High Point Market

High Point Market, held in High Point, North Carolina, is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world measuring 11.5 million square feet (1 km²), and is managed by the High Point Market Authority. The space is available in about 190 buildings throughout the area. The market holds two major shows each year, one in April and another in October. Both markets run for 10 days. The High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing 85,000 people to High Point every six months. [http://www.hpe.com/index.php?pSetup=highpoint&curDate=20061102&pageToLoad=showFreeArticle.php&type=art&index=03] High Point's rise as a furniture manufacturing center began in the 1880s and its beginnings as a center for furniture marketing began soon after.

Information

History

1889: Production begins in High Point's first furniture factory. The High Point Furniture Manufacturing Co. ships its first piece, an office desk, by July. Its success inspires others to get into the business. The industry grows thanks to a ready supply of inexpensive lumber and a regional market for cheap furniture.

1909: The first formal Southern Furniture Market is held in High Point March 1-15. It quickly becomes a popular regional market.

1921: The Southern Furniture Exposition Building opens for its first show June 20. Built in 19 months, it costs about $1 million and holds convert|249000|sqft|m2|-2 of exhibition space. Regular shows are held in January and July.

1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, and the United States enters World War II. Material and manpower used for furniture making are turned to the war effort. Except 1943, the furniture market is put on hold until the end of the war.

1950: The Wrenn Wing is added to the Southern Furniture Exposition Building. The center's fourth expansion is connected to older parts of the building by glass walkways over Wrenn Street. During the 1950s, informal "in-between" markets begin to emerge, hosting visitors in April and October. The main markets are still held in January and July.

1960s: The size and scope of the mid-season marketing April and October begin to surpass the January and July shows. During the next two decades, they become the dominant force in the American furniture industry. Showrooms other than the Southern Furniture Exposition Building gain stature, both in size and importance.

1980: Although the furniture market is well established in High Point, organizers in Dallas make a bid to host the major national home furnishings market. In High Point, this spurs a trend toward increasing services for furniture market visitors consolidating the show.

1982: The January and July shows, long relegated to the status of regional markets, are discontinued. April and October are now the only shows in High Point.

1989: The Southern Furniture Market is renamed the International Home Furnishings Market. High Point's largest showroom, the Southern Furniture Exposition Building, changes its name to the International Home Furnishings Center, or IHFC. With nearly convert|7000000|sqft|m2|-3 of furniture showroom space already available around the city a decade-long showroom building boom is about to begin. About 55,000 people attend the October market.

1990s: A construction boom that continues today begins an additional convert|3000000|sqft|m2|-3 of showrooms to High Point.

2000: Showroom expansion in High Point continues, with the addition of massive new temporary exhibit spaces: The Suites at Market Square (April) and Showplace (October).

2001: The 12th floor of the IHFC opens, giving the building convert|3500000|sqft|m2 of space. It's now more than 14 times its original size. Market organizers estimate about 80,000 visitors on average attend the April and October Markets. Organizers announce the formation of the High Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority Corp. The Market Authority hires a professional transportation company to take over all shuttle operations for the trade show and begin looking at other means to improve the logistics for the show.

2002: Market organizers go to the N.C. General Assembly for the first time in its history seeking state support for the trade show. The Market is shortened by a half-day - the Market now opens on a Thursday and closes the following Wednesday.

2003: The Market Authority begins a scaled down version of shuttle service starting on the Monday before the furniture market formally opens. The N.C. Department of Transportation sets aside $900,000 for each of the next two years so the Authority can offer free shuttles to and from 100 hotels and the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The Market currently had about 3,000 exhibitors, convert|11500000|sqft|m2 of showroom space, 188 buildings and approximately 70,000 - 80,000 attendees each Market.

2005: Three major enhancements debut at the Fall 2005 Market: A new state-of-the-art Transportation Terminal opens in downtown High Point, offering Market visitors free shuttles to every showroom and event. An on-line Market Planning Tool is added to the Market Authority web site, allowing guests to select the showrooms and events they will be visiting, and then print them out on a map that cross-references each location to its nearest shuttle stop. And the new centralized registration system allows visitors to obtain a single badge for all major Market venues in one transaction. In addition, the world's most comprehensive home furnishings Market grows by convert|187500|sqft|m2|-1 as five new showrooms are opened.

2006: On-line pre-registration becomes available at the start of the New Year. Verifiable data from the new system reveals that 100,128 home furnishings professionals registered for the Spring 2006 Market, confirming its position as the industry's leading event. Judy Mendenhall, the Market Authority's first president, announces her retirement in February, and in an expression of gratitude for her substantial contributions, the city of High Point renames the new transportation terminal the Mendenhall Transportation Center. New president Brian Casey, a 26 year veteran of the trade show industry, takes the helm just prior to the Spring Market, outlining his vision for an organization that is relentlessly focused on its customers and committed to continuously improving its guests' experiences. Further strengthening its leadership team, the Market Authority hires furniture industry veteran Kimberley Wray as its first vice president of marketing. Announcing the hiring, Casey cites Wray's tremendous talents and industry connections as keys to the ongoing growth and improvement of the High Point Market. The International Home Furnishing Market is renamed in August 2006 to the High Point Market.

External links

* [http://www.highpointmarket.org/ Market Authority site]