It’s that time of year again! High Point Market is right around the corner. Soon thousands of industry professionals will descend upon High Point, North Carolina for the semi annual show.

While many attend to spot the latest design trends and purchase goods for their clients or retail store, the opportunities available at High Point extend much beyond furniture. Continuing Education Courses, Networking Events, Book Signing and Parties…Lots of Parties! There is nothing like having a sampling of all your favorite stores in one place while you casually peruse, cocktail in hand, surrounded by southern hospitality and industry friends.

High Point Market Continues to be our Annual Not- To-Miss Event. If you are a follower of your blog then you recall Fall Edition of Trendwatch: Countdown High Point Market followed by our High Point Market Recap

With so much going on and an entire town to explore, this year we are adding in our top event picks and celebrity sightings!

Top Trends and Not to Miss Events

Design Trends

Design houses spend months researching the next big trend so they can prepare a modern and stylish collection that are on par with the consumer mindset. We are excited for this year’s trend of Individuality and Mindful Spirituality.

Individuality

Following the theme of individuality is the eclectic mix and match mentality. Consumers want to create a style that is uniquely their own and reflective of their increasingly global interests. We expect to see color infused whimsical pieces with distinct cultural references and curated vignettes with an artful mix of modern and vintage finds.

Mindful Spirituality

The theme of Mindful Spirituality takes its cue from the Mindfulness movement that has been popularized in recent months. As our lives become increasingly hectic, we intrinsically seek out was to calm down and become more connected. We expect to see nature infused color palettes with an emphasis on greenery, softness and tranquility.

Celebrity Spotting

The home furnishing industry is flourishing and many celebrities are getting in the mix. They are teaming up with manufacturers to create custom furniture collection and exhibiting them at Spring Market. With a little bit of planning you can meet up with your favorite celebrity, learn a little bit about their new line and get that much coveted selfie!

Here’s a line up of some of the celebrities in attendance:

Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood would be presenting the Opening Keynote Presentation on Saturday, April 14th from 10am-11am. She will be broadcasting her Facebook Live show “T’s Coffee Talk”, chatting about her brand and then presenting her popular cooking show “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen”

Mark Badgley and James Mischka

Love fashion? Love home decor? Love it when the two worlds collide?

Meet the Iconic Fashion Designers on Saturday April 14th from 11am-1pm on Saturday April 14th at Badgley Mischka Home. In case this doesn’t sync with your busy schedule, a second Meet an Greet from 3pm-4pm at The Point

Candice Olsen

The celebrity designer is on hand for a lighting discussion at Surya Showroom on Saturday, April 14th from 2pm-3pm

The Scott Brothers – Drew and Jonathon Scott

Missed the Keynote Presentation by the Scott Brothers last year? The Scott Brothers will be in attendance again at Spring Market. Join them for a Meet and Greet on Saturday, April 14th from 3pm-4pm.

Justina Blakeney

Join the founder of The Jungalow, Justina Blakeney, for a Moroccan themed celebration, meet and greet and book signing of her new book “The New Bohemians Handbook” on Saturday, April 14th from 5pm-6pm.

LeAnn Womack

Join Lee Ann Womack at the annual “Stars Under the Stars” Musical Performance on Sunday April 15th from 7pm-9pm.

Networking and Educational Opportunities

When a trade show spans an entire town the opportunities for networking are endless. Attracting some of the most heavy hitting industry leaders and social media stars, you simply never know who you will run into.

For tips and tricks on how to prepare for a trade show read our post on #DBCLA: Preparing for the Design Bloggers Conference. While High Point is not as intimate of a venue as The Design Bloggers Conference, our tips are universal best practices for any trade show.

Visit High Point Market’s website for an interactive schedule of all the sponsored networking and social opportunities. This is a great starting point to plan your trip. Tip: Leave enough room in your schedule for the unexpected. Showrooms are great opportunities to meet up with like minded professionals and expand your network.

If social networking isn’t your thing then plan on attending several of the scheduled educational opportunities. Many professional organizations and licensing bodies require Interior Designers to obtain a certain amount of annual Continuing Education hours. Take a break from the shopping extravaganza and learn something new! Bonus, most of the classes are free to attend! However, some do require an RSVP and fill up quickly!

High Point Market is one of our Not-To-Miss events. We will be live tweeting from the showroom floor! Be sure to follow us on Twitter @daydh and Instagram @daydh85 and follow the hashtags #dayziner, #hpmkt and #hpmkt2018

Also follow us on Instagram for our latest series Super Designer ! Look our for our net super hero (or super villain) recreation featuring some of our favorite products posting every Saturday! Want to get in on the fun? Post your favorite Super Pose using the hashtag #superdesignerpose