Tupelo Market Makes Marketing Push for August Show

June 12, 2014  by in Market, Tupelo   

Representatives from top national chains including - Steinhafels, Art Van Company, Farmers Home Furniture, Badcock Home Furniture, Standard Furniture, Weekends Only, Gardner White Furniture Co., The Buying Giant, Rooms To Go, Boscov’s Department Store, FFO Home, Royal Furniture Co., HOBO, Stash are among companies who have registered.  The market is set for Aug. 14-17.

“In recent years we have made a concerted effort to build a quality database of past participants in the Tupelo market, and we have added thousands of new prospects that we believe should attend the event,” said Kevin Seddon, president of the market. “The information we have gathered allows us to segment the databases and develop packages that best meet the targeted retailers’ needs. In addition, we have expanded our staff of buyer recruitment specialists and in the months preceding the Tupelo market, we will have as many as 10 specialists reaching out to furniture retailers.”

Seddon said the buyer recruitment specialists are  experienced sales personnel that understand the target retailers’ needs and are knowledgeable about the market's offerings.

Recent efforts to boost attendance seem to be working, Seddon said, adding that the number of high-volume retailers coming to the market continues to increase.

The market said more than 400 larger furniture and furniture accessory retailers, corporate housing buyers, rent-to-own buyers, décor specialists and other leading buyers have already registered for the August rendition of the Tupelo Furniture Market.  Top retailers from 25 states have registered for the event including representatives from every state in the southeast. Additionally, Texas, Indiana, Kansas, California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina and even Virginia will have retail buyers in attendance,  market officials said.  

“Thus far, furniture buyers from 35 states and several other countries have registered to attend the market,” said Adam Cleveland, COO. “We anticipate between 10,000 and 15,000 retailers will pre-register for the August event. Of course, not every retailer that pre-registers will always attend, so our focus now is two-fold. First, continue to market to those that have not yet registered. Second, “re-market” to those that have committed and keep them informed about new companies, products and programs that will be made available to them—but only if they show up!”