A Message from the ITA President

Oh, what a crazy year it has been!

I never would have imagined we would have been placed in a situation where the industry would have to cancel the April High Point Furniture Market and ITA’s May Showtime Market. It has created struggles and difficulties for every person and organization in some capacity. This adversity is forcing us to approach how we do business in a whole new way. Ingenuity and creativity are nothing new for our industry, so we’re tapping into it once again.

Many of our members are using technology to their advantage with Facebook Live showroom tours, virtual fabric meetings, and similar creative solutions. This has worked well for our current situation and many buyers have enjoyed these new formats. And while some may even consider these new options going forward for convenience—remember, we are a tactile, hands-on industry. You cannot tell drapability KELLY DIFOGGIO and hand from a picture or video. But the biggest thing missing from an all-digital format is personal interactions. It is hard to read emotion and non-verbal cues in a virtual call. Let’s be honest, some fabric showings are awkward face to face but can go sideways quick in a digital format talking to a screen. We need that small talk, feedback, and exchange of information between both parties. It’s critical to our business.

We cannot lose sight of the value of face to face meetings and interactions, particularly for our industry. As we move forward into the next phase of our new normal, let’s remember that we do need each other and as an industry we need those human connections. ITA, connections happen here.

Kelly DiFoggio, ITA President