FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hickory Furniture Mart Partners with Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to Feature Blue Ridge Handcrafted Artists
HICKORY, NC – November 2, 2026. The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is pleased to announce a partnership event with Hickory Furniture Mart — a special one-day artisanal showcase by Western North Carolina craft artisans as part of the Mart’s annual Fall After Market Sale on Saturday, November 7, from 9 am to 6 pm.
The event will feature seven artisans who are participating in Blue Ridge Handcrafted, a new collaboration between the BRNHA and Hickory Furniture Mart to introduce handmade craft artisans to designers, furniture makers, and collectors interested in purchasing one-of-a-kind handmade craft pieces for their homes and offices.
Additionally, Mart customers visiting the sale will have the opportunity to register to win a $1,500 gift certificate to use towards a custom item from a participating Blue Ridge Handcrafted artisan or furniture maker of their choice. The winner does not need to be present for the drawing and will be contacted by Hickory Furniture Mart on Tuesday, November 10.
The public is invited to attend this exclusive event on Saturday, November 7, which will feature handcrafted one-of-a-kind works by:
- Mike McKinney Woodturning, Wood
- Catawba Artisan, Wood
- Goldhagen Glass Studios, Glass
- Paradise Custom Glass, Glass
- Ross Pottery, Pottery
- Rogers Metals, Metal
- Whitewoven Textile Art Studio, Fiber
“This special showcase marks the second collaboration between the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and Hickory Furniture Mart to connect Blue Ridge craft artisans with those who are seeking custom handcrafted furnishings and household goods from the region’s furniture manufacturers,” stated Tracey Trimble, Executive VP & GM at Hickory Furniture Mart. “Furniture making and craft artistry are two of North Carolina’s culturally historic creative industries.”
”We are thrilled to partner with Hickory Furniture Mart on this project, because we are all part of the same community of WNC craftsmanship,” said Angie Chandler, Executive Director of the BRNHA. “From furniture and tiles to light fixtures, statement pieces, woven fabrics, and more, there is still a need for unique, handcrafted, and functional pieces in our homes.”
About the Organizations
Hickory Furniture Mart is a leading destination for home furnishings and interior design, featuring an unparalleled collection of furniture showrooms, outlets, and factory stores in Hickory, North Carolina. The state has a strong furniture-making history, and the Mart reflects that in the high-quality level of craftsmanship it offers, much of which is designed and created specifically in the Greater Hickory Metro Region by multigenerational furniture craftsmen who have handcrafted some of the finest furniture around the world. For more information, visit HickoryFurniture.com.
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area works to protect and promote the natural and cultural resources of Western North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Craft Trails is an initiative program created by the heritage area to promote economic development and showcase the region’s rich craft heritage, curating over 340 artists, studios, galleries, and organizations across 25 WNC counties and the Qualla Boundary. Visit BlueRidgeHeritage.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Hickory Furniture Mart
Tracey Trimble, Executive VP & GM at Hickory Furniture Mart
ttrimble@hickoryfurniture.com
704-502-5932
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
Bridget Herbig, Communications Manager
bridget@blueridgeheritage.com
828-818-5334
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