Editorial

It is unclear whether or not the new directory will publish directions to your $300 per night hotel room 50 miles from High Point, or which locals cut their grass the shortest to allow easy backyard parking prior to your 20 minute walk downtown, or local restaurant listings where reservations can be made only 2 years in advance.

The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) will publish a Market Directory for the upcoming October Market. The purpose of the directory, according to HPMA, is "to help first-time visitors, smaller independent retailers (defined as those with under $5 million in annual sales) and interior designers more easily navigate the Market."

It is unclear whether or not the new directory will publish directions to your $300 per night hotel room 50 miles from High Point, or which locals cut their grass the shortest to allow easy backyard parking prior to your 20 minute walk downtown, or local restaurant listings where reservations can be made only 2 years in advance.

Here's a thought, color code various buildings based on a simple life-sucking scale. Green would indicate mild frustration and Blue would indicate a risk of increased blood pressure. Buildings marked Red could dispense Prozac at all entrances and offer counseling for anyone attending Market for the first time.

“We are committed to continuously improving the Market experience for all of our constituents and with 12 million square feet of showroom space, we know that the sheer size of Market can be daunting for many attendees,” relates Brian Casey, president of the High Point Market Authority. “Our goal for this new directory is to help first-time visitors, small independents and interior designers quickly identify the showrooms where they will be most welcome. We also believe it will enable the exhibitors who seek to do business with these buyers to more easily reach out to them. This new Market Directory—an insider’s guide to High Point Market if you will—is being created to help all of our stakeholders make the most efficient use of their time here.”

According to Casey, the new directory will include no advertising and will be small and light-weight enough to carry in a breast-pocket, purse or briefcase. Exhibitors will be listed both alphabetically and by product category.

“The operating words here are ‘user-friendly,’ ” Casey says. “For that reason, it’s imperative that we include all exhibitors in this valuable resource. Since Market is right around the bend, we are urging all companies to answer the call and respond quickly to our requests for information. There is no charge for participating and we know it will benefit each company to do so.”