Textile group joins High Point Design Center to drive year-round designer business

HIGH POINT, N.C., March 26, 2009 – The International Textile Market Assn., producer of the Showtime™ fabric trade event held here each June and December, has joined the High Point Design Center and debuted the Market Square Textile Sample Sale Room to allow year-round sales of its members’ products to the design trade, including fabric, leather and trimming.

“This is a great new sales opportunity for our members,” says Catherine Morsell, director of ITMA. “Thanks to marketing support from Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., ITMA members can make their products available to the many designers who visit High Point throughout the year – with cash in hand.”

The Market Square Textile Sample Sale Room will be marketed by the High Point Design Center and staffed by MMPI initially within the Market Square Sample Sale Room on the first floor of Market Square.

Only ITMA members with permanent or temporary leases with MMPI are eligible to participate in the Market Square Textile Sample Sale Room.

Fabric, leather and trim vendors can provide excess inventory, close-out goods or first-quality stock for the Market Square Textile Sample Sale Room. Goods will be sold as whole pieces, bolts or hides – with no cut yardage available at this time.

However, according to Catherine Morsell, director of ITMA, “if the arrangement proves popular, it will be expanded to support greater volume, as well as a location that will allow for a cutting table so that cut yardage can be sold. 

“Our phone was ringing off the hook immediately after an email went out to ITMA members about this opportunity,” Morsell says, “so I think it will be a great success.”

Jeanne Glenn, executive director of the High Point Design Center, says she and Morsell “have been sharing information for several years to determine how the two organizations could work together. HPDC has set as a goal for this year to increase the fabric offerings to designers through its member showrooms so the timing is excellent.

“The design community will be thrilled to hear that this partnership has begun, as are our current members. Our desire is to offer the best and broadest collection of resources to designers, and fabrics are an integral part of that offering. Our hope will be for success and growth.”

BACKGROUND - Showtime
Showtime boasts the most extensive presentation of fabric, leather and trimmings in the Western Hemisphere. The 39th edition of the internationally acclaimed market takes place June 7-10, 2009.

More than 800 buying companies attend Showtime from such industry segments as:

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