Skip to content

Uncategorized

IMC Announces Exciting Strategic Enhancements to IHFC

HIGH POINT, NC – (April 3, 2022) – International Market Centers (IMC) today announced the launch of a multi-phase reorganization of the largest of its 17 High Point properties – the International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC) – which will create a dynamic new shopping experience through strategic relocations of top furniture brands onto contiguous floors and the creation of an additional predominantly accessories floor beginning in October 2022.

“Rarely do we have the opportunity to intentionally create new merchandise neighborhoods in this iconic High Point destination,” said Scott Eckman, IMC executive vice president, chief revenue officer. “No other building has the depth and breadth of furniture, bedding and décor product as IHFC and this restack and investment in the building will allow us to best showcase the cornerstone of IMC’s High Point portfolio.”

IHFC Reorganization

The strategic relocations of some 20+ home furnishings brands will create a contiguous seven-story furniture destination anchored by some of the most influential brands in the industry including Ashley Furniture, AICO, Bassett Furniture, Bernhardt, Flexsteel, Lane Venture, La-Z-Boy, Magnussen, United Furniture and more.

With these relocations, Floor 5 of IHFC becomes a strong new design destination featuring a robust selection of accessories, lighting, rugs and textiles at the top of a contiguous multi-floor accessories collection that begins with the celebrated InterHall temporary exhibits on the ground floor. Some eight home décor and furniture brands – including Akara, Art Carpet, GTR Leather, LR Home, Palmetto Home, Rizzy, SAMS International and Zuo – launch the new accessories floor beginning in October 2022.

“A thoughtful reorganization of showrooms will enrich IHFC’s venerable collection of brands,” added Eckman. “Our similar projects at World Market Center Las Vegas and AmericasMart Atlanta have proven that an optimized marketplace encourages discovery for buyers and allows categories to truly flourish. This investment will allow us to grow both our furniture and accessories offerings and reinforce the impact of IHFC.”

International Market Centers’ (IMC) International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC) and its landmark InterHall destination are the epicenter of design-driven home furnishings sourcing with nearly 400 permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits.

Physical Improvements Include Façade

Complementing the product reorganization is an exterior update that modernizes the overall look and feel of IHFC. Upgrades include a new architectural finish for the Commerce façade and a re-surfacing of the entire building exterior. The project launches in the fourth quarter of 2022 with completion for the Spring 2024 High Point Market.

Additionally, to allow for easy access to multiple showrooms, IMC is adding an additional internal corridor to Floors 5 and 7 as part of the relocations. This update joins additional capital investments in IHFC including new paint, carpeting and lighting throughout the building. Additional physical updates are to be announced.

“The IHFC updates are just one element in IMC’s ongoing plan to update our furniture and home décor presentations in Atlanta, High Point and Las Vegas,” added Eckman. “We are actively launching initiatives to expand our offerings to attract new business channels and improve the overall sourcing experience.”

In line with this, IMC is developing new programming and related activities in connection with category expansion and refinement, kicking off with the new “Illuminate High Point Market” guide featuring 17 participating showrooms at the Spring 2022 Market. A designer-driven fixed-wire lighting initiative has doubled the resources in High Point and Las Vegas since October of 2021. In High Point, new showrooms for Kalco Lighting, Lite Source and Schonbek are set to debut at the 2022 Spring Market, joining the recently opened showrooms for Hinkley,Varaluz and Hudson Valley Lighting and an expanded Hubbardton Forge. In Las Vegas, new brands include Craftmade, Hudson Valley Lighting and Hubbardton Forge.

About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries. With more than 20 million square feet of premium wholesale showroom space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. With the launch of Juniper, a fully integrated omnichannel B2B commerce solution and multiline B2B e-commerce marketplace empowering buyers and sellers to better manage and grow their business at markets and year-round, IMC now provides the only omnichannel sales and marketing platform that seamlessly connects physical and digital wholesale commerce. For more information, visit IMCenters.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Chelsea Peabody Bohannon
404.220.2141
cbohannon@imcenters.com

Cathy Steel
203.340.9251
cathysteel@cathysteelassociates.com

READ MORE

ATLANTA/ HIGH POINT/ LAS VEGAS – (December 15, 2020) – Capitalizing on a recent shift in timing of home furnishings industry markets, and in concert with ongoing travel and government restrictions in the western United States, International Market Centers (IMC) has rescheduled the winter and summer editions of the Las Vegas Market — originally planned in January and July — to run April 11-15, 2021, and August 22-26, 2021. IMC’s 2021 markets in Atlanta for Gift & Home and Apparel will run as scheduled

Continue Reading →

2022 Color of the Year – Very Peri Atlanta / High Point, N.C / Las Vegas – International Market Centers (IMC) webinar series, “Market Insights,” returns Thursday, January 6, 2022 for an introduction to and exploration of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, PANTONE’s recently named 2022 color of the year. Participants in this free session will receive 1 CEU credit. “We are partnering again with the PANTONE Color Institute to educate IMC’s buyer and supplier base with up-to-date knowledge on trending colors and how to draw inspiration using those colors moving into 2022,” said IMC Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Dorothy Belshaw. “By the end of this session, participants will have a better understanding of how to incorporate PANTONEVIEW’s 2022 Color of the Year, Very Peri, into their designs in the future.” PANTONEVIEW 2021 – Color of the Year will be presented by Laurie Pressman, vice president of the PANTONE Color Institute, on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. (EST)/1 p.m. (PST). Pressman highlights key color trends for 2022 and provides insight into the Color of the Year and how it relates to home furnishings, décor, gift, apparel, lifestyle and all aspects of living. Registration is available here. The PANTONE 2022 Color of the Year, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, encompasses the qualities of blues, yet at the same time possesses a violet-red undertone, displaying a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression. According to PANTONE, Very Peri is a symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through. IMC’s “Market Insights” webinars present high-level conversations about issues that are currently impacting business and allow buyers and suppliers to prepare for market throughout the year. With timely, exclusive, and actionable content, the series is an extension of the programming presented by Atlanta Market, DesignOn HPMKT by IMC (IMC’s High Point Market social media channels and programming) and Las Vegas Market. The next Market Insights session will be held in February. About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries. With more than 20 million square feet of premium wholesale showroom space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. With the launch of Juniper, a fully integrated omnichannel B2B commerce solution and multiline B2B e-commerce marketplace empowering buyers and sellers to better manage and grow their business at markets and year-round, IMC now provides the only omnichannel sales and marketing platform that seamlessly connects physical and digital wholesale commerce. For more information, visit www.imcenters.com.

Continue Reading →

Nine New Sourcing Opportunities added in 2023

Continue Reading →
2022-03-3