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Exhibitors pleased with High Point Premarket opening day

Thomas Russell , Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, September 13, 2011

HIGH POINT — Exhibitors said they were pleased with first day traffic to High Point's Premarket, the dress rehearsal for the market that's about five weeks away.

At a Premarket reception Monday evening are Larry Klaben, left, Morris Home Furnishings, Dayton, Ohio; Kevin O’Connor, Samson Marketing, and Bill Kimbrell, Star Furniture, Houston.

The key to the event's success continues to be showing product that's nearly market-ready. Najarian Furniture, for instance, is getting retailer feedback on three of the four case goods collections it will introduce at the High Point Market, which runs Oct. 22-27.

Ed Tashjian, chief marketing officer for furniture source Home Meridian International, said the company was having a strong Premarket this week.

"We had high expectations for who would attend and our customers like what they see," Tashjian said, adding that new product is the lifeblood of the event. The company is showing five new bedroom groups, 130 new accent pieces and 30 new curios - most of its High Point introductions.

Bernhardt is expecting 79 accounts over the two-day event, which concludes today, making it the company's best Premarket event. At the spring Premarket, the company saw about 68 accounts.

With 95% of its planned introductions on the floor, company officials were optimistic they'd receive strong dealer response to its line. "We are moving that way more and more where we want to get commitments early," said Heather Eidenmiller, company director of brand development.

Fred Henjes, CEO of Riverside, said the company expects to see about 45 dealers during Premarket. The company is about 70% market-ready this week, he said.

"We have every major collection represented in a major fashion," he said, adding that the company plans to continue to sponsor Premarket. "We get to see some of the best retailers in America."

Bedroom manufacturer Vaughan-Bassett is expecting about 50 accounts to stop into its showroom, where it has more than 80% of its fall market product mix ready for purchase.

"If a buyer comes back here for two nights, they want you to be close to market ready," said Doug Bassett, chief operating officer.

He added that the company is optimistic about sales this fall, given the relatively strong Labor Day sales activity reported by its retailers. "Last week was very encouraging for what the fall might be bringing," Bassett said.

Case goods importer Casana has 100 % of its product mix on its showroom floor, including eight new bedroom groups. Dealer response has been strong thus far, said Roger Friesen, president and CEO.

"Dealers are pretty positive," he said, noting that traffic thus far has included both new and existing accounts. "A lot of them say they had a good Labor Day weekend and they are optimistic that business is improving."

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