First February premarket set to open in High Point
Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, February 18, 2007
High Point — Premarket will take place here next week — in February for the first time — with a number of exhibitors saying they will open their showrooms and some others saying they'll skip the event.
Traditionally a first-look event that gives manufacturers a chance to tweak product based on suggestions from key retailers, premarket takes place a month before market. With the spring High Point Market set to open March 26 this year, the preview now falls in February.
Some past participants who won't show next week include American Drew/Lea, Ferguson Copeland, Lexington, Magnussen Home and Vaughan-Bassett.
But a number of companies will open their showrooms. Based on interviews and an e-mail sampling last week, here's a partial list of exhibitors that will show:
APA Marketing, Bassett Mirror, Bauhaus USA, Bernhardt, Capel Rugs, Cresent Fine Furniture, Davis International, Durham, England, Hammary, Kincaid, Leader International, Max Home, Primo Designs, Pulaski, Riverside, SLF, Southern Furniture, Stanley/Young America, Ultimate Accents and Zolano Design.
Universal won't have an official premarket, but "we will make ourselves available to any customer who wants to visit with us," said Kathy Varner, executive assistant to company President Randy Chrisley. The company won't show new product and isn't asking its sales representatives to come in.
