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Retailers want showrooms staffed through Sunday

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 11, 2008

AT THE MARKET — Retailer members of the High Point Market Authority board said Thursday that they’d like to see showrooms here staffed and open through Sunday, the official close of market.
Instead, they said that many executives desert the market before it’s over, reducing the time retailers have to effectively work the show.
“It has become a four-day market. A lot of showrooms are closed after Thursday. That’s just not enough time for us to shop,” David Price, president of Wheaton, Ill.-based Toms-Price, said at a Market Authority board meeting.
The board’s other retail member, Keith Koenig of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based City Furniture, agreed. He said he used to bring some of his staff to High Point late in the market, but now he doesn’t bother.
Market Authority staff said they would look into the situation and may conduct marketing efforts to get exhibitors to keep showrooms staffed until the close of market.
In other business, Market Authority President Brian Casey said he thought the Authority’s branding initiative “is starting to catch on.” One goal is to attract more designers and small retailers.
Board member Art DeFehr, president of manufacturer Palliser and owner of the 220 Elm showroom building, said he believed traffic at 220 Elm this market would wind up slightly ahead of last spring.
Thursday’s meeting was the last one at which board member John Bray, CEO of upholstery producer Vanguard, served as chairman. Board member Kevin O’Connor, president and CEO of Samson Marketing, is expected to be elected chairman at the next meeting.

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