Join 12k+ leaders and creative professionals across the home industry for Ericka's perspective on brand, business, marketing, design, consumer behavior, AI, and the ideas shaping what's next.
🎉 Your fall HPMKT edit is here...
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Hi there Reader! This fall feels different to me…not because there's more showrooms or more events to plan around. It feels different because High Point Market is changing again. The best version of Market now lives in the spaces where commerce and community overlap. It's most alive in the conversations between appointments, the courtyards, the cocktail hours, the panel discussions, the unexpected introductions, the small independent brands you almost missed (but are so glad you stumbled upon or circled back to!), and the showrooms that understand you don’t build lasting relationships by rushing people through new product intros. High Point Market matters because this industry still needs physical experiences to sell physical things. You can source online from anywhere in the world or attend webinars from your gorgeous Verellen sofa like me, but you cannot replace the feeling of sitting on that very sofa, running your hand across the fabric, meeting the people who make it and bring it to market, talk to execs while sipping any number of delicious drinks, or bump into an industry friend who changes the trajectory of your whole afternoon. These things only happen in person at HPMKT. It’s not just about product (you can see that anywhere), it’s about relationships. The new showroom strategy is not simply more space/ more product…but more time, more intimacy, more context, more storytelling, more hospitality, and more reasons to linger awhile! Yes, hospitality has always played a role in business, especially at trade shows. But what I’m seeing more and more at HPMKT is something far and beyond more interesting.
Showrooms are becoming places where the hospitality is the experience.
Outdoor spaces, rooftops, courtyards, lounges, super cool re-imagined mills, shoppable party tents, and in-between places are being activated with more and more intention. Brands are borrowing from hospitality, retail, cultural programming, and private clubs to create worlds you can actually step into and a showroom gives your brand something rare and extraordinary: a controlled environment where every material, scent, sound, sightline, conversation, cocktail, courtyard, and chair becomes part of your story. And that’s exciting news for the home industry. What’s changing this fall... While you can still find me presenting and paneling at 3 events this fall (see list below), I’m taking a step back to focus more on curating immersive brand experiences for one of my clients, Amadi Collective. Amadi Collective is HPMKT’s only textile-forward showroom devoted entirely to independent brands, with rugs, textiles, wallcoverings, furniture, and artisan home brands brought together in one deeply layered, thoughtfully curated space. It was created for designers who source with intention and want to discover materials with story, craft, and character. It's a playground for your imagination (and your senses)! And this fall, we’ve put together a beautiful lineup of conversations, book signings, brunches, panels, aperitivos, and good old-fashioned lingering. I hope you'll come by with your market bestie, and stay longer than you planned! Amadi Collective (across from Verellen) Here’s where you’ll find me this week: Thursday, October 15 Thursday, October 15 | 3–5pm Opening Preview & Cocktail Reception Celebrate the debut of the new Amadi Collective showroom with an exclusive first look at a curated lineup of independent rug, textile, and home brands. Expect cocktails, light bites, and a chance to meet some of the most exciting emerging makers in our industry. A beautiful way to ease into Market. RSVP here >> Friday, October 16 10am-12pm daily | Brunch, Bubbles, and Beautiful Things 11am-12pm | Book reading and signing with Susan Jamieson, author of Bridget Beari Color Rules 2:30-3:30pm | Get Your Story Straight Messaging Workshop Beautiful work isn’t enough if clients can’t understand what makes you different. In this one-hour workshop, I’ll guide you through my E3 Storytelling Framework™ to clarify what you do, why it matters, and how to say it with more confidence. You’ll leave with sharper language for your website, proposals, consultations, and social content, plus a clearer point of view you can use to attract better-fit clients and communicate your value with greater authority. RSVP here >> 3-5pm daily | Good Things in the Making Happy Hour 5-8pm | The Ticking Tent Opening Night Preview Party I want to make sure this one is on your radar too! The Ticking Tent had me at brocante. It’s popping up at 313 Space this Market with antiques dealers, independent artisans, and boutique home brands. Even better, the Opening Night Preview Party benefits the HPxD Education Fund, which supports education and workforce exposure in High Point’s design and home furnishings ecosystem. Get your ticket here >> Saturday, October 17 10-11am | Artist talk with Roderick Hidalgo and Josh Kasper of Studio Kasa 1-2pm | Designer Panel The Instinct Before the Edit: How great designers build a signature point of view 3-4pm | Marketing and Messaging Science with Jen Smiga and Ericka Saurit Designers already know their work changes how people feel in a space. The challenge is learning how to explain that value clearly, confidently, and in a way clients understand.
Join me and digital marketing strategist Jen Smiga for a practical conversation on how to translate the science of design into stronger messaging and smarter marketing. I’ll share how to connect design decisions to human outcomes, while Jen will show where those words need to live so clients, Google, and AI can actually find them.
This is for designers ready to stop sounding like everyone else and start communicating the deeper value of their work.
Sunday, October 18 11am-12pm | Designer Panel Color Crush! Why it's time to fall in love with color again 2-3pm | Fireside Chat The New Provenance of Home 3:30-4:30pm | Immersive Luxury: How the Best Firms Deliver on Every Promise Luxury clients already expect exceptional design, impeccable execution, and highly personalized service. So what takes an established luxury practice even further?
This panel explores the refinements, custom creations, and often unexpected details that turn an excellent experience into an unforgettable one. We’ll talk about how leading designers make their brand promise tangible, deepen trust, and create the kind of client longevity where one project can become a relationship spanning years, homes, and even decades.
Moderated by Rachel Fasciani, editor-in-chief of Design News Now, with Samantha Cury, Christopher Grubb, Ericka Saurit, and Aviva Stanoff.
Monday, October 19 11am-1pm | Star Style brunch and book signing with Martyn Lawrence Bullard Join celebrated interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard for brunch and a signing of his new book, Star Style. Known for his glamorous, layered interiors and iconic celebrity clientele, Martyn brings his signature point of view to Amadi Collective for a lively market morning of design, conversation, and inspiration. RSVP here >> 2-3pm | Designer Panel How AI is Building the Future of Interior Design 3-4pm | Women at Home in Tech meetup and happy hour Need help navigating Market? Whether it’s your first market or your fiftieth, I’ve created a custom Market map you can save to your phone to help you get around while you're here (there are layers and descriptions for my favorite showrooms, parking, and local places to eat and drink):
Business of Home Designer's Guide to HPMKT >> Cool Girl’s Guide to HPMKT >> Official HPMKT app and website >> I can’t wait to see you in High Point this week and next, Reader. Hit reply if you're coming, or stop by, say hello, and let me know what ideas are taking shape for you this season. To your next big idea ✨ Ericka |
✨ Get Your Story Straight.
Join 12k+ leaders and creative professionals across the home industry for Ericka's perspective on brand, business, marketing, design, consumer behavior, AI, and the ideas shaping what's next.