It was one of those good news/bad news situations last week when Lifestyles Enterprises announced plans to move the company’s invitation-only Forbidden City furniture show to Beijing next year. The company has held that event in High Point each January since 2006.

Area businesses benefiting from the show surely will miss revenues that the 600 or so customers of the company generated. High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau officials estimated that the show had a $234,000 economic impact on the city last January.

The good news in conjunction with the announcement is that Lifestyles Enterprises, which has its corporate headquarters here, remains committed to High Point and the city’s twice-a-year home furnishings market. In fact, expansion of the Forbidden City showroom on Commerce Avenue is planned, company officials said.

The loss of this slice of economic pie represented by the Forbidden City show presents another challenge for CVB officials as they and other city leaders attempt to replace the event and its lost revenue. But fortunately, there already are several trade shows and conferences scheduled in the city during January, including trade shows to be held by IVESCO and the Southern Building Materials Association, which together will bring for several days an estimated 1,500 people to the downtown area for events at Showplace and Best Western.

Such trade shows and events are the kinds of activities beneficial to helping build and maintain an active downtown throughout the year. The Forbidden City furniture show was one of them. It’s unfortunate that it’s leaving, but now the focus must be on finding a replacement.