SFC "Buzzing Off" in High Point

March 29, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Green on March 30, 2011

The Sustainable Furnishings Council will stage a unique public event, "The Great Buzz Off," at High Point Furniture Market.

The event, 5 p.m., Monday, April 4 will feature television personality and designer Thom Filicia as emcee, and award-winning home fashion designer Raymond Waites, as well as multiple manufacturer member partners. 

The Great Buzz Off will present a side-by-side demonstration of the differences between sustainable and ordinary products by cutting them apart with knives, scissors or a circular saw. It will feature comparisons between both upholstered and case goods, with each layer progressively peeled away and explained--organic textiles vs. polyester, recycled milk jugs vs. spun Dacron, solid and/or certified wood vs. mdf and veneer, water-based finish vs. varnish, recycled iron springs vs. standard, etc.

"It will be noisy, it will be messy and hopefully a lot of fun for everyone involved," said SFC President Jeff Hiller. "It will proceed first with the case goods demonstration, with each component issue being presented point for counterpoint, and finish with the upholstery demonstration."

The event will be staged on the SFC platform next to the party tent between Showplace and IHFC, and provide a lead-in to the Market Authority's Monday night concert and party.

The goals are three-fold: First, to create a high profile spectacle that raises awareness and interest in the SFC and its members; second, to communicate meaningful points of difference in sustainable goods; and third, to present the sustainability story in a colorful, engaging way.

SFC members Vanguard Furniture, Lazar Furniture, Columbia Forest Products and Guildmaster are sponsoring manufactures whose products will be displayed and cut in half during the event.

In the hours leading up to the Great Buzz Off, the SFC will sponsor a complementary program, the "Green Supply Chain," to gain media and public attention and drive traffic to the event. SFC will recruit participants to walk around High Point holding onto a rope and handing out maps/brochures to everyone they meet.