Tupelo Furniture Market to run Aug. 14-16

Officials respond to input from participants

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, June 29, 2009

TUPELO, Miss. — Responding to input from retailers, exhibitors and reps, the Tupelo Furniture Market has designated Aug. 14-16 as the dates for its upcoming event.

Market Chairman V. M. Cleveland said that the Friday-through-Sunday format was based on requests from all the participant groups, who are hoping for a shorter and more concentrated market. Previous markets ran for more days.

"Essentially, each group shared the same message with us," Cleveland said. "Buyers told us that in this economy, they want to be out of the stores as little as possible," he said.

"While the majority of the small retailers attending the Tupelo Market said that it is more convenient for them to come in on the weekend, so did the majority of the larger retailers," he added.

Cleveland said the manufacturer's reps told him they favored a shorter event to allow them to spend more time on the road. Exhibitors echoed the preference a shorter but more intense selling event.

"We think that our upcoming Friday-through-Sunday format will accommodate each of those groups," he said.

More information on the Tupelo Furniture Market is available online at www.tupelofurnituremarket.com or by calling the market office at (662) 842-4442.

Furniture/Today is seeking information and art from exhibitors about products to be introduced at the market, for a free listing in the issue preceding the event. The submission deadline is July 17. Click here to find forms to submit the product information.