HIGH POINT – Rain and gray skies greeted marketgoers who began their business on Thursday morning, two days before the fall High Point Market officially kicks off.

Major showrooms began to open and furniture industry professionals flooded into the city’s downtown streets Thursday. Some exhibitors opened early in order to “get to the buyers first,” according to Don Cox, sales manager with Temple Furniture.

“We want to be ready to secure buyers before others,” he said. “We’re very optimistic.”

Showers dampened the skies for most of the day, which doesn’t help the overall mood of the market, Cox added.

“It’s hard to get a feel for market this early, especially with the rain outside,” he said.

Several exhibitors in Center Point also opened to give an early welcome to buyers.

“If (buyers) are going to be coming in early, we will absolutely be open,” said Lincoln Griffith, sales manager with American Woodcrafters. “We’re ready for whoever shows up.”

Some new exhibitors opened showrooms for the first time this year, despite a downturn in the economy and declining sales in the furniture industry. Becky Matamoros opened Carolina Rivers of Art LLC, an unconventional showroom at Hamilton Square that displays paintings, pottery and sculptures created by North Carolina artists.

“A lot of people have lived here all of their lives and don’t understand how to show at the market. There is nothing coming from China that is more beautiful than these pieces,” she said about the artwork.

To celebrate the High Point Market’s 100th birthday, Mayor Becky Smothers and members of the High Point City Council unveiled an anniversary marker in front of the Best Western High Point, the site of the first formal Southern Furniture Market in 1909.

Buyers and exhibitors say they expect business to continue to increase today and tomorrow when the market officially opens.

phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617