News-Record.com

This is just the beginning. There are too many shows and not enough buyers. "Build it and they will come" Vegas is not a cheap town ,its expensive to go to and stay there. The days of the $ 5.00 buffet are gone for good. Buyers don't get to work at 7:30 am unless they were up all night. I think High Point took a back seat to service until Vegas. Now they have thier act together. Its a business town for business people. Las Vegas is expensive all around and for what? Who needs to drop a few thusand in Steve Wynns pocket when i should be resting for a busy day. I for one like what HPNC. has to offer and always appreciated the local flavor it had . Friendly people that welcomed Marketeers for years. All that glitters is not gold except for the gold that ends up in the Market Centers pocket!

I spoke with one dealer who registered in Los Vegas and spent four hours at market on a three day trip. The registration allowed a tax write off for a destination to a resort. I feel confident that does not happen in High Point.

Our experience in Highpoint was completely 180 from what i have been seeing here. The town was over expensive, service was really horrible and the the whole experienced felt like it was a favor that they let us exhibit in High Point. I agree that Vegas has a lot of issues, but I do certainly say that High Point is not the solution. Vegas does offer more customer friendly service and even though its expensive, you get what you paid for.

"All that glitters is not gold except for the gold that ends up in the Market Centers pocket!"
umm lets not forget that the IHFC buiding makes about 14 million dollars a year...
If they wanted whats best for the industry it would be once a year in HP and once in Vegas-but we all know that wont happen...

The News & Record should be praised for opening a discussion on this issue. There should be 2 markets a year Spring in High Point/Fall in Vegas. Then attendance would rebound for both. High Point needs to promote it's assets, proximity to domestic manufacturer's, lower costs, Carolina BBQ and restore Southern hospitality. The current situation benefits only the market authorities. A good market was one where you covered costs. Now with Vegas everyone is losing. Major manufacturers need to force a two market solution.

I exhibited twice in Vegas and neither time was it worth my time or expense. The costs involved in exhibiting were prohibitive (especially the union staff) and the limited crowds that went through the temporaries created problems for those of us without permanent showrooms. With all of the nightlife available, the early morning crowds were very limited. I agree with the above note of once a year in Vegas and once in HP would work out best for the exhibitors, but doubt that would happen.

My costs of displaying in Vegas are very close to every other show I do. The main problem in Vegas is only ten days of shows per year. Once that changes I believe it will be a dramatic change in attitudes. I guess my question is why didn't the gentleman include all shows? If wholesalers and buyers were to pull out of all shows do you think maybe it might change the attitudes and pricing of these marts? What if the marts were co-ops and all wholesalers who showed there were owners? I'm not suggesting that would ever work, but do the math and see how it would dramatically reduce our overhead at the shows.

I agree with Brad. We've shown at HP, Vegas, Atlanta, Seattle, etc. The problem is that there are too many shows and they all cost too much.

At HP we got no service to the point that our showroom was literally crumbling. If we begged they would work on it but left a filthy disaster to clean when we arrived at market. The hotels doubled their rates and the rooms were disgusting. Restaurants had "$pecial" market menus. The attitude was always that we didn't have a choice so we'd better accept it. This has been going on for years. When Vegas came on the scene HP put a little more effort into it but not enough. We watched the traffic dwindle every year and finally closed our showroom there.

Vegas charges a lot but at least there are decent hotel rooms and restaurants to be had, you get what you pay for there. We showed at the temporaries too and the traffic was light, but similar to HP. The permanent showrooms are just too expensive to be worthwhile. Vegas, if you want to win the community over, you're half way there, just lower your prices and be honest about the real sales potential for exhibitors. It's math stupid.

We found that the ROI at trade shows just isn't worth it anymore and we focus on targeted marketing. If there were only one show a year I would prefer Vegas. The locals are far more friendly, and the city is capable of hosting a decent show. High Point burned its bridges long ago.

A co-op show would make be a world of difference to smaller vendors. I don't know how this would work logistically, but I really like the idea of it.

We exhibit in Highpoint at the IHFC, in Toronto and in Vegas in the Design and Living temps.
We have always had a good market in Vegas we have done 4 shows-however there has been less crossover between HP and Vegas in terms of dealers-so currently were forced to do both...
I think alot of exhibitors who grabbed permanent showrooms in Vegas expected a huge exodus from HP much sooner and are now feeling the pressure of double rents now-
The switch from HP to Vegas has not happened yet-and kudos to HP for making a fight out of it-and finally putting some of their millions back into the show-but is it too late??
We'll wait anothr year and see-but its gotta break sometime.
1 show in vegas and 1 in HP is the dream..

High Point still does not cater to visitors. Hotel rates jump 2-3x the normal rates for the market. Airlines call it peak season regarding frequent flier accounts and many restaurants still have special market menus. The home I rented has a 10 day minimum. Las Vegas hotels stay the same price regardless of the show, restaurants are the same price (by law), cars are resonable and airfares are cheap.

If High Point wants to save the market they need to wake up quickly, or it will be a regional market.

I am a west coast company and High Point rarely pays off. Las Vegas has been fantastic, except for one show. HP is not a writing show, Las Vegas is.

It will be a moot point once LV changes their dates to close to HP's. HP could save their market if they try to compete versus acting superior.

vegas vs high point
no one seems to count in the china shows
the march shows are duplications of whats in vegas and even tupelo ,they all show the same product made in same factories designed by the same cameras.
some are even showing same thing over n over.
vegas has no infrastructure for the industry,none.
very poor transportation system,re;getting to the show from one end strip to dwntwn. 45 min to 1 hour min,in bus longer and slow many stops.
high point is the only venue w all you need
re; style , price points,importers,fashion statements
contemporary is non existent in vegas,again unless china copies count.
1 show each coast would be ideal,never happen in hp as long as hotel ,restaurant shortage ,short sighted owners and no ,no other venues are present.
vegas has 3 shows a week,hp has 2 shows a year unless little showtime counts,same amount of people as a dental convention for people under 5 ft tall in vegas. all of the industry needs to wake up ,smell the attrition rate of missing furniture dealers they are gone not coming back and big boxes, ikea,wallmart,rooms to go
etc are all that is around .
in europe they show only new items 1x year allowing product to actually ship between markets.an impossible task in 2x yr markt situation we have now.
empty space in high point will be at an all time high,this april , count the stores ,spaces and buildings , the party is over.
its time to change.