High Point Market
I’m so excited. Launching my business was a big step for me. All of the required steps kept making things all see a bit more real. Registering my business, getting my resale #, purchasing my url, gaining my first client, etc. Even with numerous local clients under my belt and even more e-decorating clients I still feel like I’m playing shop. I totally shy away from showrooms, because they make me feel out of place! This year though I’m all about growing this business of mine and becoming more knowledgeable and gaining more resources.
With that being said I’m getting all of my ducks in a row to head to market with my sweet pal, Marianne. I’m super excited, but also a bit nervous. It’s a really big place with lots of vendors and even more people.
This is where all of you sweet readers come into play.
Any tips for those that have ever been?
Favorite vendors I should check out?
The market runs 6 days and we plan on being their for 3 and half. Do you think that’s enough?
Do you know of any other bloggers/designers going?
If you haven’t been to market you can still offer up advice.
What sort of furniture pieces are lusting after for your home? Upholstery? Wood? What price point?
I will keep you all posted on this trip. It’s at the beginning of April and I’m sure it will be here before I know it.
Products above from to the trade company: Port 68
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ON THE BLOG
My living room is one of the rooms that evolved drastically from when we first moved one. Originally I painted the walls chocolate brown and did accents of white, blue and orange. That lasted maybe 2 years.
Our dining room sat empty for months. Okay maybe it was empty for just a handful of weeks and then we couldn’t take it anymore and put in a folding table and plastic outdoor chairs, but in my mind that was still empty.
On the main floor of our house we have a Florida room. Being that it’s a Florida room it is a considered a 3 season room, because there is no heat in the room. The previous owners used it as an indoor patio with outdoor furniture and it looked like this when we moved in.
I used to go to market all the time (I was a fabric designer for residential), my advice is to wear comfortable shoes, you will be walking A LOT and the floors aren’t so forgiving. Go ahead and look at the list of vendors online and then map out who you want to see. Making a plan is the key – you can stray from it, but at least you know what you want to hit. I always parked at the mall and took the shuttle over (I think they are still doing that). Ask before you take pictures. Don’t forget about all the showrooms outside of the market. Showplace is a good place to grab lunch, but there are some other great places to eat within walking distance of IHFC. I actually worked in High Point for a while and grew up in Greensboro. Are you all staying in Greensboro or High Point? If you are in Greensboro the Chop House is a good place to eat as is the restaurant (name escapes me) in the Proximity Hotel. Most of all have fun!
The restaurant at Proximity Hotel is Print Works Bistro.
i am excited you are touching on this topic. i also, have never been to the furniture market. even living only 20 minutes from high point, i have always found it too intimidating.
Yay! High Point is a fun time, I’ll be there! I would def echo Jenny and say to make a plan! It can be so overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Taylor King and Sherrill are always worth a trip- Nuevo has fun modern lighting and furniture in IHFC, Global Views is also great in IHFC. You def need all afternoon in IHFC- and plan some free time to wander- its amazing what you can find in there. So excited for you taking your first trip, maybe we will run into each other!
I have no advice or tips but I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK!!! You will be great 🙂
SO EXCITED!!!!!!!
I’m in the market for a comfy leather sofa/loveseat set for around $3-4K. A new coffee table, end table, floor lamp, and cool accent chair (~$600). Basically redo the living room when the puppy is done acting like a puppy. 🙂
have been to the LA Mart and Dallas. here are my tips:
totally comfy shoes. Looks not as important as comfort! go with a flat you have worn numerous times–you don’t want to be breaking in your shoes at market.
take good notes and take pictures. totally overwhelming.
have a plan as there are many floors and many vendors. try to go in an orderly fashion so you aren’t backtracking.
take loads of cards to pass out. and get loads of cards.
have fun.
K
So wish I was going with you! I bet it will be a blast! Looking forward to your recap post! 🙂
I already offered this up to Marianne, but I am happy to play market tour guide! High Point can be overwhelming at first, but it really is so manageable. I think the important thing to remember is that — because you are not buying items to fill a shop — you are able to just enjoy the inspiration and search for various vendors. Shop owners definitely have a *much* harder task! 3.5 days is plenty …
Oh, and I live in Charlotte, so I generally hop up for a day at a time for one market per year and then stay in High Point for about 3 days for the other market. You can ask Bryn, Lauren and Maria how I do as a tour guide. 😉
I’m just a blog reader and DIYer at this point, but i wanted to respond to the first post. The restaurant at the Proximity hotel is Printworks bistro. It’s fabulous. I live in Charlotte too and I’ve been several times.
Have a fantastic time and I’ll look forward to the post after! All the best – Barbara
I follow your blog and love to see what you are doing….I work for a Textile company called Eastern Accents – we show right at the entrance to Suites at Market Square. You should stop by and explore our company, we are not snobby, easy to work with and have some cool things….also we are launching a new bedding line by Barclay Butera in April so we have a party on Monday from 4pm onwards – please stop by. As to walking around the suites are usually pretty good and Interhall which is on the ground level of IHFC is the ultimate destination for trends and really cool interesting stuff.
