High Society: Furniture First, Twin-Star International, WithIt and Furnitureland South

August wasn’t all about sandy beaches, Labor Day cookouts and extended vacations—at least not for the furniture retailers and suppliers you’ll see pictured in this month’s High Society. Plus, we’ve got a few snaps from parties in Las Vegas for the summer Market.

Furniture First, a buying group with more than $1 billion in buying power, held its 11th annual Symposium in Chicago in late August. Retailers, keenly interested in improving performance in these difficult times, set an attendance record, with 88 of the group’s 169 member companies sending representatives. The event carried the theme “New Strategies for Survival and Success” and included “best idea” exchange sessions, a panel of manufacturers, and retailer-led discussions of topics ranging from merchandising to Internet marketing.

Twin-Star International invited partners to join in the fun in Las Vegas by hosting a Party Like a Rock Star event at The Hard Rock Hotel’s Body English nightclub.

WithIt’s annual conference took place in Charlotte and the group honored several in the industry with its annual WOW awards—Legacy, Future Leader, Education, Mentoring and the President’s Award.

Kicking off Labor Day Weekend, Furnitureland South invited scores of guests to the debut of its 15,000-square-foot Henredon Gallery. The large space near the entrance of the world’s largest home furnishings store is devoted to Henredon, its Barbara Barry brand and Ralph Lauren. Harris family members say adding Henredon represents another step in the store’s move to meet the needs of higher-end shoppers.

And later in September, exhibitors and retailers participating in High Point Pre-Market gathered the Monday evening of the two-day event at Grandover Resort for cocktails and dinner.

October 1, 2008