How HPMKT changed my life
HP MKT Fall ‘22
In 2010, I drove to High Point to experience first-hand what the historic Furniture Market was all about. I knew at that point that I wanted my career to focus on commercial design and that High Point Market (HPMKT) was considered a residential furniture trade show, but to be as close as Charlotte is, it was something I had to see for myself. Having worked in corporate environments for 10 years, I also felt that commercial spaces needed to feel warmer and livelier and at the time, the typical contract environment felt more institutional and colder. What I didn’t expect however, is the impact it would have, and continues to have on my career.
With over a decade of HPMKT experience under my belt, I feel that commercial design studios can highly benefit on attending. As market just passed, I have been reflecting on all the positive experiences I have had through the years and the ways that it has shaped my career and my business. For me, market offers three main things to design businesses like DESIGNBAR: incredible product resources, networking opportunities, and free (!) education with the option to earn CEU credits towards affiliation requirements. Not to mention the possibility of creating relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime.
HP MKT Fall ‘22
Things to know about HPMKT: It is one of the biggest furniture trade shows. There are over 11.5 million square feet of show space with 2,000 exhibitors in some 180 plus buildings. It’s best to do your research and planning beforehand. Highpointmarket.org has incredible resources to use and the handy phone app: MyMarket is great to use while being at market to find your way around. Get to know the manufacturers and vendors you want to see and meet. Think of market as a trade show that attracts every major vendor in the industry. Vendors that will help you effectively serve your customers well. Put on your networking hat and get ready to shake some hands.
Beyond the showrooms, HPMKT is an incredible resource for professional development and furthering education for the design industry. My advice is to find panel discussions and workshops that align with your focus and sign up. By showing up to panel discussions and meeting the speakers, I have been able to find mentors and lifelong friends. Although there is plenty to be entertained by, my approach has always been to get the most out of the experience by learning and growing.
Walking into market can be a sensory overload. Even after going steady for over a decade, it still takes me a little bit to get adjusted and into the zone. Once you walk in it becomes clear, right away, what value HPMKT provides. Being prepared will help you make the most of your time by seeing the showrooms on your list, sit in on the seminars and panels that align with your focus, and find the inspirations that will carry your through the six months until the next show.
Relationships That Build
Nancy Fire
In 2014, after speaking on a panel about trends in design, I met Nancy Fire. At the time she was the Creative Director of HGTV as well as the CEO of Designworks International, a New York based company, and had incredible insights on industry trends and has always emphasized the importance of sustainability. After her presentation, she was happy to engage and answer questions. Little did I know then, that we would become close friends and the influence she would have on my life. In addition to her role at Designworks International, she has since launched Nancy Fire Designs and is a well-known industry expert.
In retrospect, 2014 was a huge year for me. I left my corporate career in the previous year to fully invest my time in DESIGNBAR. As I evolved as an entrepreneur professionally, everything started to come into focus on how to maximize time and fully benefit from what market had to offer. At a panel discussion about hospitality design, I got to hear and meet Gary Inman for the first time. With both of our backgrounds in commercial design, we immediately started talking. Over the years, we developed a friendship and a working rapport that would later mature into an alliance named Meraki Design Alliance. Meraki is a Greek word meaning the soul, creativity, or love put into something. The essence of yourself that is put into your work. The alliance comprises several design studios that virtually share their expertise, resources, and networks for large-scale hospitality, multi-family, and high-end residential projects.
Meraki Design Alliance @ HP MKT Fall ‘21
Meraki Design Alliance created a chance to strengthen the reach of what any studio could achieve by combining the experiences and knowledge compounded through each of our careers. Through the alliance, we all have benefited in ways that have sped up our individual growth, working on projects that once seemed out of reach.
Without HPMKT I wouldn’t be where I am today. From the education and industry awareness to the relationships I have formed along the way, HPMKT has continued to propel my personal and professional growth. For those students who are inspired to become interior designers, or if you are a growing studio like DESIGNBAR was at one time, I highly recommend you make the journey into High Point, North Carolina, in either April or October for the High Point Furniture Market.