High Point’s postponed spring market is rescheduled for Friday, June 12, to Sunday, June 14.
In addition to the condensed dates — three days instead of five — the market will have a new theme. It will likely include minimal programming, keeping the focus on appointments and sales meetings within the showrooms.
Dudley Moore Jr., chairman of the High Point Market Authority’s board of directors and president of Otto & Moore, said market officials are removing much of the scheduled entertainment from the new market. “We’re choosing to focus on the positive and look at this as an opportunity for exhibitors and buyers alike to really hone in on the foundational element upon which market was built, the buy-sell relationship,” said Moore. “With minimal programming on the schedule, the relational aspect of the product sourcing cycle will truly shine.”
Moore said buyers will also have more time to explore new vendors and visit parts of market they might otherwise have missed in years past. He said the new one-time format will “hopefully grow their product prospect list as a result.”
Spring passes honored
All spring market passes that retailers and buyers received in the mail are good for June. The new registration fee for industry passes will remain in effect. The onsite processing fee will be waived for all pass types.
Market Authority leaders said the new dates are subject to change. Given the uncertainty of the pandemic and with no set parameters for the length of time the imposed restrictions will remain in place for large gatherings, market officials said they will reassess the situation in mid-May and announce a decision no later than May 15. Should conditions improve, online registration will re-open on that date.
High Point Market’s website will be updated regularly to showcase exhibitors that will be showing and products that will be launched.
Spring market, a fixture in High Point for decades, was postponed last week following North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s recommendation to cancel all events in the state that draw an attendance of 100 or more people due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The decision to postpone was inevitable as the situation evolved last week, but still not made lightly,” said Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “We look forward with hope and are focusing on actionable solutions that will best support our buyers, exhibitors, and our industry as a whole. Our industry and community have weathered storms before, and I am confident that we will all get through this together.”
