The upcoming Summer Las Vegas Market, July 27-31, will be highlighted by an original series of programs and educational sessions led by top industry influencers as well as many leaders from various fields of business and design. The complimentary roster of sessions will be retail-facing as well as design-focused, and present attendees with a broad range of topics including merchandising, color and product trends, e-commerce and digital strategies, customer loyalty and sales training techniques, plus much more.
“Each market, we aim to deliver a compelling slate of programs that adds value to attendees’ experience and gives them meaningful take-aways that will benefit their businesses,” said Scott Eckman, chief marketing and strategy officer of International Market Centers (IMC). “This Summer we are pleased to present a platform for thought leaders from both inside and outside of the home furnishings and gift industries that covers hot-button business issues facing retailers today, along with inspired trend presentations from top design authorities.”
Notable fashion-focused seminars will include “Sherwin-Williams 2015 Colormix™ Color Forecast,” by Laurie E. Clark of the Sherwin-Williams Company; “Ahead of the Curve,” with iconic designers Thom Filicia, Michelle Naussbaumer, Timothy Corrigan, moderated by Susanna Salk; a double-header FIRST LOOK program with special guests Joy Cho of Oh Joy!, and Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield of Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design, hosted by Julie Smith Vincenti of Nine Muses Media; a look at the “Anatomy of Antiques: An Insider’s Guide to Trends in Vintage & Antiques, Sourcing Secrets Locally and Abroad and Must-Knows of Style” presented by The Antiques Diva Toma Clark Haines; plus a special “Behind the Design” panel discussion of NBC’s first season of “American Dream Builders” with the show’s winner Lukas Machnik, celebrity designer host Monica Pederson and some favorite contestants from the show.
Retailers seeking insightful business-oriented programs can start with a glimpse into the future with Silicon Valley insider Michael Tchong, Founder of Social Revolution, with a session entitled “The Future of Technology & Innovation and Its Impact on the Retail Industry;” Suzy Teele of Snap Retail will present two different sessions on the digital landscape, “Should You Open an Online Storefront?” and “Driving Sales with the Secrets of Social Sharing;” Becky Tyre of GIFT SHOP Magazine will share the “The Big Picture: Marketing Your Store to Get the Most from the Biggest Shopping Days of the Year!;” Anne Obarski of Merchandise Concepts will present “Be an Undercover Boss: Clues to Create a Team of Super Heroes” along with a second session “Contagious Service: 6 Steps to Training Retail Superstars;” and finally, “Enduring Loyalty,” presented by Louis Roden of Inspire Consulting Group, will help define service that builds customers for life and drives sales long term.
Furthermore, IMC is also pleased to partner with leading industry associations and educators to present highly focused educational events that run parallel to Las Vegas Market Week. The North American Home Furnishings Association (NAHFA) hosts a series of week-long seminars in their Retailer Resource Center located in Building B, Suite B-1050. In addition, the Museum Store Association is presenting a “Retail Boot Camp,” led by Joan Doyle of Doyle + Associates, designed to strengthen retail management skills for museum institutions, zoos, aquariums, hospital gift shops, specialty independent gift and lifestyle stores; more information can be found at museumstoreassociation.org. Finally, Interior Design Camp will be a two-day seminar on Wednesday and Thursday of Market Week, hosted by Celebrity Interior Designers Kelli Ellis and Lori Dennis. Event information and registration is available at designcamp.com.
The complete seminar calendar for Summer 2014 Las Vegas Market includes:
Sunday, July 27, 2014
9:00am – 9:45am
First Time Buyer Orientation
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
10:00 – 11:00am
FIRST LOOK: Home Furnishings
Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield, Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design
Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
Hollywood’s award-winning design duo Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield will dish with home editor Julie Smith Vincenti about Summer Market’s best new products in furniture, area rugs, lighting, textiles plus share trend insights for the year ahead. (0.1 CEU)
11:30am – 12:30pm
Should You Open an Online Storefront, Sponsored by Surya
Suzy Teele, SnapRetail
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
Are you a brick-and-mortar store deciding whether to sell online? This session will outline the key issues to consider from a technology, business, marketing and sales perspective. (0.1 CEU)
1:00 – 2:00pm
Future of Technology and Innovation and Its Impact on the Retail Industry
Michael Tchong, Social Revolution
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
In an exhilarating ride through the “landscape of now,” attendees will learn the trends impacting retailing—from millennials to design to brand innovation. In this entertaining and informative talk, you will learn how “Ubertrends” are reshaping American values and how these changes are reinventing our way of living.
3:00 – 4:00pm
The Big Picture: Marketing your store to get the most from the biggest shopping days of the year!
