The High Point Furniture Market is getting closer to its pre-pandemic attendance with the current market underway.
It's hard to call this spring market when it's taking place in June. But considering last year's event was canceled altogether, the mood is positive regardless.
Augie Bering and representatives from his Houston-based hardware and furniture company returned to High Point for the first time since 2019.
He says the company spent last year stocking up virtually through Zoom calls and catalogs, but he prefers face-to-face for doing business.
“It's a lot better when you can touch and see and feel products at markets, and talk to vendors and manufacturers,” he says. “The other way is very difficult.”
Like many other furniture retailers, Bering says business was good last year despite the pandemic. He describes 2021 so far as “phenomenal,” with customers excited to be getting back into stores.
There was a market last fall, but attendance was off and showroom space down as market leaders took steps to limit the spread of COVID-19.
A strong market boosts the local economy. Pre-pandemic ones had an estimated annual regional impact of more than $6 billion.
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