“How was your Market?”
Every year as the final days of October pass by, we find ourselves starting most business conversations in the Industry with this simple phrase. Thousands upon thousands travel to the formerly sleepy town of High Point to see the best of Home Furnishings in action. While Market doesn’t officially open until Saturday, crowds begin to pour in through the week. By the time Friday’s “soft open” comes and goes, our feet are sore and voices strained from the networking, seminars, and appointments.
Watch Our Market Wrap-Up Video!
This Market was especially exciting and action-packed for MicroD. High Point Market’s Fall show was the site of our OmniVue 3D launch. Even though we announced the innovative initiative earlier this year, it wasn’t until this October furniture Market that things picked up bigger crowds and more steam. Many of you may remember seeing the OmniVue 3D signage before Market and wondered, “what does virtual reality have to do with furniture?” and it was our great pleasure to show the answer in our newest booth addition in Plaza Suites.
Over 166 visitors made appointments or dropped in to try the OmniVue 3D Virtual Reality experience during Market. From Thursday before Market officially launched to the last hours of Market the next Wednesday, people stopped by to put on the VR goggles and transport into a virtual world where furniture visualization reached new heights.
Our Virtual Reality experience was such a success that it literally overpowered our first VR computer. With a backup ready, the retailers, manufacturers, designers, and curious exhibitors or partners continued to show up with an open mind and left with open eyes to the future of furniture visualization and sales.
Not only was the Market attendance at our Virtual Reality and Retailer Resource Center booths a great success, but the networking events exceeded all of our expectations.
As a proud sponsor of WithIt, the organization helping to educate, empower, and promote women in leadership within the Home Furnishings Industry, MicroD attended the 20th Anniversary celebration of the organization. Themed for the decade of the anniversary’s namesake, MicroD’s team of leaders and women of furniture and technology traded in our furniture hats for flapper dresses. We were honored to receive an award as a Corporate Sponsor supporting WithIt these last 20 years of growth.
Hall of Fame’s Aspire to Lead Gala has always been a gem in the Market crown every year. This year was no exception. The four inductees to the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame have led distinguished careers and–what’s more–empowered others around them to take the reigns and go further. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell made us laugh and learn with his words of wisdom to the crowd of 1500 leaders in the industry.
“One of the most important roles of the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame is celebrating extraordinary individuals who, through their accomplishments and service, have helped build and define our industry. We are celebrating leadership at its best.”
Bob Maricich, president of the Foundation board of directors.
We left Market with so much excitement and energy from the great seminars, events, and experiences. We’ll continue to unwrap our Market experience for you as we #tbt to #hpmkt!