High Point Market, the world's largest home furnishings trade show, debuts a dynamic mobile wayfinding app at its five-day spring event, beginning Apr. 16.

Utilizing GPS and beacon technology, the app provides building to building blue dot navigation throughout the entire 13-block Market area, plus indoor guidance within the International Home Furnishings Center, Market's largest property.

"Working with the High Point Market Authority on a groundbreaking mobile wayfinding solution was a great opportunity and challenge, due to the complex network of buildings and showrooms," says James Hartsell, CEO and founder of Skookum, the North Carolina-based company that developed the app. "Our solution guides Market guests to their desired destinations with the same experience many are familiar with from applications like Apple Maps."

Powerful search functions allow the user to look up exhibitors by category, price point, style, plus a variety of other options, and to save their selections to a personalized plan. At Market, the app shows the user's physical position and provides blue dot navigation to their saved locations.

Using beacons for indoor navigation frees the user from dependence on Internet access, as it communicates with devices via Bluetooth. This indoor location-based service, provided by technology partner indoo.rs, GmbH, of Vienna, Austria, utilizes more than 950 devices installed in the International Home Furnishings Center. Additional buildings will add beacons in advance of the October Market. GPS technology is employed for building to building navigation.

Retailers, interior designers and hospitality project specifiers are among the buyers spending $5.38 billion here annually, according to Tom Conley, CEO of the High Point Market Authority, which manages the biannual trade show.

Development of the app was spearheaded by Neil Marritt, vice president and co-founder of Emisare, the trade show's marketing agency of record.

"High Point Market has grown organically since its inception in 1909, with more than 1800 exhibitors now occupying 180 buildings," says Marritt. "The combination of an easy to use exhibitor and event search feature with on the ground wayfinding empowers buyers to target and navigate preferred shopping destinations with efficiency and speed."

The app is based on iOS interface design standards, making it immediately familiar and easy to use. It is ready for downloading through the Apple iTunes store, beginning April 11.

(Source: High Point Market)