The Las Vegas threat isn't diminishing, Furniture/Today editor says
Furniture/Today executive editor David Perry says the Las Vegas furniture market "grew a lot stronger" last week and blasts the High Point Enterprise for claiming the Las Vegas threat to High Point is diminishing.
"It has become clear to me that the Enterprise wants to put a happy face on what is in reality a big challenge to High Point," Perry writes. "I don't know who the Enterprise editors think they are fooling: Thousands of market-goers in Las Vegas last week know the Vegas market just grew a lot stronger.
"Furthermore, the false message sent by the Enterprise makes it that much harder for High Point market leaders to convince hotels, airlines and rental car companies that they must dramatically lower their prices. The Vegas threat is real. High Point cannot afford a false sense of security."
Perry (a friend of mine since college) lives in High Point and isn't trying to undermine the High Point Market. He's warning that a sense of urgency is needed to protect its position in the industry. Reporting that the Vegas threat is diminishing is like saying we're winning the war in Iraq.
Comments (6)
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Hi Doug................
The High Point Enterprise and leadership of High Point are having severe reality problems that in the long run will have a huge affect on the citizens of High Point. I think they are trying to be as positive as possible and put a happy face on a decaying problem not to frighten tax paying High Point residents. I was in the sporting goods business for many years, and we had an Expo (S.H.O.T. Expo) similar to the furniture show, maybe not quite as big but close. The SHOT Show would travel to large cities that had convention centers large enough to handle the square footage necessary to hold all the displays and huge people trafic it generated. Well, back in the,I want to say mid 80's, Las Vegas built a large convention center big enough to hold the SHOT Show and it was booked for the following January. Needless to say it was quite a hit, rooms were very reasonable, food was great also at very reasonable prices, and the entertainment was excellent. The dealers and manufacturers were very happy with Vegas and as a result Vegas was booked evey other year from that date. The last time I personally went to this SHOT Show was in 1996 and it may be held there every year now, though I don't know that for sure, but I can assure that "everyone" was very happy with all the accomodations at Vegas. Apparently the founding fathers of High Point think that the people who go to Vegas go to gamble only. The High Point Enterprise wrote an article some time ago saying that during the day dealers work the show and then go back to thier rooms and review the days activity's! The dealers I knew would work the show, make plans for dinner and then "Hit the Strip." There's a lot more in Vegas than gambling, but don't tell the city council as they might want to book thier next retreat there! Beau
Posted on February 9, 2007 8:07 PM
Beau, there's not another city anywhere that can match Vegas for accommodations and entertainment. Period. Let alone a city the size of High Point.
That alone, however, does not guarantee that LV will break the HP market. I mean, if Vegas decided it wanted to take over the Kentucky Derby or Mardi Gras, could it? It can accommodate a lot more visitors at lesser cost than Louisville or New Orleans, but do those smaller cities have qualities that make them uniquely suited to hosting their signature events? Of course they do.
High Point has some similar assets regarding the furniture market. Start with 12 million square feet of showroom space, a lot more than Vegas can offer, for now. Next, High Point has a furniture culture. It caters to furniture first and last (although it still needs to make some significant improvements in services and amenities). High Point has tradition. High Point has a lot of human capital in the industry. My point is that all is not lost just because Vegas counts some big advantages in some areas. But High Point is going to have to work like hell to keep its market what it is today. Complacency is not an option. The High Point Market Authority is not complacent, but it needs more support.
Posted on February 9, 2007 10:00 PM
The HP furniture market is already gone. People just don't know it yet. It will take six or seven more years but its a done deal. Just speaking from experience as a mfg that closed up due to Asian competition. What reason will there be to come to HP ?
Posted on February 10, 2007 10:32 AM
I cited some reasons above. The challenge is to make them compelling reasons. It won't be easy, but giving up is not an option.
Posted on February 10, 2007 11:06 AM
Doug, I must agree with GaoResident though the market hasn't "Tanked" quite yet but it is heading in that direction. You can talk all you want to about "Furniture Culture" but being a retired businessman "business is business" and the kind of old time loyalty you speak of doesn't come into play any more. If you're offered something bigger and better your going to take it, and also remember how marketeers were treated by local businesses of which I'm sure the marketeers haven't forgotten. While in business I loved going to LV and looked forward to it with great anticipation.
Posted on February 11, 2007 2:45 PM
You're right. High Point has to create a pre-eminent business experience for its market. Much work to do.
Posted on February 11, 2007 3:18 PM