Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
HP Market Educational Events Get Positive Vibes
October 19,
2017 by Larry Thomas in Business Strategy, Community / Charitable Support, High Point, Industry, Market, Special Events 
Encouraged by feedback from educational events staged at recent markets, the High Point Market Authority board of directors was told Wednesday such events – many of which are targeted to designers – are likely to increase in the future.
During their wrap-up meeting on the final day of Fall Market, board members were told the Keynote Series, which features presentations by high-profile designers, was particularly successful at this month’s market, as was an interior design summit that took place the day before the official opening day.
“People have always come to market for product and for networking, but I think education is also very important,” said board Chairman Jeff Scheffer. “There seems to be a real thirst for that.”
Scheffer, who also is president of Universal Furniture, said his company’s conference center was essentially filled to capacity for five of the six educational seminars it organized during market, and he encouraged the Market Authority staff to continue emphasizing educational programming.
Ashley Grigg, the Market Authority’s communications manager, told board members the largest turnout of the Keynote Series was for a presentation by the Scott brothers of HGTV fame, who attracted about 390 market attendees.
The Interior Design Summit, hosted by veteran designer Gail Doby, had 141 attendees, including about 70 buyers, she told the board.
Market Authority President Tom Conley told the board he didn’t have final market attendance and registration figures yet, but predicted they would be “pleasantly surprised” by the number of retail companies who sent people to High Point.
“The buying power here is just incredible, in spite of all the natural disasters we’ve had recently,” Conley said.