny Williams, Barbara Barry, and Beatriz Ball. Special thanks also to Rosenthal for providing the plates for the silent auction and to Freightwire and Global Views for their generous donations to support the auction.

The top-earning plates were:

•  “Piecemeal: Cotton Candy” by Alexander Julian, which raised $915;
• “Cobalt Vase Plate” by Anna Bond, which raised $545; and
• “Boca Grande” by Kelly O’Neal; which raised $305.

“Thank you to the organizations and individuals who worked so hard to help us raise funds and feed families,” said Sharon Davis, executive director of ART. “We look forward to hosting an in-person awards event this summer where we may gather together and celebrate leadership.”

“Generous artists and bidders helped us exceed our goal and providing relief to those in need during a challenging year,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “It is a tangible testament to the giving spirit of our industry community.”

Media sponsors included: Aspire Design and Home, Designers Today, D Home, Furniture Lighting & Décor,Furniture/Today, Furniture World, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today, HFN, and Home Textiles Today.   

The HEARTS Awards is a one-time special event being held in partnership and solidarity with thirteen leading industry organizations to honor thirteen companies that have shown outstanding leadership, empathy and service during the COVID-19 pandemic by going above and beyond in service to their industry and/or community. The celebratory event, which will pay homage to the “hearts and heroes” of 2020 will be held during June Total Home & Gift Market, and hosted by Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia.

The recent Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas had strong attendance and order writing including a record number of buyers attending for the first time. Dallas Market Center reported that 25% of buyers at the show were first time attendees, the largest percentage in more than ten years.

Health & Safety Guidelines Supporting Buyer Comfort

Supporting the comfort, health and safety of all attendees, the market center continues measures that include mandatory face covering and temperature screening for every person entering the marketplace  every day. Other efforts include enhanced cleaning with hospital grade products, hundreds of hand sanitizing stations, limited food service, no gatherings, and signage for social distancing. Along with these new steps, there are safety measures that are part of the design of the marketplace: open parking, large entryways, quick registration in multiple areas, wide hallways, multiple escalators to each floor, and showrooms with controlled access to allow for the appropriate distance between customers.  

Additional Trade Events

In addition to January Total Home and Gift Market, other trade events will offer buyers a safe and welcoming marketplace in the coming weeks. Those events include Dallas Men’s Show (January 21-February 2) and Total Home & Gift Market (March 23-26), held together with Lightovation, Apparel & Accessories Market, AETA International Trade Show, and KidsWorld.

For upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website.

About ART: ART is the creative home furnishings network representing manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other individuals and companies interested in promoting and enhancing the market position of the home furnishings industry. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars, the ART card, and the ARTS Awards. The ART website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.

About Dallas Market Center: Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in gourmet and housewares, home décor, holiday/floral, gifts, lighting and apparel. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. The marketplace is located in the strongest economic zone in the country. In addition, more than 80% of Dallas Market Center buyers report that they do not shop other market centers. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center App. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the Dallas Market Center blog.