The High Point Market

The High Point Furniture show starts later this month running from April 21^st through 26^th. If you are not familiar, this show of shows happens twice per year in High Point, NC, both in the Spring and Fall. The show is where manufacturers show off their newest furniture and accessory creations to retailers from all across the nation. It is a BIG DEAL!

 The home of PatioandYards.com, Troutman, NC  is within easy driving distance of High Point, NC and we always try to attend at least once a year in order to find  new and exciting products to add to our sites. You see, not only are the top of the line manufacturers in attendance, such as Broyhill, Henredon, Lloyd Flanders, etc. and more, but also small manufacturers who maybe attending their 1^st show and they have something new and exciting to show. We have found some real beauties at shows like in the past such as when met Maury and Amy from Philadelphia, who had just brought to market  woven rugs that they found on a trip to Thailand. They weren’t actually rugs that they discovered in Thailand but rather Prayer Mats that the locals were weaving and using in their daily prayers. Maury and Amy figured that theses mats had a special quality and were also very colorful and would be perfect for outdoor use. After some wheeling and dealing,  they convinced and set the local prayer mat manufacturer up with larger looms. That was the beginning of Mad Mats.  They brought 3x5’s, 4x6’s and 6x9’s to the show for the first time and as they say in the business”, It was a good show”  For those of us that discovered their tiny booth, tucked way in the back corner of one of the largest furniture and accessory shows in the world, it was like finding a hidden gem. The excitement of finding a new product, previously not seen by  the buying public, and being one of the 1^st to offer this item…… well a marketers dream, we could not wait for the show to end, to get home and start making Mad Mats available to the world.  

 First Mate Cathy and I went out to dinner one night at the show with Maury and Amy, talked about their Mad Mats, had a great meal and have had a wonderful business relationship ever since. We started carrying Mad Mats in January of 2005 and have literally sold thousands of them.  The Mad Mat designs have grown over the years from just four designs to now over twenty different designs, all in at least three different color choices.   Maury has since passed on but we look forward to seeing our old friend Amy at the High Point Furniture show later this month. Hope she has some new designs for us.

 “LIKE” us and you’ll be the 1^st to know after we come back from the show!