This October, the High Point Market Authority (HPMA) will debut a new, custom-built structure and host a lineup of educational and social programming at The Point. The popular pop-up will return after a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus for five full days of events throughout fall market.
Located on Commerce Ave, between S. Main and Wrenn streets, The Point debuted in April 2018 during spring market as the first freestanding, High Point Market-branded venue conceived to enhance the buyer experience. Since its introduction, The Point has served as an information hub for Market attendees and has hosted celebrity meet and greets, educational roundtables, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and the always popular Parson’s Table Pop-Up lunch service, available daily.
The Point will unveil a new structure for the October 2021 market, a debut originally scheduled for April 2020. While occupying the same footprint, The Point is now a purpose-built commercial modular structure, designed and built by Boxman Studios out of Charlotte, N.C. The new 20-foot by 80-foot interior structure with a 20-foot by eight-foot covered porch lends itself to greater flexibility and a more seamless use for High Point Market programming and events.
The Point opens on the morning of Friday, Oct. 15, and the programming is open to all market attendees. Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15, and Wednesday, Oct. 20, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day in between, Saturday through Tuesday. During the hours of operation, a team of Market Advisors will be on hand to offer one-on-one consultations to attendees in need of information or support. Market-goers are encouraged to drop in throughout market for specific events or to utilize the lounge area to regroup and recharge.
The schedule of events and programming changes daily. The full listing of programs and events for The Point is located in the Events section of the High Point Market website and at www.highpointmarket.org/the-point.
The most popular programming element to date, roundtables will be hosted daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Each 60-minute, interactive conversation will focus on an industry-relevant topic and be led by well-known experts. Sessions include:
- Navigating Market Like a Pro with the Cool Girl’s Guide to HPMKT, featuring Arianne Bellizaire, Marisa Wilson, and Traci Zeller
- High Efficiency at High Point Market, featuring Alexa Hampton, Corey Damen Jenkins, Rafael Kalichstein, Joshua Rose, and Erinn Valencich
- Planning for Profit: Aligning Your Business For Immediate Success, featuring Becky Charton, Gail Doby, and Erin Weir
- Turning Productivity Into Profit, featuring Melissa Galt
- The Golden Age of 3D & AR in the Business of Furniture, featuring Jon Cheney and Reed Probst
- Products and Partnering – Strategies for Designer Collaboration Success, featuring Shayla Copas, Jena Hall, Gary Inman, and Cheryl Luckett
- ITA Roundtable: Why Performance Fabric?, featuring Christi Barbour, Caroline Hipple, and Warren Shoulberg
Special programming includes a book signing with Gail Doby immediately following her 2 pm roundtable on Saturday, Oct. 16, and a special meditation session led by Aviva Stanoff, with special guest Julia Malloy, on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 pm.
Returning programming includes the Parson’s Table Pop-Up, offering homemade lunch service from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day and the hashtag printer and photo wall, offering attendees the opportunity to take home with them a branded Market memory by posting to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #HPMKTmemory.
On Saturday, Oct. 16, Parson’s Table lunches will be offered to Market guests at no charge, compliments of StyleRow, immediately following their 10 am roundtable. Complimentary lunch service will take place again on Monday, Oct. 18, thanks to Seek immediately following their 10 am roundtable.
Evening offerings will include After Hours at The Point, featuring craft beer and wine from local brewery, Brown Truck Brewery, Saturday through Tuesday from 5 pm to 8 pm. Industry mixers will concurrently take place each evening Saturday through Monday with the North Carolina Furniture Export Office, Amber Engine, and Design Trust, Ltd.
The interior space for The Point was developed in collaboration with celebrated design firm Barbour Spangle Design Group. Product partners for lighting, furnishings, and decorative products at The Point include, but are not limited to, Creative Cables, Cyrstorama, Designmaster Furniture, Four Hands, Hudson Valley Lighting Group, Hunter Douglas, Kravet, Nuevo, Shaw Flooring, Zuo Modern, and Z-Woven Fabrics.
In line with the current health and safety guidelines for Guilford County, face coverings will be required inside The Point at all times except when actively eating or drinking. Staff will also be cleaning surfaces regularly.
