OVERVIEW
One of my bucket list items for 2016 was to attend the massive designer trade show, High Point Market, held semi-annually in the spring and fall in High Point, North Carolina. It is billed as, “the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 75,000 people to High Point every six months. Serious retail home furnishings buyers can be found in High Point twice a year because if you can’t find it in High Point…it probably doesn’t exist.” So I went. I can guarantee this statement is true.
High Point was exhausting. I was there for four days. They have 180 buildings, 5 or 6 of them the size of the Metro Convention Centre with 5 floors! Over 11.5 million square feet of showrooom space. Over 2,000 exhibitors. I really don’t know exactly how much of it I saw; maybe I scratched more than the surface. They had fitbit challenges by group - designers, media, exhibitors etc. I joined the designer group and by walking over 20,000 steps a day, I think on one day I made it into the top 10. Media, by far, out-walked everyone. It’s one of the most creatively inspiring, jaw-dropping events I’ve ever been to. I was like a kid in a candy store, and I believe everyone else felt the same. True talents I’m sure, have figured this place out and have the incredible ability to edit their thoughts and dial in on what they truly are looking for their clients, retail stores, wholesalers or whomever they are representing.
You really are on the leading edge of design by going to this event. I hope to go back and see more of it. If you are in the trade and plan to go, one word of advice: FLATS!