History Of The High Point, NC International Home Furnishings Center

Furniture World Magazine

"One of the most important real estate deals in the history of the city," stated by the HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE to describe the June 6, 1919, land purchase for what is today the International Home Furnishings Centerx. The $35,000 lot on South Main near the intersection of Commerce Avenue was chosen for a $1 million, 10-story building. It took 18 months to construct and within five years its 261,000 square feet of exhibit space was fully leased. Officers of the charter company were C. F. Tomlinson, President, A. E. Tate, vice-president, R. B. Terry, second vice-president and C. F. Long, Secretary-Treasurer. Charter board members in addition to the officers were B. F. Huntley, J. W. Harris, Fred N. Tate, M. J. Wrenn, A. S. Parker, S. L. Davis, F. S. Lambeth, R. R. Ragan, Frank Wineski, F. G. Hogland and J. Elwood Cox. The manager was Charles F. Long. A Growing Market: In June 1931 Paul Casey was named manager. A four-story 65,620 square-foot addition to the existing 20-year old building was complete in 1940. Before construction, 40 new exhibitors had leased space. North Carolina's total furniture production was $38 million when the Southern Furniture Exposition Building opened in 1921. By 1937 the state was producing $56 million worth of furniture and was recognized as the chief source of medium-and low-priced furniture. Markets Suspended During War: During World War II the Adjutant General's Office of the U.S. Army used the SFEB as the Demobilized Personnel Records Branch. Although Southern Furniture Markets were suspended for four years, many companies continued operation by filling government contracts. When the war ended full production resumed to fill the sudden demand for furniture. SFEB reopened January 20, 1947, with a record attendance of 5,147 retail furniture buyers. By November 1949 another 10-story building with 163,760 square feet of showroom space was under construction. The land, located next to the original building, was purchased in 1944. Work was complete May 1950, in time for the midsummer Market. The 1950s brought a new era to furniture. Americans prospered. For the first time families were financially able to consider style and fashion. Color, fabric and design became more sophisticated. The furniture industry's marketing system responded. Markets had previously been held in January and July so retailers could prepare for their biggest buying seasons-- spring and fall. With greater emphasis on staying abreast of fashion changes, retail buyers began visiting Southern manufacturers during and after the regular selling season. The Southern Market began "informal" April and October Markets to accommodate the increasing number of mid-season buyers, chain stores and buying syndicates seeking advance showings of new styles. A National Market Emerges: Leo J. Heer was General Manager 1953 through 1972. Henry A. Foscue was elected President in 1958. That period saw the Southern Market become dominant in the world of furniture, the second largest durable goods industry in the nation which was exceeded only by automobiles. Unlike producers of other durable goods, furniture manufacturers did not evolve into a small number of massive corporate giants. Hundreds of furniture producers did, however, lease showrooms in large marketing facilities like SFEB. The largest furniture company produced only three percent of all American-made furniture. (By comparison, the largest automobile manufacturers produced over 50 percent of total output.) In 1955 exhibitors and manufacturers formed the Furniture Factories Marketing Association of the South to coordinate April and October Markets. Soon attendance at the "informal" Markets surpassed the January and July Markets. The April and October Markets in North Carolina became the dominant markets on a national and international basis. January and July Markets became the regional markets for Southeastern retailers. An addition of 73,000 square feet to the Main Wing was completed in January 1955. In 1959 the Wrenn Wing, a seven-story building, was completed with 147,300 square feet. The Green Drive annex added 375,670 square feet in 1967 bringing the total to 27 acres of exhibit space. SFEB Gives A Performing Arts Theatre To The City Of High Point: In 1972 Robert P. Gruenberg became General Manager. Recognizing the need for additional showroom space, he negotiated a land lease agreement with the city of High Point. In exchange for the land where City Hall was located, the SFEB constructed the 1,000-seat High Point Theatre. The city took possession of the theatre upon completion of the Commerce Wing in October 1974. The Commerce Wing became the largest single addition with 795,410 square feet. With its dedication the complex adopted a new trade name, the Southern Furniture Market Center. The exhibit focus began to broaden beyond furniture to all aspects of home furnishings. In 1959, the Accessory Center was established on the second floor of the Wrenn Wing, thereby consolidating for the first time decorative accessory firms and establishing the SFMC as a complete home furnishings marketing center. The 19,726 square foot Accessory Center was increased by 30,837 square feet in 1967 when the Green Drive Wing was added and by 48,642 square feet in 1974 with the construction of the Commerce Wing. At the same time, Accessory Park East was established on the fourth floor Main Wing with 21,743 square feet, which was increased by 5,821 square feet the following year. In 1980 Accessory Park South opened with 73,494 square feet on fourth floor Main, expanding with an additional 5,821 square feet the following year and by 4,017 square feet in 1985. Its coordinated decor complemented the mall park setting of Accessory Park South. The Accessory Center - Second Floor Commerce/Wrenn/Green Mall - renovation was completed for the October 1982 Market. It featured 61 showrooms in 99,205 square feet of showroom space. The decor is transitional in a Contemporary mood, designed to create a relaxed shopping environment. The Southern Market Design Center premiered at the October 1983 Market to feature over 100 manufacturers of high-end furniture, rugs, decorative accessories, lighting, and wall decor. The Design Center added a new dimension of service to interior designers as well as retail stores that offer quality home furnishings. On its second birthday in October 1985, all 570,000 square feet on eleven floors were opened and fully leased. Levels two and four of the Design Center, consisting of 95,610 square feet, are exclusively for accessories. IHFCx Today: On August 15, 1988, the complex became the International Home Furnishings Centerx in order to reflect more accurately its scope of business and merchandise. IHFCx is the world's largest furniture exposition building of permanent showrooms. In May 1989 the name of the High Point Market was changed to the International Home Furnishings Market. Currently, G. Bruce Miller is Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Thomas M. Lindh, President and Chief Operating Officer; F. Edward Thomas, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Thomas J. Loney, Vice President and Chief Leasing Officer. Six floors of the Hamilton building, the sixth wing in the complex, opened in October 1990, with 348,000 square feet of showroom space. On the first floor is InterHall, a new display concept for one-market leaseholders waiting for permanent exhibit space in IHFCx; and InterClub, an international buyer lounge. Floors two, three and four are designated exclusively for accessory, lighting and wall decor, bringing the total IHFCx accessory exhibit space to a half million square feet. Furniture showrooms are located on floors five and six. In July 1994 construction began on a 289,500 square foot, five-floor addition to the Hamilton Wing, which opened April 1995. With this expansion, the Hamilton Wing then matched the other five wings with 11 floors. In April 2001, IHFCx opened a 12th floor with expansions in the Commerce, Hamilton and Design Center wings. The IHFCx complex now includes at least 1,000 lines in 3.5 million square feet of space. Facilities include the International Home Furnishings Club, food service areas throughout the building, business center, travel desk, U. S. Post Office, Federal Express, UPS shipping desk, newsstand, first aid room plus other amenities which add up to 35 services for all Market participants. Each April and October, 80,000 buyers, manufacturers, sales representatives, and interior designers from across the United States and 110 foreign countries see new style introductions and complete product lines, meet with company principals and place billions of dollars of orders for home furnishings.