Minneapolis market shortened
By Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, December 24, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Home Furnishings Market has shortened its winter schedule by a day, eliminating Sunday.
The market will run from Wednesday, Jan. 30 through Saturday, March 2 at International Market Square here.
"For a regional market of our size, we do not need five days," said Lisa Duchene, marketing manager. "The buyers that use our market are still going to utilize us because of our extensive offering of product and because we are close and convenient for them to visit.
"For the majority of our buyers, this is the only market they attend," she said. "We are trying to make smart and economical decisions that benefit our buyers and exhibitors, and shortening the market plays a major role in this."
The change is not permanent, said Duchene. Decisions on length will be made on a market-by-market basis, depending on feedback from buyers and exhibitors and the status of the economy.
"If we receive enough feedback after this market indicating we need to add Sunday back to the market, then we will," she said. "If we receive feedback that four days is better, then we will stay with a four-day market."
Attendance at the winter and summer markets here averages about 1,500 buyers, she said. The summer market is set to begin July 31.
"Buyers will still have access to the same great assortment of over 250 manufacturers, such as Eagle Inds., BenchCraft and Marshfield, and exhibitors will still see the sales totals of a five-day market," said J. Michael Thornton, general manager. "We're striving to be attentive and responsive to the needs of the industry."
