Furniture Today,
HIGH POINT — Author and trend guru Robyn Waters will speak at the High Point Market Authority’s first-ever evening educational event next week.


The event is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the High Point Theater. It’s free for marketgoers, but reservations are required and seating is limited. To secure a seat, contact the Market Authority at (336) 869-1000, extension 227.

Waters, known as the woman who put the “tahr-zhay” into Target, is the author of two books on turning trends into profits — “The Trendmaster’s Guide: Get a Jump on What Your Customer Wants Next,” and “The Hummer and the Mini: Navigating The Contradictions of The New Trend Landscape,” newly released by Portfolio Hardcover.   

“Educational events abound during the day here at High Point Market, but there are many buyers who simply can’t deviate from their shopping itineraries while the showrooms are open for business,” said Brian Casey, Market Authority president. “We believe many of these marketgoers would welcome the opportunity to participate if there were high-level educational programs during the evenings that offered ideas to drive sales and profits.”

According to Casey, Waters’ more than 25 years of experience in retail America include her substantial contribution to the rise of Target as a consumer powerhouse while she worked there as vice president of trend, design and product development.

Waters is president of RW Trend, a consulting firm whose clients include Procter & Gamble, QVC, Fidelity Investments, Piper Jaffray and Microsoft.

“Her visual presentations challenge her audiences to look at trends ‘from the inside out’ by focusing their attention on what’s important instead of just what’s next,” said Casey. “When she speaks, energies are revitalized, perspectives are reframed and possibilities are re-envisioned — making her the ideal presenter for our market guests. Her presentation will bring us all up to the minute, and show us where the minute is going.”