The downtown sidewalks also were impassible, littered with cardboard, packing crates, Styrofoam and packing peanuts and an occasional stray piece of merchandise. People spent the days leading into Thursday getting everything ready to go. The town filled up, and another market was under way. Although the market officially closed the following Friday, it was essentially over on Tuesday, and downtown was ready to go back to its six-month sleep. Now the market starts on Monday, even earlier, especially if you consider the sales meetings that go on.
Big hitters are in town, and some are on the way home again by the weekend.
Others, who arrived early, use the extra time to travel as much of the 9.5 million square feet of showroom space as they can. Some wore exhibitors' badges to gain access, although getting in early in the week didn't seem all too hard. In truth, the market started earlier a long time ago when Hickory staged its own shows. Dealers would come to North Carolina, shop Hickory in the early part of the week and then hit High Point on Thursday. The market's sponsor, the International Home Furnishings Marketing Assn., has held to the official opening, as has the International Home Furnishings Center and a few of the larger showrooms.