em>The following is a Counterpoint:
By Bill Bencini
The News & Record reported on May 2 regarding attendance at the spring furniture market. Of note was a quote from Broyhill executive Harvey Dondero: "It's definitely down -- a lot of dealers are opting to attend Vegas or are just not coming to High Point."
That sentiment is counter to the experience of most at the spring market. Exhibitors were enthusiastic about attendance in light of a challenging retail environment. Wide-ranging improvements in the overall market experience were acknowledged by many of the 95,000 visitors to our region.
In the interest of fairness and accuracy, the news media should adequately research and divulge relevant relationships of individuals referenced in articles regarding the market.
Dondero is, in fact, CEO of Broyhill Furniture, a division of Furniture Brands International. He is also a vocal supporter of the Vegas market. A bit of simple Internet research would have revealed family, political and business ties to Las Vegas and its market.
Dondero is a native of Las Vegas. His daughter works for the World Market Center, Vegas' market sponsor. His family is active in politics in Vegas. The connections to the city and the Vegas market bring to question what motivates Dondero to speak disparagingly of High Point. He is a detractor to our market, even as positive enhancements are being implemented. Is this the role he is asked to serve as CEO of Broyhill?
Market Authority Director Brian Casey noted at Monday's board meeting that 234 of the 236 largest buying groups in the home furnishings industry attended this week at market. If High Point was "definitely down," as purported by Dondero, perhaps a number of these buying groups did not visit Broyhill. If that is true, then Dondero's time might be better spent tending to his business instead of bashing the preeminent furniture market. Such efforts would be appreciated by Furniture Brands' shareholders and industry supporters alike. It is no secret in North Carolina that Broyhill, under Dondero's leadership, has closed no fewer than six plants, eliminating thousands of jobs in our state.
In the interest of fairness and accuracy, I am an unabashed supporter of the High Point market, working in the furniture industry, representing Ward 4 on High Point City Council, and serving as a liaison to the Market Authority.
It is the journalistic obligation of reporters to separate spin from fact. Revealing relationships and agendas of sources is fundamental to maintaining fairness and accuracy.
The writer is a member of High Point City Council.