High Point improving service after challenge in Las Vegas

Jennifer Shubinski

Friday, Aug. 12, 2005 | 10 a.m.

The High Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority said it will continue to ramp up transportation options in an attempt to improve services and fend off the challenge of the Las Vegas market.

During the group's first quarterly board meeting after the inaugural Las Vegas furniture show, Judy Mendenhall, High Point Market Authority president, said the group has net income of $137,000 and $573,000 in total assets for the fiscal year ended June 30, according to a draft audit.

The Market Authority is the umbrella organization behind the High Point furniture market based in High Point, N.C.

It also was announced during this week's meeting that the group will receive $1.2 million from the state of North Carolina to assist in the operations of its transportation system, Mendenhall said. Currently, it costs about $600,000 each market to cover transportation costs, she said. The High Point furniture market is held twice a year.

Attendees of the 100-year-old High Point furniture show have long complained about the difficulty of getting to, from, and around the tradeshow.

During the October furniture market, the authority will be changing its local free airport shuttle to an express service, going straight to the show without stopping. They also will offer free shuttles to and from the Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham airports, Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall said coordinating and improving the existing local transportation system is quite complex.

"We serve 110 hotels with free shuttles, have three different free shuttle routs that cover our 180 showroom buildings and offer free park-and-ride lots that can accommodate around 3,700 cars a day," she said.

A boost to the October High Point market will be the opening of the first phase of a transportation terminal. Another $6 million is federal funds will assist with future phases of that terminal, Mendenhall said.

A month after the first Las Vegas furniture show, which many in the industry termed a success, Mendenhall said it actually has helped showcase High Point.

"They (Las Vegas World Market Center) have nowhere near the new product introductions or availability," she said. "The fact that they exist gives us a wonderful opportunity to compare the two shows and demonstrate that we are clearly the largest and best home furnishings trade show in the world."