First High Point designer event called success
By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, March 14, 2005
High Point — The High Point Showroom Assn., the alliance of high-end showrooms that created the High Point Design Center as a year-round resource, attracted about 150 designers at its inaugural event here last week.
Jeanne Glenn, president of the HPSA, said the event was a clear success, with crowds at seminars, showroom parties and to-the-trade bargain sales at more than 40 member showrooms around the city. Organizers are planning a second such event, but had not yet announced a date.
Last week, four CEU-accredited seminars under the umbrella "Speaking of Luxury" featured historic home design writer Brian Coleman; English-born and California-based designer Kathryn M. Ireland; Betty Lou Phillips, a designer and author specializing in French interiors; and Greg Furman, president of the Luxury Marketing Council.
Coleman, author of recently published "Scalamandre," told the history and lore of the sky-high-end manufacturer of fine home furnishings fabrics and trims.
Ireland focused on the "care and feeding" of the luxury consumer, particularly celebrities like those whose homes she has designed, including Lady Annabel Goldsmith, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Stephen Spielberg and Steve Martin.
Phillips shared illustrations from her book, "Secrets of French Design," and her secrets on interpreting the ever-popular French décor for American homes. Registered attendees received signed copies of both "Scalamandre" and "Secrets of French Design."
Furman talked about how upscale consumers (2.2 million U.S. consumers with liquid assets worth $1 million or more) are changing.
He said the smartest marketers have revamped their marketing and cross-selling practices to better reach these top-level customers. This part of the market expects to be courted, surprised and delighted by the best products from the best vendors, Furman said, and market leaders in luxury goods and services are finding innovative ways to woo this ever-more discriminating customer.
Hamilton Properties, Market Square and the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau are sponsors of HPSA, which is dedicated to increasing the year-round use of High Point showrooms.
