HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The official start date for the spring High Point Furniture Market is still about a week away, but some showrooms are anticipating customers a few days early.
The Market runs from Saturday, April 18 through Thursday, April 23, but Klaussner Home Furnishings wrapped up its preparations this Saturday because officials are expecting customers to start arriving as early as Wednesday.
“A lot of them are the bigger-box retailers, your regional and national chains. But everyone is trying to be first to see the new products,” explained Len Burke, Klaussner’s vice president of marketing.
Workers at Klaussner put the finishing touches on by moving furniture to the appropriate places on the showroom floor and cleaning. Weldon Craven, a showroom supervisor, was relieved to be nearing the end of preparations, which have been ongoing for several weeks.
“We've worked every day, some weekends, and the last couple of weekends for sure,” he said. "I'm ready to rest."
The vast preparations underscore the Market’s importance for showrooms and the local economy. More than 75,000 people attend every spring and fall, and it is the largest furnishings trade show in the world.
"There's a lot of people who depend on this market, not only just the employees in our factories, but the temporary workers. A lot of people look forward to it,” Burke said.
Klaussner’s itself will be displaying about 2,000 pieces of furniture across 100,000 sq. ft. of showroom floor.