Exhibitors at the fall High Point Market's preview event continued to praise its viability on Monday, opening day of the two-day Premarket.By giving suppliers early access to buyers representing about half the retail floors its product gets shown on, Bernhardt gets a jump start on market to order product from overseas sources and in ordering fabrics, said Alex Bernhardt Jr., CEO and president of Bernhardt.
"We couldn't do without it," he said. Bernhardt said the company typically sees about 85 accounts here.
Bernhardt is previewing several collections here including the English, Italian and French-influenced Eaton Square in cherry veneers and warm harvest brown finish; the casually sophisticated Pacific Canyon in dark coffee bean finish; and Auberge, an updated French cottage look.Officials at Vaughan-Bassett Furniture said that for it, a company with domestic facilities 85 miles away, Premarket helps sort out finishes and in this week's case, pique dealer interest in an entertainment and occasional furniture introduction - categories it's new in this fall.
Bassett Furniture officials said that Premarket gives it a head start on grabbing dealers' attention - a must for a dealer with a renewed focus on growing its base of independents and promote a major new licensed group, HGTV. The HGTV line was launched in 2012 and now is on about 98 retail floors, with 20 locations added in the past three months, company officials said.
"We put a lot of effort into it.... We're probably 85% showroom ready," said Matt Johnson, vice president of product development. "We'd be disappointed if traffic didn't increase."
This week in both the HGTV and Bassett lines color is a focus. For example, a new HGTV entertainment console takes influences from mid-century modern styles but with a modern twist of adding a translucent turquoise and emerald aniline dye to highly figured maple on door fronts.In the Bassett line, the company is adding several new bright custom color choices. It's also offering Wakefield, a 2011 introduction and the first existing group it's sourcing unfinished, to add custom finish in domestic facilities. The company also is introducing an entry price point upholstery program this week.
