DALLAS – October 28, 2009 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, today announced that Don McEvoy will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 21st annual ARTS Awards.

The Academy of Achievement is awarded to an individual who has made significant contributions to the decorative accessories industry. The honor, along with awards for the more than 20 category winners, is presented at a gala event each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 13-19, 2010). The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry. This year’s gala will take place on Saturday, January 16, 2010 in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.

Don McEvoy began as a sales representative in 1964, quickly building a successful showroom in the Dallas Trade Mart.  The McEvoy name, after more than four decades, has become synonymous with quality resources, excellent customer service, and industry leadership. Over the course of more than 250 markets and trade events, McEvoy has launched hundreds of new products, served tens of thousands of retail customers, and enjoyed the fierce loyalty of many long-term employees.

“For more than 45 years, Don McEvoy has worked tirelessly to incubate new companies and to help retailers thrive,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “We honor his innovation and his leadership. He remains a vital partner in the success of countless businesses. The home décor industry has no better friend and advocate than Don.”

McEvoy, always a step ahead, has consistently adapted his business model to remain competitive—through product development, new sales channels, and a diversified product mix. He has never been afraid of creative business strategies and has enjoyed not only sustained success but the respect of manufacturers, retailers, and his competitors.

The 21st annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by Contract Lighting; FurnitureStyle; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Gift & Home Channel; HFN; Home Accents Today; Home Lighting & Accessories; and Residential Lighting.

For tickets to the ARTS Awards gala contact Shonda Conner at 214-744-7442 or sconner@mcmcmail.com. Ticket prices are $125 for ART members and $150 for non-members. Tables of eight are available for ART members for $900 and non-members for $1080.

Make plans now to attend the next Total Home & Gift Market, January 13–19, 2010. Attendees may contact Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel®, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premiere awards program dedicated to the home decorative accessories industry. Twenty-six categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star, Academy of Achievement and Hall of Fame. Manufacturers are nominated by retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. Retailers and the Rising Star Award are nominated by manufacturers, sales representatives and other industry officials. Sales representatives are nominated by manufacturers, retailers and other industry officials. Product designers are nominated by all. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five or more times will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Fine Art Lamps, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.

About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource. 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 men's, western, women'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 84 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center Web site is available at http://www.dallasmarketcenter.com/.

About the Accessories Resource Team
The Accessories Resource Team (ART) is the association representing accessory manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other industry individuals and companies interested in promoting the decorative home accessories industry. The association’s goal is to enhance the market position of decorative home accessories. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars and the ARTS Awards. The Accessories Resource Team Web site is available at http://www.accessoriesresourceteam.org/.

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