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DMC Exhibitor Community:
Recently I shared with you details about our response to the tariffs increases. These sweeping changes have created anxiety throughout the global economy. Even as adjustments to tariffs are made over the coming months, country by country, we are operating under a high level of uncertainty.
We stand together and are a unique business able to connect customers, unify voices, and share information to support retailers and the more than 25,000 brands that are represented inside our marketplace.
Over the last week, we have engaged in helpful conversations with many of you, retailers, trade organizations, trade experts, and policy experts.
While we work on several fronts now is the time for action. It has become clear to us that there is a small window of time to support Main Street retailers preparing for their holiday selling season and the companies providing their merchandise. While the dynamics are different for each type of retail business, we must unite around hundreds of thousands of store owners who depend upon Q4 commerce.
We are launching a campaign called “Stand With Main Street. Turn Off Tariffs.” It includes several important action items that we will share with you over the coming weeks. Here’s how you can help now, and we welcome your help spreading the word.
A special communication will be shared with all buyers today including much of this information and also encouraging them to remain connected to their reps, showrooms, and our marketplace.
Sign Our Petition
Please sign a petition available here. Please share with your professional networks too. Our headline is simple: “Stand With Main Street. Turn Off Tariffs.” If you want to cut and paste a link to the petition: https://dallasmarketcenter.com/standwithmainstreet
Our efforts ask for a 90-day pause with zero tariffs between the U.S. and China in order for merchandise to flow freely and arrive in stores for the holidays with no tariffs. This is the simplest and quickest call to action. Thanks for your support, and we have been asked to share the results with key political leaders and teams taking legal action.
Here is a link to graphics we have created that you are free to use to help promote the campaign: https://tinyurl.com/standwithmainstreet
Contact Congress
The National Retail Federation has created an easy form to reach out to your representatives on behalf of retailers. Use this link to easily send a message. We have been in contact with NRF, who notes that there is now bipartisan support emerging for a bill to require Congress to approve all new tariffs.
Direct appeals are being made to congressional leaders via several channels. One example: the government lobbyist for the American Lighting Association is placing us in contact with Senate sponsors of the bill requiring Congress to approve tariffs. Also know that Harlan Crow, CEO of Crow Holdings, the owner of Dallas Market Center, is actively assisting us with connections to organizations and political leaders to take action. In fact it was Harlan who shared with us a lawsuit filed last week with U.S. Court of International Trade representing small businesses. We have reached out to the organization which filed this federal lawsuit to assist in any way we can but we also know these are not immediate solutions.
Encourage Retailers
We all need to do our part to communicate with retailers regularly—to share supportive information and to listen. As an example, we appreciate this explanatory video that John Toler with Evergreen Enterprises, a gift and home manufacturer, recorded to walk his customers through the details and impacts. Whether via email, video, a call, or a visit, we need to remain connected with retailers. Likewise, we are focusing communications to retailers with this core message: “Retail Rules Are Changing. Be at Market To Rewrite Yours.” As I mentioned in my previous email to you, I truly believe that only by attending markets in-person will buyers gain clarity and understanding, easily survey the marketplace, make informed merchandise decisions, discover new margin making brands, and avoid delays.
Everyone needs to be engaged and active as we approach summer markets. As I mentioned in my email last week, we will host a webinar with several of the leading independent retailers in the country discussing how they are adapting for 2025. Also, we are hosting a morning event on Tuesday, June 17, here at DMC featuring Jonathan Gold, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation (NRF), to present insights and to join with leading manufacturers to discuss the path forward. We will share links when available.
As a hub of commerce and connection we are doing whatever we can to help you, and we welcome any suggestions or ideas you have so that we support one another.
Sincerely,
Cindy Morris, President and CEO – Dallas Market Center
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