High Point Market Appoints Gillispie to Board

July 12, 2006  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on July 2006 Rick Gillispie, a sales representative with Hooker Furniture Corp. and first vice president of the International Home Furnishings Representative’s Association, has been named board member of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority.

The announcement came at the authority’s meeting Tuesday. Gillispie also is a board member of the National Home Furnishings Association.

Gillispie’s appointment gives furniture reps a voice on the High Point market’s organizational entity.

“Rick’s appointment provide a balanced overview in having manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives and showroom building owners on the board,” said Brian Casey, president of the market authority. “They’re all integral to driving the overall marketing and sales process of High Point market.”

Casey added that those players have different needs perspectives, and that each group needs a voice in deciding what’s best for the show.

Gillispie said reps are the third major presence at market along with manufacturers and retailers.

“We’re the bridge between manufacturers and retailers,” he said. “Most of us are independents, so we have a stake in what goes in High Point during market. We’re getting our own hotel rooms and buying meals, so it’s important for us to have a voice.”