Question: Do you plan to attend the first Las Vegas market in July — and will you continue to come to High Point?
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 16, 2005
"No, I'm going to Atlanta in July for (home accents). I do my furniture shopping here in October and April. I'm three and a half hours away, so I can drive. And I think it's going to be more condensed here. High Point is where it's made. Why go to Las Vegas?"
Janie Figueroa, Designs Too, New Bern, N.C.
"Yes. I'm from Phoenix, first of all, so it's in my back yard, and probably it's curiosity as much as anything. It's not going to replace High Point, that's for sure. Absolutely (I'll keep coming here). It will take Vegas forever to get to this size."
Rhonda Fosenburg, Terri's Consign & Design, Tempe, Ariz.
"The official word right now is no, we are not. We just feel right now that we come here in October and April and that's sufficient. If the vendors start to introduce a lot of new products in Las Vegas, we may end up going, so we're just taking a conservative approach to Vegas right now."
Kristi Morris , Cohen Furniture, Peoria, Ill.
"Yes. I attend all the markets — two here, two in Tupelo and several in Dallas. (Las Vegas has) cheaper hotels, cheaper food, cheaper airline tickets. I'll always come to High Point. I'm just going to try out Vegas to see if the manufacturers are going to display like they do here."
Ray Barnes, Barnes Home Furnishings, Sherman, Texas
"Right now, our intention is to try and make it. It's something new and different. There's been so much written about it. We're going more out of curiosity than anything. Absolutely, we'll continue attending High Point. High Point is a proven market. We've built our business around it for so many years, whereas Las Vegas is an unknown quantity at this time. It's obviously going to be a very successful market, but it could be more key to the Western part of the United States, replacing San Francisco."
Lou Rippner, Compass Furniture, Jefferson, La.
"I think so. It's closer to our home, which is Colorado. Yes, I think (I'll continue attending High Point). But I guess it depends on what we see in Las Vegas. If enough of my vendors show there, we may switch to Las Vegas permanently."
Ken DeJulio, Flairmont Furniture, Montrose, Colo.
"The second (Las Vegas market). I think it will be a little more set up by then. And I think the hotel rooms, rental cars and restaurants will be more available. They are lacking here. ... I probably won't (continue coming to High Point). I think two markets a year are plenty. I can't really get away more than that. This is my 52nd consecutive High Point market, and I'm sick of coming here."
Edward Polli, Novello Furniture, Montpelier, Vt.
"No, but I'm attending the second. Why? Because to me, High Point gouges you. They overcharge you for the room. There are no places to eat. We parked in a mud hole for $15 — and I'm from the South! We've been coming here for 27 years, and we will probably continue to attend because of certain vendors. I usually attend two markets a year, so it will probably be High Point once and Las Vegas once.
Wanda Rice, Parkers Furniture, Laurens, S.C.
"We are considering attending the market ... to check out new items, find more factories to try new products. Yes, we will keep coming to High Point because we consider this market very important to us. It's the first one, the biggest one. It's well organized. Those are the main reasons."
Edgardo Rivera, Muebleria Rivera, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
"No, sir, I'm not. Right now, I'm not familiar enough with it, and I don't think it would be feasible for me to go."
Frank Bone, Long Furniture, Rainbow City, Ala.
"No, because our primary vendor is La-Z-Boy, which doesn't show there. But if they show, we will be there in the future, because of what we experience here between the parking, the hotels, the service. Everything is spread out. But we do love High Point. I just think they need to continue to work on the overall prices and service."
Michelle Rintz, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, Tampa, Fla.
"Yes, sure. Why? Because I'm not going to San Francisco. But I don't think that would replace High Point if that's your question. Everybody wants to see what's going on (in Las Vegas). It's like going to see a new store. (But) for me, High Point is No. 1. Nothing can replace High Point. This is the town for furniture."
Daniel Rosenberg, Daniel's Home Center, Anaheim, Calif.
"Yes, to check it out. I just want to see what's up and coming. I have a feeling things might move that way eventually. But I do love High Point, and will continue (coming here) as long as I can."
Lorri Bernstein, RTA Furniture Distributors, Harrisburg, Pa.
"No, I'm not, but we may in the future. You come down here and look at the prices: you stay at a Red Roof Inn for $93. Look at Las Vegas: they've got entertainment, they feed you, they house you, they don't gouge you. The High Point ... business community should pay attention. They use to have a dealer parking lot over here by the (former Sears building). Now it's an exhibitor parking lot, so they inconvenience ME. What's that about? It's all part of an attitude. Not only that, I think the fellas from China will be digging into that Vegas market. ... Yes (I will likely continue coming to High Point). I've been coming down here for 29 years, and I'm familiar with it."
J.C. Brady, Poland Furniture & Accessories, Poland, Ohio
"We are not. We'll probably go in January, though. It's more a scheduling conflict. For sure we will continue to attend High Point. We may vary our attendance in October year to year, but we'll be here every April."
Tyler Swanson, Ernie's, Ceresco, Neb.
"I was going, if I hadn't come here instead. There are a couple of my suppliers who aren't showing at the first market, so I had to come here. If my suppliers go to Vegas, I'll go to Vegas instead of High Point. I've been going to High Point since '85. I've been to Las Vegas, too, and the accommodations there and here are completely different."
Tim Wilson, Woodcrafter's, Murray, Ky.
"No, we're not, because there's going to be too many people there. Everybody is going there, so we came here. We originally planned to go but decided to skip the first Las Vegas market because we think it's going to be confusing. With a lot of new markets we go to, it takes a few (cycles) to get organized. We will probably go to the second market."
David Nelson, Nelson Furniture, Valentine, Neb.
"I don't know yet. We come to High Point. Why do we need to go to Las Vegas as well? We might go if we thought there was something different and new. Maybe if I heard it was more contained or organized in fewer buildings. Las Vegas is interesting to see maybe two or three times, but after that, I'm not sure. ... Yes, we will continue to attend High Point."
Jacqueline Morgan, Morgan Imports, Durham, N.C.
"No. We're from this area. This is very convenient for us. I'm not sure people can get out there and be as focused. (While on the other hand), there's nothing to do here."
Steve McNeely, Don Lamor, Hickory, N.C.
"Absolutely, basically to see what's going on there, what vendors may be showing there who aren't here and just to be a part of it. ... Absolutely (I will continue coming to High Point). I think the manufacturers in High Point will continue to show in High Point. You may see a percentage (move) to Las Vegas, but the majority will show here. I don't think the Vegas market will in any way threaten High Point."
Deidra Thompson, Dynasty Furniture, Winston-Salem, N.C.
