Interior Design Markets 2021: Full Schedule of Shows
Original photography posted at Highpointmarket.org.
Original article posted at Design Manager.
The interior design event calendar certainly looked different in 2020, with postponements, plenty of outright cancellations, and a handful of in-person events amended to follow new health safety protocols. As the interior design community looks forward to 2021, Design Manager is updating this list of the industry’s major trade show events with a look back to what was successful about the events that did end up taking place in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and what to expect as the interior design community prepares to resume a busier event schedule in 2021.
High Point Markets
Where: High Point, North Carolina
When: June 5-9 2021
High Point Fall Market was one of the few major interior design events that took place after the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S. The Spring Market, originally scheduled for April and then moved to June, was ultimately cancelled. But the Fall Market took place as an in-person event from October 13-21 as originally planned.
The event was a great success thanks to diligent planning that made the event safe, including safety measures such as strict enforcement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), staggered attendance, and encouraging attendees to make showroom appointments. High Point Fall Market also had a number of well-received panels, including Design Manager’s “15 ‘Free the Designer’ Keys” presentation and panel discussion, featuring a roster of industry super stars.
The High Point Authority has announced that for 2021, the Spring Market will be moved to June 5-9 in anticipation of the COVID-19 vaccine that is currently being rolled out, and will follow similar safety protocols to the Fall 2020 experience. They have not yet announced plans for the Fall 2021 Market.
Atlanta Market
Where: AmericasMart in Atlanta
When: Jan. 12-19, 2021
AmericasMart Atlanta is a permanent collection of showrooms open all year that features an annual interior design event, the Atlanta Market. The 2020 iteration of the event took place before the coronavirus outbreak in early March, but the event planners have been working hard to deal with the current need for social distancing and low- to no-touch interaction for the 2021 event. Pre-registration is required for Atlanta Market and those who do not come having already done so will have to register on their mobile device outside of the event venue before getting in the line to enter. What were once in-person panels and presentations that are part of the Market experience will take place virtually.
Las Vegas Markets
Where: The Las Vegas Design Center, Las Vegas
When: April 11-15, 2021
The Las Vegas Summer Market was, in addition to the High Point Fall Market, one of the few major interior design tradeshow events that took place in-person this year. International Market Centers, the parent company of the Las Vegas Markets, canceled the event’s exhibitor booths, converted live seminars to virtual events and required PPE, social distancing, and limited capacity for permanent showrooms.
Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that buyer attendance was only 20 percent of its typical volume, but showroom tenants were satisfied with the level of attendance. He also noted that instead of catching up with the latest trends, buyers were more interested in snatching up any inventory that was available, which speaks to a high demand for furniture.