HIGH POINT – Early estimates from the High Point Market Authority show market traffic through Monday was between 35% and 40% of what it was last fall, making turnout at the nine-day event better than expected for many exhibitors.
Taken largely from data from on-site scanners, the 35% estimate is based on attendance by individuals at market compared with October 2019. The 40% estimate is based on the number of companies here this market compared with last October, which officials said was the highest attended market in the past 12 years.
An update on attendance through Wednesday – the final day of the Oct. 13-21 event – is expected later in the week.
However, the early estimates, presented to the HPMA board on Wednesday, show what to expect overall, as those final numbers are tabulated. Many exhibitors interviewed by Furniture Today at market also said they expected attendance to end up between 15% and 50% of normal attendance.
According to data provide to the market authority, attendance from the West Coast was the lowest – as anticipated – at 25% from last year, while the Midwest and Southwest were better than expected at 34%. Attendance from the Southeast, mostly drive-in