Another Spring Furniture Market Comes and Goes for the City of High Point, N.C.

By: Emily Farris

            The city of High Point, N.C. hosted yet another Furniture Market from April 5-10. Buyers from all over the world showed up to experience the latest trends in home furnishings.

Demographics

The High Point Spring Furniture Market is known as the largest furniture industry tradeshow in the world, and this market has proven to be no different.

Due to the severe winter weather up and down the east coast, spring market was two weeks earlier than usual. This caused the High Point Market Authority to be concerned about attendance, which is the key to financial success.

However, over 75,000 people attended spring furniture market spanning across 100 different countries. According to Tom Conley, president of the High Point Market Authority, the number of buying companies attending this market was the second highest since 2007.

“We had our telemarketing service make over 80,000 phone calls to over 30,000 buyers. That effort led to a 12.19 percent increase in the number of buying companies that came to this market, compared to last October,” says Conley.

Spanning across 180 buildings and 11.5 million square feet of show space, this market was able to debut tens of thousands of new products.

Projected Economic Impact of the Spring High Point Furniture Market 2014
Number of job opportunities	37,600
Furniture Sales Activity	$4.2 billion
Total Fiscal Impact	$538 million
Tax revenue for North Carolina	$123 million
Information from Duke University’s Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness study

An Exhibitor’s Experience

Of the 2,000 exhibitors at spring furniture market, Lee Industries Inc. is one that stands apart from the rest. The company has been attending market in High Point, N.C. for over 30 years.

 The president of Lee Industries Inc., Norman Coley, explains the company’s recipe for success.

Lee Industries Inc. Showroom

“During the off-season, we make sure we service the customers, build quality products, and keep them happy so they’ll come back,” Coley states.

As a company offering sustainable products, it is important that Lee Industries Inc. supports the local businesses it services in the Triad. Therefore, a campaign supporting this ideal has come into existence.

“You know, we’ve got a campaign for 'Lee Loves Local', promoting local businesses and donating to local economies,” says Coley.

This year the selections at Lee Industries Inc. appeal to a wide range of generations.

By offering traditional items, as well as modern pieces, Lee Industries Inc. is expected to have yet another successful furniture market.

A Buyer’s Experience

            The furniture market would be nothing without the thousands of buyers who attend. The market authority works tirelessly to ensure that buyer’s will have the best experience possible.

Lisa Mykleby, an interior designer and business-owner, knows this firsthand. She has been attending the market in High Point on-and-off for six years.

“There’s nothing like seeing the products in person. A lot of people don’t think that they really need to attend markets anymore because everything is available on the Web, but there’s nothing like seeing it and talking to the people who are designing it to really get a feel for the ultimate end product,” Mykleby declares.

            Each year, the market ensures a new and fascinating experience for attendees. Mykleby was impressed with how technology and home furnishings have come together to create a new frontier for home décor.

She even went as far as to say, “I think it’s amazing how they have used technology to create some fabrics that don’t appear to be waterproof, that actually are…I just think that’s pretty remarkable.”

            It’s safe to say that the spring market in High Point lived up to buyer’s expectations.

As the High Point Market Authority states on their website, “If you can’t find it in High Point…it probably doesn’t exist!”

 Tour of a Showroom 

The “Feminist Frequency” comes to High Point University

By: Emily Farris

            High Point University hosted speaker Anita Sarkeesian, creator of the “Feminist Frequency,” on April 3^rd as a part of the Communications Week sponsored by the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. Sarkeesian spoke to students about the various stigmas pictured in today’s pop culture narratives.

            The “Feminist Frequency” is a web series that explores a variety of representations of women in video games. Sarkeesian explained the idea of damsels in distress, women in refrigerators, and smurfettes to a college-aged audience in an way that had the attendees laughing.

Emily Krol, a freshman Game and Interactive Media Design Major at High Point University, enjoyed Sarkeesian’s take on feminism in the media.

“Not only did she convince the audience to see her point of view with her extensive amount of examples that everyone could relate to, but her arguments were unique, relevant, and well-supported,” says Krol.

However, not everyone was able to relate to Sarkeesian throughout her speech.

Bitsy Conklin, a sophomore Strategic Communications Major, spoke against the action Sarkeesian has chosen to undertake.

 “I don't really agree with the message. I do think woman are objectified, but I also think that in today's culture both men and women are mistreated based on their sexuality. If you are offended by it, you should choose to ignore it,” Conklin states.

            Because Sarkeesian cannot ignore it, she has been attacked via social media regarding her creation, the “Feminist Frequency.” Threats involving rape and illness come in everyday, and take a toll on Sarkeesian’s faith in her message.

            Nonetheless, Sarkeesian knows that she is working for a bigger purpose; therefore, she continues to preach her message of equality. “There is already a pre-existing hatred for feminism that is promoted and encouraged by video games. I realize this, and that is why I continue to do this,” says Sarkeesian.