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From Home Furnishing Business

IMC Announces Expanded Resources and Programming for Fall High Point Market

August 11, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

“High Point has remained the center of the furnishings industry with IMC’s properties at its core. As such, we are committed to bringing our offerings back to pre-pandemic levels,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “This fall, that means more permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits, expanded education and new at-market programming to support the retail and design community as they explore new resources, relationships and opportunities.”

Accelerated leasing activity is resulting in new, expanded and relocated brands among 1,000+ resources presented by DesignOnHPMKT by IMC. Notable for Fall 2021 are gains in décor with rug, lighting, accent furniture and accessories brands joining IMC’s offerings. In furniture, updates diversify the collection with growth in traditional and modern furnishings.

In the temporary exhibits, a full InterHall in the International Home Furnishings Center’s (IHFC) will feature a mix of some 70+ new exhibitors, existing buyer favorites and brands that are returning to High Point after a pandemic hiatus. The Suites at Market Square (SAMS) – featuring some 200+ exhibitors – goes back to its traditional size with the reopening of the top floor to showcase the returning Cash & Carry category plus a buyers’ lounge, seminar space and food court. DesignOnHPMKT by IMC also presents some 15+ furniture temporary exhibits in on the ground floor of Plaza Suites with connectivity to leading national furniture resources in Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart.

DesignOnHPMKT by IMC properties include: 300 E. Green St.; 300 S. Main St.; Commerce & Design Building; Furniture Plaza; Historic Market Square; International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC); Klaussner on Hamilton; Market Square Textile Tower; National Furniture Mart; Plaza Suites; Showplace; the Suites at Market Square; and five on Hamilton Street – 121, 200, 320 and 330 N. Hamilton St., and 129 S. Hamilton St.

DesignOnHPMKT by IMC programming explores trends and business-building information through a hybrid of information-rich pre-market webinars and the return of immersive at-market experiences. IMC’s proprietary Trend Watch series adds a new in-person element for Fall 2021 as it presents furniture and décor trends through the lens of IMC’s exhibitors in a webinar and at-market event complemented by live tours of featured exhibitors and trend vignettes. More tours include Suite Spot Tours highlighting the best of temporary exhibits in the Suites at Market Square. Also planned are in-person meet-ups for the Black Interior Designers Network (BIDN) and WithIt (Women in the Home Industries Today). A full at-market activities will be announced.

Pre-market webinars kick off with “Exploring New Trends in Product Design,” a discussion of furniture design trends with Gary Inman and Zachary Hodgin of Gary Inman Home Couture and interior designer Deborah McGowan presented in partnership with International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) at 1 p.m. on August 12. Registration information for this and the full slate of Design on High Point Market webinars is at IMCHighPointMarket.com/webinars-and-events/.

Virtual trend programming including IMC’s proprietary Market Snapshot and Market Pros programs again will showcase new and exciting products from IMC exhibitors on social media and the DesignOnHPMKT by IMC website. Market Snapshot highlights new product introductions online for 9-weeks leading up to market and in an at-market vignette and culminates in online voting for People’s Choice winners. Market Pros are designers and retailers who identify favorite market finds and moments on the DesignOnHPMKT by IMC social media channels.

JuniperMarket – IMC’s new fully integrated omnichannel B2B e-commerce platform launching in 2021 – will have a presence at High Point Market with opportunities for buyers to learn more about the platform, pre-register for the JuniperMarket and pick up branded swag items. Additionally, the Juniper team will be available to demonstrate the compatible JuniperCommerce tool to interested brands.

IMCHighPointMarket.com is the hub of information about IMC’s 17 properties with a robust product search and discovery page and access to Catalog Connexion, a searchable database of DesignOnHPMKT by IMC exhibitor catalogs. Additionally, the website features virtual showroom tours, interactive Market Previews, the Market Resource Guide and a catalog of past webinars.

Registration for the Fall 2021 High Point Market is open now at HighPointMarket.org.