Tupelo Furniture Market organizers expect strong attendance

Registrations, hotel bookings up for Aug. 16-19 show

Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, August 1, 2012

TUPELO, Miss. — Organizers of this month's Tupelo Furniture Market said the upcoming show - which commemorates the market's 25th anniversary - should be the best-attended in more than a decade.

Market officials said hotel reservations and sales of exhibit space are running well ahead of recent years, and pre-registrations are up 100% for the Aug. 16-19 event.

"It's clear that this year's event will far exceed expectations, and we are fortunate that we will all share in this success on the market's 25th anniversary," said Greg Giachelli, vice president of economic development for the Tupelo Community Development Foundation, a longtime supporter of the market.

V.M. Cleveland, CEO of the market, said permanent exhibit space is 97% leased and temporary space is 88% leased.

"Our planning and execution have already produced positive results, and we aim to capitalize on our momentum and ride that wave all the way through to Aug. 16," Cleveland said.

He said market officials began a comprehensive review of the business immediately after the last Tupelo market in February. The review, which included infrastructure, operations, marketing and sales, resulted in a plan to "maximize our market position, increase awareness and create excitement."

It also included this summer's hiring of Kevin Seddon, a veteran trade show and publishing executive, as the market's president.

Additional information about the market can be found at www.tupelofurnituremarket.com.