Twice a year, thousands of designers throng to High Point Market to visit their favorite vendors, sit in allll the chairs, learn new industry tidbits and drink their way through showrooms with all of their designer friends.
It is a BLAST. Also, utterly exhausting.
If this is your first time going, or maybe it has been awhile, you’re gonna want to jot these tips down!
Tip 01.
Expect to find food at every turn! I found that I never had to buy food for breakfast or lunch because vendors always had meals. We would walk into one vendor and be handed sandwiches and the next vendor would have champagne. Universal Furniture offers a full breakfast and lunch every day that is FREE and they were so good!! Other places that people have mentioned: Jaipur Living , Baker Furniture, Norwalk
Tip 02.
Plan your dinners and cocktail hours. You are going to want to get reservations for dinner because the restaurant options are slim. Network (or look on the app) to find out where the cocktail parties are. The rooftop bar at the Caracole showroom threw an amazing party and it was all free!
Tip 03.
Get a car – if you can swing it! In the past I have used the complimentary shuttle to get to and from my hotel; however, the waits can be long and doesn’t allow for a lot of flexibility. This will also come in clutch when you’re trying to get to a restaurant and there are no Ubers available. You’ll be your friends’ hero! Bonus tip: try Lyft too, not just Uber.
Tip 04.
Go to Verellen!! This is non-negotiable. You can walk there or you can call the on-the-go shuttle (or drive 😉 ). Verellen in and of itself is just amazingly flawless. They also have a food and bar – again, all free. I seriously would just go there everyday while at market!
Tip 05.
Don’t be a dummy. Wear comfy shoes and bring various pairs to switch out each day. Even my tried and true Disney shoes still caused blisters after awhile.
Here is a must-have packing list:
- Adidas Sambas or Toms Sneakers (affiliate links) – I own both and love them
- Portable Phone Charger (affiliate link)
- Some sort of small pouch (affiliate) to hold all of the business cards you get from vendors
- A bag that you’re willing to carry around all day. I love Lululemon’s belt bag! Often vendors will have tote bags that you can stash all the paper-type handouts you get
- Print out business cards that have information specifically for vendors, i.e. Resale #/EIN, Email Address, Mailing Address, Phone Number
- Pain meds like Motrin or Ibuprofphen
- Pen & Notebook
Tip 06.
When visiting a vendor, always take a picture of the vendor’s name before walking in. This allows for quick and easy cataloging when you go back through your photos.
Tip 07.
Make a plan! Backtracking will cost you so much time! Reference the Highpoint Market App and make a general plan based on where everything is located. This is especially important if there are speakers you want to see. Everything outside of the main IHFC building is so spread out that you could really kill valuable time – and your feet!
Tip 08.
If you want to avoid the crowds, go see the showrooms outside of IHFC on the first few day or two and then hit IHFC after.
Tip 09.
Always take a water bottle when given. This way you don’t have to lug around a heavy water bottle with you!
Tip 10.
Network. Network! Network!! Be yourself and make friends! I was so incredibly fortunate to have had dinner with Jean Stoffer and Grace Start on my last evening there. It wouldn’t have been possible without the friends I made. Not sure I will ever be able to top that!! (remind me to tell you sometime about how I booked our restaurant in the wrong city and realized this as Jean and Grace were showing up in their personally chauffeured car… thankfully everyone rolled with it and we were able to get seated immediately elsewhere)