We have coffee, sangria and snacks in our showroom all day so when people need a pick me up they usually stop in 🙂
Have fun!
My boyfriend lives so close to High Point and I’ve always wanted to go but never have. I am pretty sure that Jaime Meares from isuwanee goes every year!
i work the atlanta gift mart in a friend’s showroom. you cannot hear this enough…comfy shoes! i am on the sales side but i see a few things that let me know who will have used their time wisely. 1) map out a route and what you want to see. 2) stick to it. if you see something you like write it down and use your time at the end of the days to see those. 3) ask before you take pictures…but do ask! inspiration is everywhere and you will want to remember what makes you happy! 4) have fun. i see a lot of grumpy people at mart..that’s no fun and you will get a lot more info from the vendors if you are upbeat and enthusiastic…naturally they see you as a potential long term customer and they want you to succeed! have a great time and revel in the fact that you are living out what you love!
Good Luck…I am sure you will do great!!! How fun! And from what I can tell peeps are diggin’ chinoiserie right now…just a thought!
I’ve been to Market a couple of times when I was a showroom manager. It is so fun, but so tiring. The first time I went I was about 7 months pregnant. It can be overwhelming. Get the market book explaining where everything is in High Point. Plan, plan, and plan some more. I say this because of your shyness to the showrooms. Don’t forget showrooms can be your best friends. I’d be your friend if you lived in Dallas!
High Point Market is exciting but you really need to plan out your days. You have to go to the IHFC (the big building). Enter on Commerce and check out Innerhall. You’ll love the accessory floors. dn’t miss Global Views. Take the guide home at night and study it. You can get the big market book at the fron desk. It’s heavy so get it on the way out. The C&D building and Market Square can be worked together. The North Hamilton area, the Steele building, etc can be another day. There are GO Anywhere shuttles that really will take you anywhere. Have fun!
You are going to have so much fun ! Three and a half days is plenty, you won’t see everything but then again you don’t want to see everything. You’ve got some great advice here, especially the shoes.
I’m just a DIY’er/design junkie + have never been to Market, but I would love, love, LOVE to hear back about 2 things that I’m totally digging at the moment:
1) the Lilly Pulitzer furniture line by Lee Jofa– I am dying to spread some LP love sparingly throughout this casa + I can’t find any info about the line, and
2) any cute modern ideas/inspiration you see that would fit in with a 70’s country club vibe. Sorry, that was super specific! Anyway, good luck + hope it’s a blast!
Oh my gosh I totally relate. I want to go so bad but am very intimidated and don’t think I can swing a plane ticket right now. I’ve only done New York Gift Fair so far.
But totally agree with you about Designer Showrooms! I Swear I feel like I am the ONLY designer under 40 in Philadelphia!! I know I’m not, but, every time I go shopping people look at me like I’m a student. Who cares… my clients don’t. And we are the future of design, right?
I’ll be there! You are in for a treat. I have been lots of time and #1 tip is the comfy shoes. Take advantage of shuttles. Most companies have some great foods {and drinks!} out for lunch and dinner–take advantage of it, it’s great! It saves you time and $. I always go to Blue Ocean Traders–they have a 13,000 sq ft warehouse a few blocks from Market that they open up during market and it’s cash and carry. It is chocked full of bread bowls, metal furniture, industrial furniture, on and on…Also, I always visit Lee Industries. Their multi-level building is merchandised fabulously. I woud be happy to share more of my fave spaces with you and would love to meet you if we are there at the same time!
You are going to be so inspired after visiting the High Point Furniture Market. I am an Interior Designer at Barbour Spangle Design. Our firm is located in Historic Market Square in downtown High Point. We are surrounded by the showrooms all throughout the year. We actually work with several furniture manufacturers setting up the showrooms for market! Wear comfy shoes, bring your camera (and charger) and be ready to have a good time shopping!
Be sure to check out: Hickory Chair, Arteriors Home, Global Views, Leftbank Art, Legacy Linens, Wildcat Territory, Interhall at the IHFC and a few of our designer friendly clients….. Linwood, Sligh, Serta, Ekornes, Fremarc, CMI, McKinley Leather just to name a few!
Good luck and stop by our office to say HI if you are in Market Square!!
Hi, I’m going to be a vendor at the October Show. Does anyone have any pointers as to WHERE I should set up a booth. I make Primitive Country Furniture, and we are very well known in the Primitive World in the USA, but probably NOT known at all in these circles. Are there certain building that are for handmade products more than others?
Thanks, Beth Merryfield
Primitiques, Ltd.
The main building had a basement section that was full of little booths that had a mix of things. It was one of my favorite parts of market. I also liked a section called Market square. They had some big name vendors with a lot of floor space, but then also had two floors with smaller booths that were fun to walk around in.