GreenStyle Pavilion set for upcoming market
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 11, 2007
High Point — Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. is teaming with the Sustainable Furniture Council to launch GreenStyle, an effort to help marketgoers learn about sustainable home furnishings products and practices.
A GreenStyle Pavilion on the top floor of MMPI's Suites at Market Square building will be a forum for education and product display. Companies will showcase eco-friendly products to buyers interested in purchasing sustainable products for their clients or their stores.
Companies already confirmed to participate include Urban Woods, Rathbone Imports, Organo Natural Furnishings, From The Mountain, SouthCone PaT's Line, and Rainforest Alliance.
The Sustainable Furniture Council will have a booth in the pavilion for people to come by and learn more about the organization's mission and how they can get involved.
"As we spoke to more and more retailers and manufacturers, it became clear that sustainability in the home furnishings industry is no longer a passion of just a handful of people," said Karen Olson, vice president of marketing for MMPI in High Point. "The need for sustainable products is being driven by consumers, and this demand is increasing every day. We felt it was important to offer a forum to educate buyers and manufacturers on this significant and growing trend."
"We were very pleased when MMPI approached us about partnering with them on their GreenStyle initiative at the High Point Market," said Gerry Cooklin, president of the SFC and owner of manufacturer South Cone.
"MMPI has the facilities and means for bringing people together, and we are looking forward to contributing our knowledge and expertise on the subject of sustainability to their program offerings," Cooklin said.
The spring market takes place March 26 to April 1.
Susan Inglis, treasurer for the SFC, said, "The furniture industry taking responsibility for sustainability is particularly imperative because the highest value that these raw materials give is being made into furniture. The High Point Market is a great opportunity for us to reach a critical mass of industry professionals to continue educating them on the importance of preserving our natural resources."
John Stein, owner of Organo Natural Furnishings, said, "Organo is committed to bringing green into the mainstream, and there is no place more visible and valuable to the mainstream than the High Point Furniture Market. Having an area of the market specifically focused on green will allow us in a collective way to show buyers that green can be a beautiful part of anyone's home."
Meanwhile, a GreenStyle Party, presented by MMPI, the High Point Market Authority and the SFC, and sponsored by Furniture/Today, will be held on Thursday, March 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Century courtyard.
All marketgoers are invited to join in this evening honoring the importance of sustainability in home furnishings.
The party will feature Danny Seo, best-selling author, columnist, radio talk-show host and eco-friendly lifestyle advocate.
The San Francisco Chronicle recently ran a story about Seo under the headline, "The next Martha Stewart is young, green, and a guy." During the party, Seo will give away signed copies of his books titled "Simply Green". The evening will feature live entertainment and complimentary food and drinks.
The GreenStyle Map, produced by MMPI, Home Furnishings Business and the SFC, will highlight companies participating in the GreenStyle Pavilion, Sustainable Furniture Council members, and manufacturers currently using BiOH polyols, a biologically based product used in foams that replaces petroleum-based material.
The map will be available in the pavilion.
The Sustainable Furniture Council is a non-profit industry association committed to promoting sustainable practices within the home furnishings industry and raising awareness among consumers and buyers.
Its members believe that sustainable practices are those that are best for the environment, local economies and social equity.
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