Three generations participate in High Point Market
For Emmet Root, he has not missed the High Point Market since he began attending in October 1955.
The 79-year-old Root anticipates the trip to High Point, NC for the High Point Market. However, this previous trip was unique for Root. For the first time three generations of Roots are here including his son, Michael, and his grandson, Jay.
The three men are representing Furniture Sales of Mid-America which is a company based in Omaha, Neb. that Root founded. Michael, the president and chief executive officer of the company, has been in attendance for about 25 years while Jay, a sales representative, is attending his first market event.
Root is thrilled to be accompanied by his son and grandson. "It's nice to have that new adrenaline flowing through the business," he said.
Root feels that attendance at this market is crucial if you are in the furniture business; "To me, this is where the pulse of our business is."
The start of a new market
The High Point Market was established in High Point, NC in 1909 to create a place where furniture makers and marketers could do business. When the market was originally founded, it was known as the Southern Furniture Market.
In 1921, the Southern Furniture Exposition Building was completed and the first market show was held shortly after. High Point was hopeful to become the furniture capital of the world.
Between the 1940's and the 1980's, the market expanded rapidly thus living up to its goals of becoming the place for furniture.
By the late 1980's, the market was attracting customers from over 100 countries. As a result, in 1989 the market was renamed as the International Home Furnishings Market. In 2007, the market was renamed again as the High Point Market to recognize a tradition from the 1920's. This name still remains the same today.
From furniture market to furniture capital
The High Point Market has expanded rapidly over the last decades. The market has quickly become the largest furnishings trade show in the world. The market welcomes over 75,000 guests; ten percent of the attendees are international guests.
The market encompasses over 11.5 million square feet of showcase which includes over 180 buildings in downtown High Point. The market also houses over 2,000 exhibitors.
Future of the market
The High Point Market is held every six months. In 2014, the spring date for the market has been set for April 5-10 and the fall date has been set for October 18-23.
For Root, he plans to continue attending every event.
