The Next Big Thing 2009-this could be you!

We are encouraging all our readers and fans to take their new products to the next level by entering this fantastic contest. We enjoyed participating and being named as one of the three finalists! Go for it! (the following is a press release from the Dallas Market Center)

February 24, 2009

DALLAS – February 24, 2009 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, today announced a call for entries for its national product search contest – The Next Big Thing. Three finalists will show their products in front of more than 50,000 attendees during the upcoming Dallas Total Home & Gift Market being held June 24-30, 2009.

The contest is for anyone who has The Next Big Thing – an artist, product designer, entrepreneur, or your next door neighbor. It offers the opportunity for those with great ideas to make their dream a reality.

“Now more than ever we want to partner with up-and-coming entrepreneurs,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “In challenging economic times it’s important to help develop small businesses that can improve the financial landscape of our country. The Next Big Thing national product search contest does just that – it allows individuals to show their products to wholesale buyers from throughout the world.”

The contest allows up-and-comers, whether companies or individuals, to show their product(s) in front of domestic and international retail buyers at Dallas Market Center. The Next Big Thing could be the newest gadget, perfect gift, or must have fashion accessory. This is an opportunity to get your product out in the market.

The finished product should be unique with an outstanding design and concept. Applications can be downloaded at www.dallasmarketcenter.com by clicking on The Next Big Thing and should be submitted via e-mail to thenextbigthing@dmcmail.com or mailed to The Next Big Thing; c/o Dallas Market Center; 2100 Stemmons Freeway, MS 120; Dallas, Texas; 75207 by April 1, 2009.

Three finalists will be selected by a panel of judges from trade and consumer publications as well as Dallas Market Center representatives and announced on April 20, 2009. The finalists will receive airfare and hotel to the upcoming Dallas Total Home & Gift Market FINDS Temp Show (June 26-29, 2009) to show their product in a complimentary exhibit space.

The judges will select a winner based on the finalists’ product, trade space presentation, and production plan. The winner will be announced on Saturday, June 27, 2009 and will win a prize package worth more than $10,000 including exhibit space at the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, January 13-19, 2010, a profile in one of Dallas Market Center’s award-winning custom publications, consultations from leading industry experts regarding branding, public relations, visual merchandising and much more.

Renee Williams, founder of SIPATINIZ™, was awarded The Next Big Thing title this past January with her spill-resistant martini glass and will show her product again this June as part of her prize package.

“I never in a million years thought I’d be selected as a finalist much less win,” said Williams. “The Dallas Market Center has offered the support and partnership I needed to grow my business and develop SIPATINIZ. I still can’t believe all of the opportunities that have been presented to me since winning!”

SIPATINIZ was selected from three contest finalists including Good For You Girls™ and Vintage Hem©. More information on our January finalists is available on their Web sites at www.sipatiniz.com, www.goodforyougirls.com and www.vintagehem.com.

For additional information on the contest visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com and click on The Next Big Thing or e-mail thenextbigthing@dmcmail.com.
Dallas Market Center holds four Total Home & Gift Markets (January, March, June and September) and five Apparel & Accessories Markets (January, March, June, August and October) each year. Retail buyers are offered new lines and products at Dallas Market Center throughout its permanent showrooms and temporary exhibition space.

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 www.dallasmarketcenter.com.

The Next Big Thing announced on Dallas TV 33

Salt Lake Tribune Press

Hot products named Next Big Things
Fashion trend » Utahn's frilly slip is a finalist.
By Dawn House

The Salt Lake Tribune
Posted: 01/17/2009 08:49:00 PM MST
Jennifer Young, Draper, was named one of two finalists in The Next Big...

The familiar caution that your slip is showing could become a fashion statement.

On Saturday, a Draper woman who designs frilly slips that peak out from under shirt hemlines was named a finalist in The Next Big Thing contest. The announcement was made during the Total Home & Gift Market show in Dallas.

The winning product, however, may not be a big seller in Utah. It's a spill-resistant martini glass. The goblet, designed by Renee Williams of Rowlett, Texas, has the traditional shape of a martini glass, with an added curved rim -- much like a toddler's sip cup -- to prevent spills.

Jennifer Young, founder of the Utah-based Vintage Hem, was one of two finalists from a pool of 100 contestants. Young, 32, got her idea from a favorite dress that had an attached slip which fell below the hemline. Why not design a slip that could be worn with other dresses and skirts -- particularly ones that are a bit too short, she reasoned.

"A slip could add a fun, romantic flair when worn underneath different outfits," Young said. "Then I started thinking about different ways to embellish hemlines."

Meredith Hite, spokeswoman for the Dallas Market Center, which stages 50 exhibitions each year, said Young's product caught the judges' attention "because it's a low-cost way to change your wardrobe while adding a little spice to what you wear."

To attract online customers to her fledging business, Young paid for a television ran after the closing LDS Church conference session in the spring of 2007. She choose the Mormon conference because women are advised to dress modestly.

Young paid particular attention to two slips she had designed that sparked the most interest after the single commercial was broadcast. One undergarment was edged with a simple tulle netting and the other had a single row of eyelet lace.

The first year she racked up $12,000 in sales for the six months she was in business and last year revenues totalled $20,000.

Young, who runs the business from her home, calls herself a one-woman show. She manages her Web site, Vintagehem.com, as well as the company bookkeeping, and stocks her inventory in the downstairs' basement. She holds a finance degree from Brigham Young University, and says she has learned from watching her husband Jason, whose career is in sales.

The couple has three young girls. And, Young is expecting their first boy in May, "so I'm hoping we can afford to hire some employees soon."

Her line of undergarments comes in black, blush, white, ivory, gold and polka dots. Prices start at $14 for the tulle slip to $28 for one edged with three rows of one-inch eyelet ruffles.

Young is presenting her Spring Tea collection for spring and summer hemlines during the Dallas Market Center show that runs through Monday. As a finalist, she was awarded free booth space and travel to the international market.

The second product finalist is a product skin-care line for girls age 9 to 15 years old, marketed by a New Hartford, Conn.-based company. Winners were selected by four judges, based on the contestants' product, trade space presentation and production plan.

dawn@sltrib.com

photos courtesy of Sara Kerens photographer and expert snow angel maker, sara@sakphotography.com

Press at Utah Pulse

01/08/2009 Vintage Hem, Semi-Finalist In The Next Big Thing
Local Company Is Making Its Debut At International Market

The Next Big Thing Winner

The Dallas Market Center named Sipatiniz, a spill-free martini glass the winner of their national product search, The Next Big Thing. Inventor, Renee Williams designed the glass after a fun-filled night with martinis and girlfriends that led to a lot of spills. The glass has a curved edge and straw to allow martini lovers to enjoy their favorite drink without the worry of spilling. You can get more details about the innovative glass at www.sipatiniz.com.

Good For You Girls, an organic skincare line for tweens and Vintage Hem, our slips to embellish your hemline were honored to be included by the Dallas Market Center as semi-finalists in their national product search. You can try out the amazing skincare set innovated by Good For You Girls partners Grace & Kimberly. Be sure to check out the new line Spring Tea debuted at the market by Vintage Hem.

The Dallas Market is an incredible organization employing an amazing crew. Vintage Hem is so excited about this opportunity to make new friends and share our product. It was an incredible experience and we highly recommend the The Dallas Market Center to showcase your product. If you have a new idea, you can participate in their next contest to be held in June 2009 at the Dallas Market Center website .