High Point Furniture Mart 2010

The city of High Point, North Carolina bears the moniker “Furniture Capital of the World”. Barbara Taylor, President of High Point Museum, in a speech she delivered August 17, 2005, explained how High Point got this name. In 1919, The Southern Furniture Exposition Company built a showroom specifically for furniture manufacturers to have a place to display their creations. This showroom was 10 stories and cost over a million dollars to build. This was the first furniture market of its kind.

Building on their past with furniture, the city of High Point has become the premier destination for furniture buyers. According to the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau, there are more than 50 discount furniture stores in and around the area. These stores offer home furnishings at near wholesale prices and ship to any point in the United States. The Bureau even offers a “passport to savings”. The passport offers hotel discounts to anyone traveling to the city to buy furniture and includes a guide to local stores. High Point also boasts the largest furniture store in the nation and the world’s largest Chest of Drawers, all fitting and proper for the Furniture Capital of the World.

The High Point Market

In 1909, when the first High Point Market was hosted at the Southern Furniture Exposition Company showroom, the focus was on showcasing regional furniture manufacturers and their goods. The show has grown to incorporate manufacturers from all areas of the home trade, including textiles, lighting, and accessories to name a few. According to the High Point Market Authority, there are over 2,000 exhibitors representing 110 countries. The 12 million square feet of show space is spread across 188 buildings.


Keeping track of this many exhibitors and this much building space is a demanding task. In 2001, The High Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority Corporation was established to handle the nuts and bolts of the twice yearly shows. Through them, exhibitors may register for space and attendees may obtain passes. The Market Authority also provides the transportation between buildings, hotel accommodations for those attending and all aspects of pulling the show together.


According to the High Point Market website, highpointmarket.org, the market is the only place to experience so many of the home industry suppliers in one place. These are the industry leaders in their respective fields, the companies who make the designs and set the trends. According to the website, each new show features a place to “connect to the hottest home trends and business best practices with leading researchers and industry experts”.

Hickory Furniture Mart is one example of the furniture lines that will be represented at the 2010 Mart.
Hickory Furniture Mart, a unique mix of nearly 100 furniture outlet stores, shops and galleries. Within this four-story complex, you’ll find home furnishings, accessories, lighting, art, fine rugs, fabrics and much more – all with discounts up to 80% off retail. Over 500,000 visitors travel to the Mart every year to visit some of the best discounted furniture showrooms in NC.


2220 US Highway 70 SE # 253
Hickory, NC 28602-5192
(828) 322-3510