AHFA Sets Marketing Meeting Schedule

May 11, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on May 2008 The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) will hold its Annual Marketing Meeting and Public Relations Workshop June 23–25 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta at Buckhead. The meeting is open to all industry marketing executives, including those from retail, supplier, import and manufacturing companies.

“Today’s business environment is a turbulent sea of change,” said AHFA Vice President Jackie Hirschhaut. “AHFA’s 2008 Marketing Meeting features experts whose insights will throw a lifeline to struggling marketing efforts.”

A highlight of the meeting will be the presentation of recently completed consumer research designed to update a benchmark consumer study that launched AHFA’s public relations initiative in 1998.

“Consumer Outlook 2008: Major Trends in Shopping, Buying and Decorating” will be presented by Dr. Jennifer Scott, managing director, insights and research, for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. She will spotlight results of three national online focus groups conducted for AHFA in February.

Providing additional insights into current consumer behavior will be Charles Kennedy, senior vice president of social trends for DYG Inc., Danbury, Conn. His presentation, “Marketing to a Super-Saturated Society,” will illuminate key shifts in the attitudes and actions of furniture buyers in 2008 and will be followed by an interactive group exercise.

Additional presentations include:

• “Bringing a Brand to Life: The Jack Daniels Story,” presented by Ted Simmons, former chairman and executive creative director of Arnold Worldwide-St. Louis and currently senior global brand consultant for the Boston-based ad agency. From 1985 to 2001, Simmons created the print and television advertising that helped grow the Jack Daniels brand to the status of an American icon.

• “Rebranding Case Study: MaggieMoo’s,” presented by Mickey Nall, managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Atlanta. MaggieMoo’s is a national retail chain selling super-premium ice creams, smoothies, ice cream cupcakes and custom ice cream cakes. With more than 200 “treateries” nationwide, the brand has received prestigious National Ice Cream Retailers Association’s awards for eight years running.

• “Hispanic Marketing,” presented by Jackie Bird, president of New York-based Winglatino, one of the fastest growing Latino agencies. Hispanic high-net-worth individuals form one of the most dynamic, fast-growing and lucrative niches in the U.S. marketplace and, Bird contends, with more than 14 million Latinos eligible to vote, Hispanics will elect the next President of the United States.

• “Digital Marketing Trends and Opportunities,” presented by Diane Myer, Matt Roth and Juan Pablo Gnecco, all of studiocom.com in Atlanta. This two-hour session will provide a complete picture of the world of social networking and consumer-generated content plus viral and mobile marketing. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops to participate in hands-on demonstration of blogs, posting videos, visiting a virtual world and more.

Following the conclusion of the formal marketing program, attendees will have the option of participating in a “retail safari” to top retail home furnishings locations throughout Atlanta on the afternoon of June 25.

Preceding the marketing meeting is a half day public relations workshop, 1-5 p.m. on June 23. The workshop will feature discussions with journalists, tips on maximizing publicity and more.

Those planning to attend should book their hotel accommodations as soon as possible by calling the Grand Hyatt directly at (800) 233-1234 or (404) 365-8100. The cutoff date for room reservations at the group rate is June 2.

Registration fee for participants from AHFA member companies is $650, or $625 for two or more individuals from the same company. Registration for individuals from non-member companies is $850.