Author, Consultant to Keynote Opening Event in High Point

February 22, 2016  by in High Point, Market   

Sponsored by e-commerce retailer Wayfair, the event will also welcome co-founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine to the stage to showcase virtual reality technology for the first time at High Point Market.

At the seminar, entitled “Re-inventing Retail & Design - Mavericks Driving the Future, LaBarre will focus her presentation on business culture, maverick leaders and how technology and innovation will define future success for the home furnishings and décor industry.

“The design industry is contending with relentless, multifaceted, occasionally shocking change,” says LaBarre. “In that world, the most important question for leaders of organizations of every size and every type is: are you capable of changing as fast as change itself? It’s no longer enough to have one hit—the imperative today is to build an evolutionary advantage.”

Leveraging virtual reality technology in home furnishings shopping, Wayfair expects to accelerate the shift to buying home furnishings online by transforming the way consumers can visualize products into their designs. Wayfair plans to showcase the virtual reality technology to attendees at the ‘Trade Services by Wayfair’ space during High Point Market.

LaBarre is co-founder of the Management Innovation Exchange (MIX), an open innovation project aimed at reinventing management for the 21st century. Consulting with high profile organizations and brands, including HBO, Adidas, COACH and Liz Claiborne, she applies her convictions on the topics of disruption and adaptation. LaBarre helped to outline these principles in “Mavericks at Work,” the best-selling book she co-authored, following her role as a founding member of Fast Company magazine’s editorial team.

The opening day event will be moderated by Stacy Kuntsel, homes editor for New England Home, regional editor for Traditional Home and Better Homes and Gardens, and co-founder of Dunes and Duchess. It will begin at 9 a.m. in the High Point Theatre. Those who register in advance online will receive preferred, early access seating and a gift from the event’s sponsors.

In addition to LaBarre’s keynote presentation, Design Tech Summit is producing an educational event during Spring Market in an ongoing series called designTechconnect which includes interactive seminars, events and education with the goal of creating a more flexible, robust and responsive industry. "Hack the Future: The New Design Landscape" will be the first-ever High Point Hack bringing together leading design practitioners, emerging leaders and entrepreneurs with top tech talent to collaborate on innovative solutions to major challenges in the design industry. The High Point Hack will help facilitate design industry concerns from the consumer perspective—leading to new business opportunities, increased sales and visibility, improved efficiency, agile responsiveness, connecting with the emerging design consumer and more. This event will take place Friday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Universal Furniture showroom at 101 S. Hamilton.