Seven days. Thousands of steps. More conversations than we can count. High Point Market is officially a wrap, and we’re home with tired feet, full notebooks and, most importantly, good orders.
We’ll be honest: we came in with a few question marks about this market. The industry has been noisy lately. But after a week on the floor, talking to designers, retailers and buyers face to face, we left feeling good. Here’s our unfiltered take on what we saw, what people were whispering about, and what everyone was drinking.
The big players are still standing strong
If you were worried the major partners were pulling back, don’t be. The big corporations and big box stores showed up ready to buy. They’re still strong, still placing orders and still planning ahead.
On the manufacturer side, the message was just as clear. If you brought good product, and especially new product, you had a fantastic market. Buyers didn’t come to High Point to see last year’s catalog. They came hunting for what’s next. The showrooms that gave them something fresh to talk about were the ones with packed aisles and busy order pads.
The lesson? In a cautious market, newness isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the reason people walk in.
Okay, let's talk about the rumors.
You know how market goes. Half the business happens in showrooms, and the other half happens over coffee in the hallway. This time, the hallway was buzzing.
There was a lot of talk about companies merging in Florida. Then more talk about companies merging, or filing, in Texas and Michigan. We’re not naming names (you probably heard the same ones we did), but the Florida chatter in particular was everywhere.
What it tells us is something most of us already feel: residential is still struggling. The economy hasn’t given that side of the business the break it needs yet, and companies are consolidating to get through it. It’s not a fun headline, but it’s the reality, and pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone in this industry.
Meanwhile, hospitality is booming
Here’s the good news side of the story. While residential takes a breather, hospitality keeps growing. More hotels. More restaurants. More bars. And a lot more senior living.
That last one deserves a moment. The demand for retirement communities and housing for older adults keeps climbing, and those spaces need furniture that’s comfortable, durable and, yes, still beautiful. Nobody wants to retire into a room that looks like a waiting room.
So if you’re a designer or buyer who’s been focused mostly on residential, this might be the market that nudges you to look at contract and hospitality projects a little more seriously. That’s where a lot of the momentum is right now.
Goodbye margarita, hello matcha
This one made us laugh. For years, the unofficial drink of High Point was the margarita. Not anymore. This market belonged to the matcha latte.
Everyone seemed to have one in hand. It turns out the industry is getting healthier, or at least more intentional. People are paying attention to what they eat and drink, and fewer folks are interested in overdoing it on the cocktails between appointments. Honestly? We get it. Seven days on your feet is a lot easier with a clear head.
The dress code is shifting too. Market keeps getting more casual every season. We saw a lot of great sneakers and not many ties. The suits aren’t gone completely, but the vibe is relaxed, stylish and comfortable. Kind of like good furniture, if you think about it.
We missed our neighbors
One thing we noticed, and didn’t love: we didn’t see nearly as many Canadian or Latin American buyers as we’d like. Let’s just say they’re probably still a little upset with us, and given the past year or so, we can’t exactly blame them.
We hope that changes soon. Those relationships matter to us, and market isn’t quite the same without them. To our friends north and south of the border: the door is open, the matcha is hot, and we’d love to see you next time.
So, what's the takeaway?
The industry is changing, no question. Residential is soft, consolidation is real and the rumor mill is working overtime. But the companies doing the work, bringing new ideas and showing up for their partners, are doing just fine. Hospitality is giving everyone new reasons to be optimistic. And apparently, we’re all a little healthier and a lot more comfortable than we used to be.
We’re heading into the next season energized, with good orders on the books and a lot of fresh ideas from the conversations we had on the floor.
Missed us at High Point? Reach out to your Zuo rep or take a look at our newest collections online. And if you were there, tell us: what was the biggest thing you noticed this market? Drop it in the comments. We want to hear it.
