Networking, Social Media and Finding Common Ground were Popular Areas of Discussion
Roseville, CA: The inaugural, all-industry Home Furnishings Industry Conference went off without a hitch last week in San Antonio, Texas. The event, hosted by Western Home Furnishings Association, National Home Furnishings Association and numerous industry co-hosts, saw 370 of the industry’s finest in attendance. Many attendees, retailers, vendors, and manufacturers, left saying they learned the true meaning of the Power in Partnerships and felt a renewed energy and excitement about moving their business into the future.
“This was the best conference ever,” said Dave Harkness, Harkness Furniture, Tacoma, Wash. “You could feel the energy and enthusiasm when the different facets of our industry came together. The more people we attract, the more diverse the opinions and networking opportunities that are available.”
The event kicked off with the engaging banter of Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas of USA Today’s Common Ground column. While political in nature, Beckel and Thomas showed how they always find common ground on issues even though they sit on different sides of the aisle. Many applied this to the retailer/manufacturer relationships in our industry, and it kicked off the event’s theme of “Power in Partnerships”. The evening continued with the Welcome Reception, which was the first opportunity for retailers, manufacturers and vendors, from across the nation, Canada, and Ireland, to interact and network.
“This conference was full of great, useful information for helping each of us become better, more efficient retailers,” said Sherry Sheely, owner of Sheely’s Furniture and current NHFA board member. “The networking opportunities and newfound friendships are invaluable.”
The excitement and energy from the night before could still be felt when attendees sat down early Sunday morning to listen to Erik Qualman present Socialnomics. Playing on the old political phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” Qualman showed attendees how social media has transformed this phrase to, “It’s a people driven economy, stupid.” Qualman created a buzz through his exciting presentation and gave attendees a few takeaways on how businesses should use social media through listening, interacting, reacting and then selling.
The networking and learning continued throughout the day with numerous breakout sessions, followed by after sessions and Mardi Gras Marketing Madness with event emcees Rich Kizer and Georgeanne Bender. Many attendees were seen frantically scribbling down best practices that other retailers shared, filling up their conference folios with new ideas and notes.
Throughout the event, attendees could participate in a sold out Expo that hosted industry business services vendors and manufacturers. Serta showed their new iComfort mattress line and had many interested retailers wanting to sell it in their stores, while Tempur-pedic showed off their Cloud Luxe, Tempur Advanced Ergo System and raffled off Tempur-pedic pillows. This was a great opportunity for attendees to connect with manufacturers and vendors outside of the Market environment and receive more information about the specific vendors and products that were present. The night ended with a Serta Sleep party that had everyone testing out the new iComfort beds late into the night.
“This conference provided a wonderful opportunity to interact with both vendors and retailers. Networking with your peers provides quality insight and inspiration that is not available anywhere else,” said Marty Fischbein, president of Furniture Wizard Software.
Monday morning started off with an impromptu game of Paper Rocks Scissors during the opening general session with John Moore, marketing mastermind behind Starbucks and Whole Foods. Moore guided the audience through actionable methods for small businesses to thrive in a crowded marketplace and how big businesses can continue growing when faced with upstart competition.
After another round of breakout sessions, attendees filed in to hear the last presentation by Kelly McDonald on How to Market to People Not Like You. Pulling information from the 2010 census, as well as her new book, McDonald gave a lively and informative presentation that left many with new ideas on how to connect with customers. At the end of her session, all attendees were given a complimentary copy of her new book, How to Market to People Not Like You, and the opportunity to have her sign their copy.
“This was by far the best conference I have ever attended,” said Angel Lopez, current WHFA President and VP of Dearden’s. “The speakers were incredible and the opportunities to network were fantastic. I truly believe all who attended left excited about the event.”
The two and a half day event concluded with the Thank You Partner Gala, in honor of the partners of the Home Furnishings Industry Conference. Set at The Stables at the Pearl, attendees were ready to let loose, continue networking and have fun. Professional line dancers were brought in to teach attendees how to do the boot scoot and boogie, as well as the two-step. The Ben McPeak Band kept everyone dancing late into the night and even welcomed an impromptu jam session with retailers Dale Sheely, Sheely’s Furniture, on the harmonica, Valerie Watters, Valerie’s Furniture & Accents, on her spoons, and Shane Spiller, Spiller Furniture, on drums
When all was said and done, attendees left with new friends, new ideas and a renewed energy to move their business forward. Pam Rudolph, Rudolph’s Furniture in Butte, Mont., said, “I arrived intimidated, and left empowered.”
The next Home Furnishings Industry Conference will be in Palm Springs, Calif., early May 2012. For more fun, photos and information about the 2011 event, visit www.homefurnishingsconference.com.
Sponsors of this 2011 Home Furnishings Industry Conference Include: Co-Hosts: Aspenhome, FurnitureDealer.net, Home Furnishings Business, MicroD, Serta, World Market Center. Titanium Sponsors: Ashley, Coaster, Color Ad, Emerald Home Furnishings, GE Money, Leggett & Platt, Myriad, Surya, Tempur-pedic. Platinum Sponsors: ACA, Delivery Solutions, Twin Star/Classic Flame, Banner Marketing, Furniture Wizard, Med Lift, Kidz World, Sleep-EZZ, Nourison, Phoenix AMD, Simmons, Wahlquist Management Group, Zenith Global. Gold & Silver Sponsors: American Express, American Leather, Best Home Furnishings, Fairmont Designs, Guardian Products, Inc., Guardsman Furniture Protection Programs, Lane Home Furnishings, Protect-A-Bed, Steve Silver Co. Bronze Sponsors: 4-Warranty-Furniture Protection Plans, Aireloom Mattress, California Furniture Manufacturers Assn, Century Lighting, Diamond Mattress, Flexsteel Industries, Furniture of America, High Point Market Authority, Innovative Delivery Systems, James G. Parker Ins. Assoc., Lazar Industries, Magnussen Home, Mail America, Pacific Furniture Dealers, Profit Management Promotions, Storis Management Systems, The Uttermost Company, Truckskin, LLC.
