The High Point Market Authority recently announced an expansion of the market schedule to span nine days in order to reduce the number of people crowding market showrooms and streets at the same time, as well as relieve some of the ancillary congestion that occurs in the region due to market, such as hotels, airlines, shuttles, rental cars, restaurants, and more.
The High Point Market Authority’s plan is to break market attendance into three time periods/days (referred to as Period I, Period II, and Period III). As one might surmise, Period I is the first three days of market (Oct. 13-15); Period II will run for the following three days (Oct. 16-18); and Period III (Oct. 19-21) will be final three days of market.
Here’s where it gets a little complicated. Upon registering online, buyers and industry guests must indicate the three-day Period they will be attending. The High Point Market Authority partnered with the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA), to separate domestic buyers and industry guests into two regions based on the home state of their company headquarters.
Those who reside in Region A may attend either Period I or Period II; Those who live in Region B are asked to attend either Period II or Period III. International buyers will be allowed to select from any of the three periods, and student passes will only be available during Period III. Showroom appointments are strongly encouraged.
The reason for the regional map is “to make sure representatives will be available to meet their customers while limiting the staff that exhibitors must keep in their showrooms.” The Market periods that residents of these two regions are listed as follows:
Region A (companies whose corporate offices are in the following states)
AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Region B (companies whose corporate offices are in the following states)
AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
A statement from the High Point Market Authority read, “As part of our plan to ensure your safety and well-being at Fall Market, [we have] expanded the schedule from five days to nine days. We expect this to spread out attendance and enable you to meet your exhibitors while maintaining appropriate social distancing requirements.”
Unlike in the past, when Market has experienced a “soft” opening on Friday, the day before the “official” start, there will be no early entry this time. According to the High Point Market Authority, “To make this plan as effective as possible, we have asked all buildings and showrooms not to admit anyone other than their own staff before 8am on October 13. Please do not request entry before that time. We have also asked exhibitors to not make any distribution decisions until the end of Market after all regions have had a chance to attend and view products.”
There will be additional safety measures, such as increased sanitation and cleaning, social distancing requirements, and enhanced medical services.
