July 2013
Let me ask you this: Have you ever been served champagne from someone suspended upside-down above you by a single loop of fabric? Well, if you were at the HFIC’s final night Masquerade Ball, you can confidently brag to your friends that you have! And that wasn’t the only surprise in store for conference attendees this year. As the first conference hosted by the North American Home Furnishings Association, the organization added as much lagniappe (that’s New Orleans lingo for “a little something extra”) as possible. For starters, the hotel was just steps from the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, so it was easy to get out and have a great time after a fulfilling day at conference. NAHFA sponsored off-site activities of a ghost tour and a swamp airboat ride, as well as an evening dine-around, so attendees were able to take in the real flavor of the city.
Conference kicked off on Sunday, June 2, with an entertaining opening session by both Master of Ceremonies Doug Keeley, who reminded us that everyone has a unique story, and by Jim Knight, former head of training at Hard Rock, who showed us how to create a business culture that rocks. That evening, attendees were able to get creative planning and making their masks for the Masquerade Ball before sitting down for dinner and a magic show. Monday and Tuesday, June 3-4, focused on learning and shopping more than 50 vendors in the showcase. Many seminars and workshops were standing-room only, and participants left with a wealth of information to help take their businesses to the next level. Some of the standout sessions included the early-riser Bloody Marys and Difficult Clients session with Margi Kyle, Bob Aita’s healthcare reform presentation, shopper trends from GE Capital, a three-part social media course by Crystal Valkaitis, and cash flow and key trends presentations by Gene Marks. The closing session on Tuesday by Kelly McDonald took an in-depth look at controlling your organization’s customer experience. Throughout conference, NAHFA sprinkled in a lot of extras, like the Product Showcase Game, where retailers had to ask questions of and collect signatures from at least 40 of the showcase vendors to enter in a drawing for $1,000. The Big Easy Best Idea contest was also a hit, allowing participants to share their greatest ideas for business success in a challenge to win up to another $1,000. Showcase exhibitor Serta brought its own lagniappe along with a visit from its mascot, the Serta Sheep. He walked around the showcase saying hello and attendees left with some great photos.
The Masquerade Ball on June 4 was a fun and fitting way to end our time in New Orleans. We were all able to show a different side of ourselves with costumes and masks. A local band played the soundtrack for the evening and aerial artists served champagne suspended in the air. And your association’s very own Kaprice Crawford, Membership Team Leader, won the dance competition! The ball truly showcased the magic and mystery of the Big Easy.
Overall, conference this year was a huge success. I hope you’re gearing up for next year at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Ariz., from June 1-3! We’ll see you there. And don’t forget, just like this year and every year, we’ll have an app ready to go so you can have conference information at your fingertips. 
To download presentations from any of the seminars or workshops, head to thehfic.com.
