March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 23, 2011
A new viral video program for High Point Furniture Market will give viewers an insider's guide into a "day in the life" at the furniture show.
Sponsored by the High Point Market Authority, the six videos will be filmed on Flip cameras by a representative of each group involved in Market, including an exhibitor, a retailer, an interior designer, a furniture design student and a member of the press. The sixth video will give a behind-the-scenes look at how the Market is set up and organized before each event.
The videos are part of the award-winning Market Week campaign, and will be posted on the Market's Web site, Facebook, YouTube, and on MyMarket, the High Point Market's online planning and social media tool. One video will be posted each day through the six days of Market Week, April 2-7.
"These videos will show the excitement and vibrancy that is the High Point Market," said Cheminne Taylor-Smith, vice president of marketing for the High Point Market Authority. "Each of our videographers will showcase their own personal view of Market Week, highlighting the idea that the High Point Market belongs to each attendee and that each Market experience is unique. It will be a fun and fresh look at the largest home furnishings trade show in the world."
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on March 23, 2011
The Sustainable Furnishings Council will sponsor its GREENleaders Certified Sustainability Training during High Point Furniture Market on Wednesday, April 6.
The course will run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the fifth floor of the Showplace building. Lunch will be provided.
GREENleaders is the most comprehensive training program available in green home furnishings, providing the knowledge and credentials to become an expert in sustainable furnishings.
The six-hour, 6 ceu course covers topics such as the case for sustainability, sourcing green products, knowing green consumers, how to sell green products, and running green showrooms.
In addition to connecting various home furnishings choices to their impact on both human and environmental health, the course also covers some of the latest consumer research.
Passing participants become GREEN Accredited Professionals and receive a Certificate of Course completion, business cards, and a free copy of the latest SFC Green Home Furnishings Consumer Study.
Participants then can become full members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council at 25 percent off first-year dues.
To register for the course, click here, or call 919.967.1137.
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Store Openings on March 23, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4355365080&z=1250249032
Ria and Yiouri Augousti raised many eyebrows back in 1990 when they introduced a collection of home furnishings covered in exotic skins like shagreen and snakeskin.
Read Full Article...
March 21,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on March 22, 2011
Brian Casey is resigning his post as president and CEO of the
High Point Market Authority because he has been named general manager of the
Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center. His appointment is effective May 2, and his last day with the Market authority is April 30.
In his new position, Casey will be responsible for attracting trade show business to the facility, as well as potential clients and events for the Cleveland Medical Mart. He will also oversee all departmental functions including construction, operations, finance, and leasing, while implementing the strategic positioning and marketing plans for the facility, its tenants and trade shows.
Casey joins
MMPI with more than 30 years experience in the trade show and meetings industry. Casey has been in his present position with the High Point Market Authority since 2006. In his current position, Casey is responsible for the marketing, operations for over 12 million square feet of showroom and exhibition space, as well as the profit and loss for the High Point Market Authority.
Prior to joining the High Point Market Authority, Casey was the owner of a convention and trade show services firm, Next Generation Events Group, Inc, a strategic sales, marketing and planning services firm dedicated to customized, revenue growth solutions, event operations and new launches for association and corporate events.
Before forming Next Generation, Casey was executive vice president for
Smith Bucklin, an association management company, where he was responsible for managing the convention and trade show services for 1,400 client meetings a year and 47 trade shows.
MMPI has worked with Brian Casey for years and knows first-hand his vast array of knowledge and experience in attracting and producing trade shows, while providing the highest level of customer service possible to his tenants, said Mark Falanga. Brian is an expert in the trade show and showroom business, and knows what is important to our customers. He will prove to be invaluable as we continue to successfully secure commitments from trade shows, meetings, and tenants for the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center.
The High Point Market Authority will begin its search for a successor.
March 21,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 22, 2011
Diversity. We dont have very much of it around these parts. I suppose its getting better, but we have an awful lot to learn.
There ARE differences. I dont mean to be divisive, but men and women just think differently. Gen Xers think differently than Baby Boomers. And Hispanics may have a cultural tendency or two that you dont know about that can help you sell more furniture. The world is a mixed bag these days. Accept it, learn about it, and grow your business.
The upcoming Home Furnishings Industry conference is a place where you can learn about things like this. Its in San Antonio, Texas, this year and it starts April 30. You can still register.
Home Furnishings Business is a sponsor as are other major players in the industry (sponsors listed below) We hope youll come.
Kelly McDonald of McDonald Marketing will be speaking at the conference; shes an expert on diversity. The title of her speech is "Diversity in America: How to Work with and Market to People Not Like You."
Check out the list of key points below of what youll learn in her session.
KEY POINTS:
- Participants will learn key retail consumer profiles and the values associated with each to better understand customers and coworkers;
- Special attention will be focused upon generational segments and the retail trends that each are shaping;
- The Hispanic size of the prize will be reviewed. Attendees will learn about the Four Levels of Acculturation and specific examples of what Hispanic customers are looking for in home furnishings;
- Learn how to avoid customer service mistakes and HR blunders and how to provide exceptional service to Spanish-speaking customers; and
- Specific strategies for developing effective diversity retail initiatives will be reviewed. Dos and donts will be covered in detail.
Something tells me if you learn all that at the beginning of May, your June could see a difference. Invest in your brain. Come join us at the Home Furnishings Industry Conference. Plus, there will be all kinds of cool people there.
You can still register online. Amy
SPONSORS: AspenHome, CFMA, HFB, IDS, IHFRA, MicroD, NHFA, PFD, SEHFA, Serta, SHFA, WHFA, WMC. (I know what all of those initials stand for; smart businessthats why they are sponsoring conference.)