High Point Market Fall 2008 - Where you are headed matters

The fact that this week’s High Point Market opens in the midst of national upheaval shouldn’t catch anyone off guard.

For the past few years, it seems as if market’s opening day excitement has been partially eclipsed by everything from terrorist attacks and wars to hurricanes and other natural disasters.

But, troopers that we are, the show always went on. In fact, after the 9/11 tragedy, Furniture|Today ran a front-page open letter to the furniture industry that simply said: The show must go on. And it did.

So, here we are again, ready to explore the market and all its possibilities. But once again, we do so with unwanted baggage, this time from the fallout of the Wall Street meltdown.

I’ve come to understand that my success at market is based in part on a number of non-negotiables. They include wearing comfortable shoes, getting enough rest and having a game plan of who to visit during the show.

However, this time, in light of all that our economy, our country and our business has been through, I’m adding a new non-negotiable: Every day before I visit my first showroom, I am going to recall a short quote attributed to one of my favorite female singers, Ella Fitzgerald.

Aside from having an incredible voice, Ella had an equally incredible spirit. She realized, “It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.”

I am going to say that out loud every morning during market and here’s why: This simply isn’t the time to focus on what we already know all too well — that we are in the midst of a storm.

Instead, we need to remember things the recent crisis may have caused us to forget — like our inherent resilience, ingenuity, creativity and tenacity.
Don’t think that I am trying to minimize the challenges that face our nation and our industry. We are all aware of the road ahead.

But I intend to plow through these tough times with my head up. We’ve faced tough times before and are still standing. Our market is here, Wall Street’s market looks like it is calming down, so let’s all exhale.

As Ella said, where you’ve been is yesterday’s news. Where you’re headed is tomorrow’s headline.

I’ll see you at market.