Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Market Authority Sets New Education, Progressive Dinner Programs
February 8,
2018 by Larry Thomas in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
The High Point Market Authority is set to launch two new programs for attendees at the April market, one focused on education and an evening event centered around networking and showroom discovery.
The education-related programming will be spread out over six days at an area on Commerce Avenue that has been dubbed “The Point.” Located one block from the main Transportation Terminal, programming for The Point will include roundtable discussions moderated by well-known influencers on relevant industry topics, an interactive demonstration area, celebrity meet and greets, a social media connection area and an afternoon social hour with various partner groups.
The space will also host a Parson’s Table pop-up each day for lunch, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the popular Market staple, and offer an organic juice bar and gourmet coffee bar each morning.
Additionally, a team of Market advisors will be on-site to answer any Market-related questions, assist guests with their Market planning and offer in-depth, one-on-one consultations for new buyers who are unfamiliar with Market.
“Our tagline for The Point is ‘Learn. Grow. Connect.’, and that’s exactly what this space is designed to do,” commented Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “We are here to help this industry learn and connect so business can grow and prosper, thus we are incredibly excited to offer these services and programs at The Point to further and help achieve these goals.”
He said the second new program will invite Market guests to embrace their sense of discovery and explore showrooms within a designated section of the Market map in a progressive-dinner-style format. Scheduled for the evening of Monday, April 16, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., this connection-focused neighborhood gathering will be called “Third Night: A Progressive Gala.”
For its inaugural Market, Third Night will take place in the Hamilton Wrenn Design District, located on Hamilton and Wrenn streets between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and East Ray Avenue. The evening will offer live street entertainment and musicians throughout the district with a wide variety of special menus, themed parties and influencer interactions within the participating showrooms.
“With 57 exhibitors already confirmed to participate, Third Night is going to be a spectacular event,” said Pam Cain, director of the Hamilton Wrenn Design District Association. “The streets and courtyards of the Hamilton Wrenn area are the perfect place for the event. We are excited to celebrate Spring Market with special food, drink, entertainment and giveaways; it’s yet another reason that High Point Market is the place to be.”
Official schedules and programming details for both The Point and Third Night will be available in mid-March at the High Point Market website, www.highpointmarket.org. Exhibitors in the Hamilton Wrenn Design District interested in participating in Third Night can email Jessica Giardullo at jessica@highpointmarket.org for more information.