Keynote Speakers Announced for Fall HP Market

August 28, 2018  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, High Point, Industry, Market   

The educational series will feature industry favorites Sherwin Williams and Fashion Snoops, Doug Stephens, The Retail Prophet, and Dr. Andrew Dent, EVP of research and chief material scientist for Material ConneXion in three events. Each will share insights and business-building advice with Market attendees. 
 

All sessions will take place in the High Point Theatre, located in the main Transportation Terminal, with doors opening 30 minutes prior to each session. 

The first Keynote Series session will feature Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for The Sherwin-Williams Company, and Jaye Anna Mize, vp of home and interiors for Fashion Snoops. Together, they will examine the intricate world of color and trend forecasting and share insights into the macro trends that will impact home interiors in 2019, 2020 and beyond. Attendees will receive Sherwin-Williams’ newly released Colormix Forecast 2019. This session will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m.

Internationally renowned consumer futurist and best-selling author Doug Stephens, known as The Retail Prophet, will discuss what constitutes a remarkable customer experience and how retailers can create 1-to-1 intelligent journeys to deliver connected shopping experiences, whether online or in store, to secure their place in the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s consumer.

With over 20 years in the retail industry prior to founding The Retail Prophet, Stephens now serves some of the most recognized retailer and consumer brands in the world, including Disney, Walmart, BMW, Microsoft and Coca-Cola. His perspectives on retailing, business and consumer behavior have been featured in many of the world’s leading publications and media outlets including The New York Times, The BBC, Bloomberg Business News, TechCrunch, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and Fast Company.

This session is presented in partnership with the Home Furnishings Association (HFA) and sponsored by Synchrony Financial. It is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m. with a book signing to follow.

The series will end with a discussion on the importance of creating inviting physical spaces to promote tangible interactions in the online age. Dr. Andrew Dent, EVP of research and chief material scientist for Material ConneXion, as well as a TED Talk speaker, will examine the role materials play in the home environment and how innovations in the area of materials are creating a counterpoint to the glass screens that occupy so much of our time. The session will take place on Monday, Oct. 15, at 3 p.m. 

Dent’s presentation will coincide with the launch of High Point’s newest year-round resource for the home furnishings industry, a Material ConneXion resource library. Launching at Fall Market and co-located with the curated design and craftsmanship exhibition Mill Collective in the Plant Seven building, this addition to the Market district will be a platform for material innovation and solutions. In addition to housing the library, Plant Seven’s multi-phase development will offer year-round co-working space for designers and makers, photography studios, special events and retail spaces, a restaurant, and more. 

“The High Point Market Keynote Series is valuable resource for attendees, offering relevant insights to help our buyers grow their own businesses,” said Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “This season’s keynote speakers have decades of experience to share, along with topics to inspire, encourage and educate.”

For more information about the Keynote Series, visit  http://www.highpointmarket.org/events/keynote-series.