High Point Fall Trends Forecast Available

September 24, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on September 2008 The High Point Market Authority’s Fall 2008 Trends Forecast is available now for download at the organization’s Web site, www.highpointmarket.org

The new report features insights from leading trend-trackers, manufacturers and retailers; identifies and explores the season’s important product, color, lifestyle and demographic trends; and offers recommendations from leading industry experts on connecting with today’s consumer in the coming months.

The report details numerous trends including:

• Sanctuary

Home is perhaps the most natural place to create a sanctuary from the outside world, and home furnishings manufacturers are also seeing consumers trending toward simplicity.

• Function

Functional features such as charging stations for cell phones and iPods, flexible styling, pieces that can serve multiple purposes, and storage are all trends that fit consumers’ lifestyles today.

• Color: Pantone’s View

The Pantone home palette is included in the Fall Trends Report with a characterization of each palette label, “Wine Country,” “Honesty,” “Discerning Tastes,” “Reveries,” “Wanderings,” “Solar Energy,” “Breathe Easy,” and “Animate.”

• Pattern: Simply Complex

More decorative complexity is complementing the streamlined forms of furnishings.

• Tuning Into Style

Technology continues to drive spectacular growth in home entertainment furnishings.

• GenX Takes Over

The prevailing myth that the Baby Boomers are the largest of the three generations is busted by the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates. The Boomers are actually the smallest of the groups, with just under 77 million people. Generation X will contain approximately 84 million people, and Generation Y will come in with just under 82 million. To maximize this opportunity, our industry will need to respond to the Xer’s different worldviews and home lives.

“This report comes at an ideal time for buyers across the country and around the world, many of whom are preparing to attend the High Point Market next month,” said Brian D. Casey, president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority. “With some 2,000 exhibitors set to introduce product here, it’s important for buyers to learn as much as they can about what’s on trend in advance of their arrival here at Market. And, in an environment in which many professionals in the home furnishings business are challenged to do more with less, we’re pleased to be able to offer the Fall Trends Forecast as one of the many unique and useful resources available only on our Web site, www.highpointmarket.org .”