With less than a week to go until the opening of the Fall 2020 High Point Market, about 70 percent of active exhibitors will be open for business, according to the High Point Market Authority.
Retailers who want to see which showrooms have confirmed they will be open can visit the Exhibitor section of the High Point Market website, www.highpointmarket.org/exhibitor, and look for the golden “Confirmed Open” verbiage on an exhibitor’s profile. They can also check the “Confirmed Open for Fall 2020 Market” filter to hide any profiles that haven’t confirmed they’ll be open.
During market, the High Point Market app will list only exhibitors who have confirmed they will be open.
[HFA Resource Center offers market opportunities]
Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority, said exhibitors are eager to meet with retailers who are experiencing record sales in home furnishings during the pandemic. “Due to the recent increase in consumer demand for home furnishings, we are not surprised by this strong showing of open showrooms,” Conley said. “We expect buyers in attendance will be ready to do business when they get here, and we’re pleased there will be plenty of open showrooms to welcome them. The industry shared with us early on in this planning cycle they greatly needed this in-person buying opportunity. We have worked tirelessly to create a plan that would allow such to happen within the current health and safety guidelines outlined by health officials.”
The Home Furnishings Association’s newly renovated Resource Center will also be open throughout the market’s nine-day run. It is in Plaza Suites, 1-527.
The Resource Center is larger and dramatically reimagined. It features more open space for casual interactions and networking. Vendor booths are more attractive and business-friendly. The seminar room is expanded, brighter, quieter and better-equipped. Conference rooms are redesigned. The new design will help to ensure safe social distancing.
Resource Center protocols for this market
Retailers are invited to see the Resource Center for themselves and meet with vendors. However, the HFA must implement these changes for this market:
- All seminars and group meetings are canceled.
- There will be no catered food or beverage service in the café.
- Many vendors will be available. However, because of social-distancing restrictions, there will be limited total showroom occupancy of 95 people.
- Exhibitors may conduct one appointment at a time and must adhere to social-distancing guidelines.
- Seating will be limited in Resource Center common areas. Social-distancing will be required.
- Additional cleaning and sanitation protocols will be offered.
- Masks will be required at all times within the Resource Center.
Even though a few exhibitors have yet to log in to their profiles and indicate their Fall Market status, only 128 permanent exhibitors have shared they will not be open this October.
Fall Market is set to kick off on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The extended, nine-day show will operate with a multitude of safety measures in place to align with the current health guidelines from the CDC and the state of North Carolina. It will end Wednesday, Oct. 21.
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