Becky Tyre, GIFT SHOP Magazine
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
Explore vital retail marketing and merchandising ideas to maximize store traffic and increase sales for the final few months of the year. (0.1 CEU)
Monday, July 28, 2014
9:00 – 9:15am
First Time Buyer Orientation
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
10:00 – 11:00am
FIRST LOOK: Tabletop & Gifts
Joy Cho, Oh Joy! and Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
This signature program highlights the best-of-show in giftware, tabletop, textiles, and decorative objects. Home furnishings editor Julie Smith of Nine Muses Media will be joined by designer, author and lifestyle blogger, Joy Cho of Oh Joy!, to dish on the season’s best new home décor and gift products at Las Vegas Market as well as forecast what’s on-trend for the year ahead.
11:30am – 12:30pm
Be an “Undercover Boss”: Clues to create a team of super heroes!, Sponsored by Surya
Anne Obarski, Merchandise Concepts
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
If you were to become a frontline employee for a while in your business what do you think you might find that could be changed or improved? What could you do with that information to create happier employees and an improved culture? Learn “why” employees quit leaders—not companies. (0.1 CEU)
1:00 – 2:00pm
Tastemaker Exclusive Tour with Joy Cho
Joy Cho, Oh Joy!
Building C
Want the scoop on lifestyle expert Joy Cho’s favorite products and resources at Market? Join her for a limited-availability and exclusive tour. For more info visit http://www.lasvegasmarket.com/show-highlights/tours.
1:00 – 2:00pm
Sherwin-Williams 2015 Colormix™ Color Forecast
Laurie E. Clark, The Sherwin Williams Company
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
What color is your happy place? Whatever hues light up your personal spectrum, you’ll find them in the Sherwin-Williams 2015 Colormix™ color forecast. (0.1 CEU)
3:00 – 4:30pm
Behind the Design of “American Dream Builders”
Show Winner Lukas Machnik, joined by contestants Dann Foley, Erinn Valencich and Nancy Hadley
Moderated by Celebrity Designer and Show Host Monica Pedersen
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
Go behind the scenes of NBC’s bold reality series, “American Dream Builders” with winner Lukas Machnik and fellow contestants, Dann Foley, Erinn Valencich, and Nancy Hadley, and celebrity host Monica Pedersen. Panel will discuss breaking into TV and maintaining creativity under the spotlight.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
10:00 – 11:30am
Ahead of the Curve
Thom Filicia, Michelle Naussbaumer, and Timothy Corrigan, Moderated by Susanna Salk
Building B, 16th Floor, WorldView Ballroom
Acclaimed design luminaries Thom Filicia, Michelle Nussbaumer and Timothy Corrigan join moderator Susanna Salk for the always-popular Ahead of the Curve. These all-star designers will scour Las Vegas Market to share their best finds during a live panel discussion, plus their take on trends in the year ahead. A meet & greet with panelists and book signing will follow. (0.2 CEU)
10:00am – 2:00pm
Museum Store Association: Retail Boot Camp
Joan Doyle, Doyle + Associates
Created for retailers from museum institutions, zoos, aquariums, hospital gift shops, specialty independent gift and lifestyle stores, Boot Camp will inspire attendees and focus on operating a successful store, including industry best practices. Register at www.museumstoreassociation.org.
11:30am – 12:30pm
ENDURING LOYALTY – Providing Service that Builds Customers for Life & Drives Sales Long Term, Sponsored by Surya
Louis Roden, Inspire Consulting Group
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
How to build a deep, lasting service culture with your team and how your team brings that culture to life with your customers will be shared at this must-attend panel for business owners.
11:30 am – 1:30pm
Meet & Greet and Book Signing with Thom Filicia, Timothy Corrigan and Susanna Salk
Safavieh’s showroom (A-101)
Meet the 2014 Ahead of the Curve Designers following their presentation. Guests will enjoy lunch and conversation, along with book signings by Thom Filicia, Timothy Corrigan and Susanna Salk.
3:00 – 4:00pm
Anatomy of Antiques: An Insider’s Guide to Trends in Vintage & Antiques, Sourcing Secrets Locally and Abroad, and Must-Knows of Style
Toma Clark Haines, The Antiques Diva & Co European Tours
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
Attendees will get a crash course in the latest antique trends in Europe, what designers and dealers are sourcing abroad, forecast what’s on the horizon, plus a cheat sheet on style guidelines. (0.1 CEU)
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
10:00 – 11:00am
Driving Sales with the Secrets of Social Sharing, Sponsored by Surya
Suzy Teele, SnapRetail
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
Sharing content within the social landscape leads to an exponential growth in product sales and brand exposure. Learn the secrets of social sharing to expand your customer base. (0.1 CEU)
11:30am – 12:30pm
CONTAGIOUS Service! 6 Steps to Training Retail Superstars!, Sponsored by Surya
Anne Obarski, Merchandise Concepts
Building C, LVDC Seminar Room, C174
How charismatic is your business? Are you doing business 24/7? In this world of “always open”, do your potential customers know what you do and how to find you and are you sure that they will “make the call”? Discover who your target customer really is and creating a sales team of stars.
Las Vegas Market is the leading furniture, home decor and gift marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 2,000+ gift, home décor and furniture resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. The Summer 2014 Las Vegas Market runs July 27-31, 2014, at World Market Center Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.