HP registers 98,954
About half were buyers, market officials say
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, May 22, 2006
High Point — A new central registration system showed that nearly 100,000 people registered for the spring market, some 20,000 to 25,000 higher than estimates given in past years.
Market organizers say the number is a reflection of the strength of the twice-yearly show, and will provide a good benchmark for the International Home Furnishings Market Authority's beefed-up marketing and promotional efforts.
"The numbers demonstrate that this market is very strong," said Market Authority President Brian Casey.
As of the end of the day on May 1 — two days before the market's official close — Casey said 98,954 people had registered. Of that number, 48,989 were buyers. The rest were exhibitors, sales representatives, showroom staff and other support personnel.
In recent years, the Market Authority has pegged market attendance at 70,000 to 75,000, but admitted the figures were estimates because there was no single system to track registrations. The new system allows High Point marketgoers to obtain a single pass for all market buildings.
Tom Lindh, president of the International Home Furnishings Center and a Market Authority board member, said he wasn't surprised the new system yielded higher numbers. Past estimates were based largely on registrations processed by the IHFC, but he said other showroom buildings — notably Showplace and those owned by Merchandise Mart Properties — registered many people on their own.
"We always tried to put out a conservative estimate about the number of people that were here," Lindh said.
"The new system essentially combined the functions of three separate registration systems that we were using."
At first glance, it appears the earlier figures significantly underestimated the number of sales reps, showroom staff and support personnel. In past years, buyer attendance had often been pegged at 40,000 to 50,000, which is consistent with the number of buyer registrations reported for the most recent market.
The new Las Vegas furniture market, which many in the industry see as a threat to High Point, pegged attendance at 62,000 for its inaugural show last July and 50,000 for its second market in January.
Market organizers didn't say how many of those were buyers, but said it does represent actual attendance.
Dana Pretner, director of marketing and public relations for the World Market Center, declined comment on High Point's new attendance figures because WMC officials aren't familiar with the new registration system.
However, she said the WMC works to eliminate duplicate registrations before announcing attendance figures.
"Registration by itself is not a reflection of actual attendance or verification of unique visitors to the market," Pretner said. "Many companies register multiple people both in advance and at market, while individuals associated with these companies also register directly."
