High Point Market renews DOC global tag
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 9, 2009
HIGH POINT — The spring 2010 High Point Market has been named a U.S. Commercial Service International Buyer Program event by the Department of Commerce, a designation that could draw more buyers from abroad to the event.
The program is designed to connect U.S. companies and international customers and to raise global awareness of such events, said Brian Casey, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. The market, scheduled for April 17-22, is one of more than 40 U.S. trade events that received the designation for 2010.
The designation continues a relationship between the U.S. Commercial Service and the market that began in spring 2008 and continues with next month's market, being held April 25 to 30. Commercial Service employees work to match exhibitors, foreign delegations and buyers throughout market week.
Last year, Casey said, the Commercial Service helped bring in delegations from a variety of countries, including Canada, Mexico, Thailand and Costa Rica. The group also helped recruit a block of nations from Western Africa, including Benin, Burkina, Guinea, Mali and Senegal. The influx brought in new export sales during market and in the months after, Casey said.
“Throughout the past year, we have been working closely with the U.S. Commercial Service and its network of trade specialists in U.S. embassies around the world to promote the High Point Market,” Casey said. “The U.S. Commercial Service's inaugural presence at spring market 2008 helped demonstrate the strength of these collaborative efforts.
“This spring, we expect to attract additional buyers from Saudi Arabia, Kenya and other countries that have been targeted for our market development efforts.”
Eugene Quinn, a trade specialist with the Commercial Service, said market exhibitors are invited to stop by the International Business Center.
“With all of these potential buyers in a single location, we can save exhibitors time and resources in targeting potential overseas agents and distributors,” he said. “We'll be on hand to assist companies of all sizes, and particularly want to help small- to mid-size businesses that may never have considered exporting in the past.”
High Point Market gains IBP designation
03/24/2008
