Hooker Furnishings Announces Line-up for 2025 HPMKT

March 11, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

Hosted in the Hooker Furnishings showroom located on the third floor of Showplace, the full schedule of events can be found below:

Friday, April 25

2:00 PM – Succeed with 2025 Trends: Insights from the ASID Outlook Report
Speaker: Dr. Dawn Haynie, Ph.D., Research Fellow, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
Description: The 2025 ASID Trends Outlook Report reveals the key shifts shaping the future of design, from wellness-focused environments to sustainability and technological advancements. As spaces evolve to meet changing lifestyles and expectations, understanding these trends is essential for designers, retailers, and industry professionals alike. This is a CEU-accredited educational event (1 CEU Hour)

Saturday, April 26

2:00 PM - Interiors in Focus: Smartphone Tips and Styling Secrets
Speakers: Linda Holt, Photographer & Smartphone Photography Educator, Linda Holt Creative; Christy Day, Interior Stylist & Founder, Christy Day Designs
Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
Description: Join smartphone photography expert Linda Holt and interior stylist Christy Day for a fun, interactive workshop on capturing and styling interiors like a pro. With over 25 years in photography and a background in interior design, Linda teaches designers how to take polished, professional-looking photos using just a smartphone. Christy, whose work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and Coastal Living, brings her expertise in styling for top brands to show how composition and finishing touches can elevate any space.

3:00 PM – Happy Hour — Location: Clyde’s Café | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

Sunday, April 27

10:00 AM – Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers: Building a Standout Brand in 2025 — Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
Moderator: LuAnn Nigara, Business Mentor, Speaker & Host of A Well-Designed Business® Podcast — Panelists: Laurie Laizure, Cameron Sellers, and Jude Charles 
Description: This session will dive into effective marketing strategies tailored for interior designers, helping them attract ideal clients, build their brand, and leverage digital tools for growth. With LuAnn Nigara moderating an expert panel, you’ll takeaway insights on:  
Brand voice: are you positioning yourself as a luxury, mid-market, or accessible designer? 
The power of storytelling: Showcasing projects in a compelling way 
Balancing organic content vs. paid advertising 
Using AI tools for content creation & marketing efficiency 

2:00 PM –  Roar Forward…Meet Your Future — Speaker: Kelly Peterson, Business Intelligence Expert & Marketing Strategist, ROAR Forward — Description: America has entered a period of disruptive demographic change which is remaking social, political, and economic norms while ushering in a new era for our country. Older populations will outnumber younger ones across the nation as we are experiencing declining birth rates, and increased longevity. 
Meet the Re-Imagineers: today’s 50+ consumers who are redefining stereotypes and driving new trends toward making their best future a reality.
Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

3:00 PM – Happy Hour — Location: Clyde’s Café | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

Monday, April 28

10:00 AM – Lessons Learned & Profits Earned: Design Pros Share Their Design Business Journey & Their Path to Profitability
Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
Moderator: Rick Campos, Host of Design Biz Survival Guide Podcast — Panelists: DuVal Reynolds - DuVal Design, LLC, Melissa Sanabria - Sanabria & Co, LLC; Antonio DeLoatch - Antonio DeLoatch Design + Interiors — Description: Join us for an insightful panel discussion with three industry pros about where they started, where they’ve been, and where they’re headed in the business of design. Our panelists will reveal lessons learned, finding their why, their path to profitability, and the vision for the future of their design business.

2:00 PM – Beyond the Basics: Vacation Rentals, Residential, and Staging Design
Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
Moderator: Caroline Hipple, Chief Creative Officer, Hooker Furnishings
Panelists: Jessica Duce, Principal Designer & CEO, JDuce Design & Vacation Rental Designers; Rachel Moriarty, CEO & Principal Interior Designer, Rachel Moriarty Interiors; Birgit Anich, CEO & Creative Director, BA Staging & Interiors
Description: The differences between vacation rental design, residential design, and staging design go far beyond the products you specify. In this expert-led panel, STR-expert Jessica Duce, residential designer Rachel Moriarty, and luxury stager Birgit Anich will break down the unique aspects of each discipline, offering key insights on pricing structures, client focus, and the designer-client relationship across these industries.

3:00 PM – Happy Hour — Location: Clyde’s Café | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor