Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Virtual Programming Set for Fall High Point Market
September 2,
2020 by Jane Chero in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
A robust lineup of virtual programming will be presented before and during the fall 2020 High Point Market, taking place Oct. 13 – 21, 2020. Presented by International Market Centers (IMC) there will be 20+ educational webinar topics including trend forecasting, business practices during and after the COVID-19 crisis, consumer preferences, diversity and current market trends.
“IMC is delighted to provide a lineup of educational and influential sessions for fall market,” said Dorothy Belshaw, chief marketing and digital officer for IMC. “While in-person programming is still not possible, these expanded pre-market digital presentations give designers and retailers important trend-focused and business-building information to assist in market preparation and allows High Point Market attendees to focus on buying while at market.”
Returning this fall is IMC’s proprietary TrendWatch program with a series of three CEU-accredited webinars. Presented by 24-year magazine editor and home furnishings trends forecaster Julie Smith Vincenti of Nine Muses Media, the half-hour sessions will present each of the three trends - TOUCH POINTS (Sept. 23), POD (Sept. 30) and PROLOGUE (Oct. 7) -- currently shaping the home furnishings industry. For more information, visit http://www.imchighpointmarket.com/trendwatch.
IMC’s popular Virtual Showhouse program, a project in which six well-known designers use IMC exhibitor product to create individualized rooms, comes to life during an hour-long CEU-accredited webinar titled The House that Diversity Built (Oct. 8). In the session, the panel of designers – Breegan Jane, of Breegan Jane Interior Design; Erika Taylor, of Taylored Interior Solutions, LLC; Evette Rios, interior designer, lifestyle expert and television host; Albie Buabeng, of Albie Knows and The Design Influence Podcast, and others to be announced – discuss their diverse backgrounds, design experiences and global perspectives as well as what went into creating their one-of-a-kind, dream home residence.
Pre-market offerings will feature another nine CEU-accredited webinars, including Insider Tips for the Best Photography for Your Marketing & Money (Sept. 29), presented by photographer Stephen Karlisch and hospitality designer Chad Dorsey; Your Brand: Promoting, Licensing and Protecting It! (Oct. 1), presented by Evette Rios, interior designer, lifestyle expert; Greg Wyman, of Jewel Branding & Licensing; Stephen Davies, attorney and design industry veteran, and Ellen Gefen, host of TheHome.com; Expand Your Network: The Benefits of Building Relationships In and Outside of the Design Industry (Oct. 5), presented by four popular designers; Re-defining Luxury (Oct. 12), presented by Erinn Valencich, of Erinn V Design Group; Courtney McLeod, of Right Meets Left Interior Design; Chad James, of the Chad James Group; Vicky Serany, of Southern Studio Interior Design; Scot Meacham Wood, of Scott Meachum Wood Home + Design; Brynn Olson, of Brynn Olson Design Group and Lynn Terry of Southern Home; How COVID-19 May Change Home-Décor Preferences (Oct. 13), presented by Michelle Lamb and Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf of The Trend Curve; Using Financing to Retain and Attract Customers in Uncertain Economic Times(Oct. 14), presented by TD Bank’s Mike Rittler; Sherwin-Williams: How Do Cultures Influence Color? (Oct. 15), presented by Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing, Sue Wadden; ReImagine, ReOpen & ReEngage - Visual Merchandising Transformed (Oct. 16), presented by Gretchen Kroll, of Tripar International, Inc.; and Walking the Market with Rug News & Design (Oct. 20), presented by Sarah Stroh and Leslie Stroh, of Rug News and Design.
Other virtual sessions will cover a collection of relevant topics. These sessions include How to Shop for Eco, No Matter What You're Shopping For - with Sustainable Furnishings Council: SFC (Sept. 24), presented by John Eason, of John Douglas Eason Interior Design; Jennifer Jones, of Niche Interiors; Anelle Gandelman, of A-List Interiors and moderated by designer Breegan Jane; Working With a Coach - Part 1 Featuring Kimberley Seldon – Business of Design (Oct. 14), presented by Martha Lowry, CEO of Design of the Times, Inc. and Kimberly Seldon, Business of Design’s advocate in chief; Working With a Coach - Part 2 Featuring Gail Doby - Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting (Oct. 19), presented by Gail Doby and Jodi Cook, of Cook House Design. Additionally, Furniture, Lighting and Décor’s Editor-In-Chief Diane Falvey will also present four “Think Tank – Maximize Profitability” sessions, including Where’s the Growth? (Sept. 15); The Ins and Outs of Product Design Licensing (Sept. 22); Down to Digital (Sept. 29); and Benefits of the Retailer/Designer Business Model (Oct. 6).
All virtual programing is free, and pre-registration is recommended. Complete descriptions are available online at http://www.imchighpointmarket.com/webinars-and-events/.