High Point coming back as important rug market
Lissa Wyman, Rug editor -- Furniture Today, October 17, 2009
For the past couple years, rug exhibitors have been leaving High Point in a steady stream. But now it looks like there may be a comeback.
Momeni and Oriental Weavers, two major rug vendors, closed their large IHFC showrooms earlier this year. Now they are back.
Oriental Weavers is showing in a 1,000-square-foot space in Showplace and Momeni is in a similar space at the Pavilions in the IHFC. Both companies say they are returning because some customers attend only the High Point Market. In the interest of serving these customers, they feel it is necessary to have a High Point presence.
Meanwhile, Loloi Rugs is centralizing its High Point showroom at the IHFC Design Center, where it has had a big space within Straaton, a multi-line showroom featuring several home accent categories, for the past two markets. Since the company was founded five years ago, Loloi had exhibited at a large storefront on Kivett Street, which tended to get traffic early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The action at the IHFC, on the other hand, is constant throughout the day.
Nourison, which closed its huge and lavish space at Market Square last November, was back in High Point for the April show in a small spot in Showplace. However, a company spokesman said Nourison won't be at High Point this week.
The rug industry has had an up-and-down relationship with High Point over the last 25 years. Some companies, such as Feizy, are High Point fixtures, thriving through various conditions in the economy. Others come and go. About 10 years ago, when the rug industry peaked, nearly all the large and medium vendors had permanent space in High Point, and the boutique companies were also well represented in temporary showrooms.
However, in the past two years, exhibitors such as Momeni, Oriental Weavers and Nourison have left the High Point scene.
So why are some folks showing renewed interest in High Point? It's not because they miss the Southern hospitality or that they love multiple markets. On the contrary. It's because they feel there are enough customers coming to High Point to make it worth their while.
As one vendor told me, “The furniture markets have boiled down to two major regional events. Las Vegas gets some national accounts and a lot of regional independent stores. High Point also gets some national accounts and a lot of regional people. As much as we hate the expense, we feel it's necessary to be in both places.”
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