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High Point Market Draws More than 72K
April 14,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on April 15, 2011
Registration for the just-ended Spring High Point Furniture Market was down from last year's event.
The High Point Market Authority released numbers today that showed 72,121 people registered to attend, and of those, more than 43,141 were buyers. The 72,121 registered dropped from the 77,705 people registered for the spring market last year. The spring Market drew more than the fall market which had just over 71,000 registered.
Brian Casey, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority, said nearly 9,000 registrants were first-time attendees to the show. "We have worked hard to attract new buyers to Market Week, and our marketing efforts truly paid off at the April Market," he said.
In many cases, retail inventories have been depleted, so we saw that the appetite for buying was stronger than weve seen in recent markets, Casey said. We also noticed a significant change in attitude. People are seeing signs of improvement in the economy and they are more upbeat in their outlook, both about their businesses and the Market itself. Business was brisk and this Market has positioned us well for future growth."
More than 3,000 international buyers representing 1,215 buying organizations registered for the Market, as did about 13,000 interior designers.
Casey who will be leaving his post at the end of this month reflected back on the last five years.
"This Market was a great finale for what has been an amazing five years here in High Point," Casey said. "The Market Authority will continue with its successful and popular marketing campaign that is specifically targeted to retaining existing buyers, reaching new national and international attendees, and promoting the Market as a destination for interior designers."