High Point April 2008

Another April...another High Point market! It is amazing how the small town of High Point, North Carolina, transforms from sleepy little town to an internationally recognized destination for buying furniture and decorative accessories.

April in High Point means more than just azaleas blooming. It also brings the promise of new and exciting product introductions. Styles and trends that will trickle down to consumers over the next few months.

Pre-market buzz seemed to be focused on the economy and whether there would be buyers attending the show. The daily headlines screamed about the mortgage industry, gas prices, consumer confidence - which all translate into issues for store owners and buyers...large or small. Not to mention the looming reality of price increases in China.

So what did that mean for the show? Was it all gloom and doom? No!

Overall attendance was soft - but the mood was as upbeat as possible. Buyers repeated over and over - I have to have NEWNESS. I have to have fresh inventory. I have to reorder tried and true best sellers. After all, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when customers walk in the doors and don't see new items from their last visit - or exciting impulse-driven key items that they will want to purchase and take home with them.

For us in the vendor side of the business, this same principle is true - and Vintage Verandah took this to heart! Contrary to companies who cut back on their product introductions, High Point for us was centered on NEW items and great values on key items.

Jane Seymour was on-hand to introduce her newest collection - Cimarron Valley (inspired by the American West) - in the Jane Seymour Home Collection. Energized by her enthusiasm for telling a story about how each product was conceived - we had a very successful launch and party on Tuesday in our IHFC showroom. She looked incredible in her western-themed outfit!



In our Market Square showroom - you could find over 250 BRAND NEW items - in a broad range of lifestyles (from our best-selling lodge to coastal and cottage looks to traditional-styled lighting and home decor). By far, the biggest reaction was to our newly introduced Vv Too brand. It's a more contemporary influenced line of products that is almost 200 items strong. With a prominent space in our showroom - front and forward - you couldn't miss the brilliant spa blue wall with lighting and decorative accessories that have a more updated look with streamlined silhouettes.

Check out some of the Vv Too product images from our website:

Vv Too Lighting and Decorative Accessories

So all and all - April 2008 High Point market was a success! The takeaway from market would be....

In good times and bad - great product at the right price will win out.

Best - Todd from Vintage Verandah.