Blog: Extraordinary times, extraordinary solutions

In the wake of last week’s cancellation of the Inspired Home Show (aka the Housewares Show), my phone has been blowing up with questions about High Point Market in April.

Let me be clear and concise: It is on. The High Point Market Authority took the extraordinary step last week of purposefully releasing a statement to calm speculation and reaffirm that the High Point Market will be open for business.

In fact, Premarket, scheduled for March 16 – 17 (perhaps somewhat ironically overlapping the dates of the cancelled Inspired Home Show), is looking as if it will be more heavily attended than previous years following the cancellation of key shows in Asia and Europe earlier this spring. The list of companies planning to open their showrooms grows daily, and as you can read in this issue some enterprising companies are using this as a mini-market, opening their showrooms for extended days.

And for those impacted by the cancellation of the Inspired Home (Housewares) Show, we are undertaking extraordinary communication efforts to shine a spotlight on important product introductions, new marketing initiatives and educational programs that give a show like this its unique flavor.

Our sister publication HFN will launch a Housewares Website Takeover during the show dates to provide retailers unable to attend the actual event with critical information on the products they’ll need to drive their business this year. We’re adding extra newsletters, expanding social media coverage and working with industry partners to find new and creative ways to help support that industry in this challenging time.

The need for this expanded level of communication doesn’t end with the dates of the show. And this is not the only show impacted by the recent coronavirus outbreak. This year has seen the postponement or cancellation of myriad shows across the globe, creating an unprecedented need for alternative forms of communication.

As an organization, we are uniquely positioned to help companies address this need for enhanced communication, a responsibility we take very seriously. We have made investments and put in place processes that will allow us to provide updates on critical issues any day and any time they happen. Our research efforts have been expanded, and we are working with experts both within the industry and beyond to uncover new strategies and to provide new tools to help companies deal with the unique circumstances confronting the industry.

This year we have deployed a host of new digital communication tools aimed at more effectively identifying and reaching retailers and designers in need of product and marketing information. These tools extend far beyond the printed page and well beyond the traditional scope of B2B communication, in many cases right into consumers’ homes.

During this challenging time, we are mustering all of these resources in support of the industries we cover. The need for communication has never been more important, and our commitment to support you in this time of need has never been stronger.