HISTORY
The first furniture trade market in High Point, North Carolina was held in March of 1909. High Point was chosen as the location for market because of its proximity to the region’s furniture “cluster”. The furniture industry in this area, especially North Carolina boomed after the turn of the 20th century and by the end of World War II, an estimated 60% of all furniture made in the US was produced within a 150 mile radius of High Point.
Today, High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world. It is held biannually in the spring and fall. The market is comprised of 180 buildings on 11.5 million square feet of show space where 100+ countries are represented. There are over 2,000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of new product introductions every year. These markets are open exclusively to those in the trade, no public consumers are allowed.
WHY DO WE GO TO MARKET?
Lee Douglas attends High Point and several other markets throughout the year. The goal of attending these markets is to scope out the upcoming trends for the year and to hand pick the items that will be available in our showrooms in the following seasons.
At Lee Douglas we are committed to timeless style. There is a delicate balance between choosing pieces with staying power, and choosing the trendy items that keep our customers’ homes updated and current. We want the spaces that we design to stay stylish for years to come. If you are completely changing your style, an overhaul can be a must (such as going from traditional style to midcentury modern). However, there are great ways to update your space without reinvesting in an entire room renovation if you just want to stay on trend. With a good, basic, neutral sofa, you can get an amazing affordable and easy update simply by switching out accessories, paint colors, or even a pillow update.
Lee Douglas can help you decide which direction to go. We keep our showroom stocked with pieces that are on par with the new trends in interior design, but also strive to maintain a fair amount of merchandise that appeals to the masses to provide that solid, timeless, neutral base.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT THE CLIENT?
By actually attending these markets, it allows our designers to physically interact with each piece that we hand pick for our showrooms. We can test out the furniture we buy to tell clients how the items feel and perform. For example, we can tell if a couch or chair sits high, deep, low, etc. Having this intimate knowledge of the product allows us to help our clients make the best decisions when it comes to selecting pieces for their homes. In addition, we can speak directly with, and build our relationships with manufacturers to discuss individual pieces, fabrics and options.
While making purchases at market we can customize furniture with frames and fabrics that are not available anywhere else. We are privy to the newest availability of textiles, art, accessories and more. We can offer our clients the latest in trends and custom pieces that could not be found in any other homes or commercial spaces.
COME SEE US!
We are dedicated to serving our clients with the utmost quality in both service and product and attending markets each years is just one of the ways that we are able to do that. Our showrooms in both Lincoln and Omaha are open 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday, 11:00-3:00 on Saturday, or by appointment. Stop by and see what we have to offer as our new pieces from market start to arrive.
