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High Point Market is back, boosting state and local economy

It's bringing in thousands of people to the area this weekend and it's not just benefiting local designers, but the community as well.

HIGH POINT, N.C. — Spring has sprung, which means the High Point Market is back. 

It's bringing in thousands of people to the area this weekend and it's not just benefiting local designers, but the community as well. 

"High Point Furniture Market is the best time of the year," said Laura Redd, a Greensboro interior designer and remodeler. "I get to go and explore new products and designs and ideas and styles and trends, so it's like food for the interior designer and it just allows you to see what's coming."

This will be interior designer Laura Redd's 50th High Point Market. 

She said it's not just for designers, but involves a lot of people in the community as it takes months to get everything set up. 

"It's not just the furniture, but it is the showroom," said Redd. "That's where your electricians come in, your plumbers to make sure that the water is right. We have wallpaper everywhere again. Showrooms get totally repainted, walls get brought in, and it's a totally different look, in every single market. You have to have florists. Florists are involved again. This is across every genre you can imagine involved at Market."

There are also caterers, students stepping in to help with hospitality, and community members stepping in to greet people at each showroom. 

Tammy Covington Nagem, the High Point Market Authority President and CEO said there's also a big home rental boost this week. 

"Home rentals are very strong for this market," said Nagem. "We're seeing that people really enjoy staying in a home with their whole team, doing sales meetings in the evenings, really makes for this entire experience while they're here at Market."

The turnout doesn't just come from neighboring states, but all over the world. 

"We have people coming in from Italy, Japan, China, and Germany has a big presence, but then all nationwide," said Redd. "I think people kind of think, 'Oh it's just something local,' and it is not. It's the big show."

"For this spring show, we're expecting 75,000 folks to come to High Point," said Nagem. "That's a huge economic impact for our city and for the state as a whole. $6.7 Billion comes to the state of North Carolina as a result of this show, 202 million in state and local taxes alone. So as many folks as we can get to come here for this trade show, it behooves our state."

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