What I Never Go to High Point Market Without

There are two kinds of people at High Point Market - the ones carrying blister bandaids…and the ones desperately asking around for blister bandaids by day three.

After enough markets, you start learning very quickly what matters, what doesn’t, and what will absolutely save your sanity somewhere around hour nine of walking showroom floors in shoes you thought were comfortable.

Some of the most valuable things at market have nothing to do with furniture at all. They’re the little things that help you stay comfortable, stay organized, stay flexible, and actually enjoy the experience instead of simply surviving it. While High Point Market is exciting, inspiring, and incredibly valuable, it’s also physically exhausting in ways first-time attendees rarely expect.

So, before everyone starts packing black outfits and charging their phones for October, I thought I’d share a few of my High Point Market must-haves, from someone who lives in High Point and experiences market from the inside every season.

Comfortable Shoes Are Not Optional

I know this sounds obvious.

Every single market, someone says “I’ll be fine” and every single Market, that same person is limping down Hamilton by day two looking personally betrayed by their footwear choices.

Downtown High Point is much larger than most people expect the first time they attend. You are going to be walking, standing, and moving constantly. By the end, the idea of sitting on the incredible furniture you’ve come to see feels like a personal challenge because you know how difficult it will be to get back up.

And while yes, we all want cute shoes for market photos, this is one place where comfort needs to win at least part of the time. So if you insist on wearing those cute shoes that are destined to destroy your feet, do what I do, and throw an extra pair of tried and true comfy shoes to your bag or leave them in your car in case of emergency. I can’t even tell you how many times back up shoes have saved me from sore feet, wet feet, or unexpected blisters.

The Tiny Things Become the Important Things

There are a few items I never attend market without because eventually experience teaches you what becomes invaluable at exactly the wrong moment.

My essentials always include:

• blister bandaids

• ibuprofen or Tylenol

• battery chargers

• sunglasses

• an umbrella

• and a plastic bag for the umbrella afterward so I’m not carrying around a dripping mess all day

The umbrella bag may sound oddly specific, but trust me, after one rainy market where everything in your tote ends up damp, you learn quickly.

I also carry a small crossbody bag instead of a giant purse because I want my hands free at all times. Mine usually holds:

• my phone

• business cards

• keys

• a pen

• and a small pad of paper

That’s it.

Everything else goes into a rolling bag that I only take with me if I know I’ll be collecting materials throughout the day. And honestly, the rolling bag is less about convenience and more about survival at this point. Your shoulders and back will thank you later.

A Good Plan Makes Market More Enjoyable

One of the biggest mistakes I see first-time attendees make is trying to tackle Market without a real strategy. They bounce all over the city, overbook themselves, and try to see every showroom. They end up leaving exhausted without actually experiencing much of anything meaningfully.

The people who seem to enjoy Market most usually approach it differently.

They have:

• a must-see list

• a wish list

• scheduled appointments

• and enough flexibility to allow for discovery

That flexibility matters more than people realize because some of the best moments at market happen unexpectedly like stumbling onto a showroom you hadn’t planned on seeing, discovering a smaller boutique line that perfectly fits that project you’ve been struggling with, running into an old friend or colleague unexpectedly, or finding a hidden local gem during downtime.

If every second is over-scheduled, there’s no room left for those moments.

The Best Tools To Capture Market Content

I know I’ve talked a lot this summer about content strategy around Market, but honestly, I think this is where many brands still leave enormous opportunities on the table. High Point Market is a content gold mine and with the right tools, you can leave with great quality content that can last you for months.

Some of the tools I keep with me to make filming content easier and ensuring the best quality I can with my phone are:

• a small folding tripod

• portable microphones

• a beauty light

• a cleaning cloth for keeping my phone lens clean

• and a larger tripod for group photos or standing content

Final Thoughts

While the furniture industry often talks about Market in terms of business, launches, and networking…some of the moments you remember most years later are the ones you never planned for at all.