Our showroom will be filled with opportunities to learn and grow your business at the Las Vegas Market.
Below you will find the schedule of educational seminars held in the Home Furnishings Association Resource Center. Plan your trip today!
Sunday, July 24
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Cutting Through the Clutter: Effective Ways to Activate a Sales Promotion
Jonathan Fador, Tokio Marine
Looking for a way to increase foot traffic and stimulate revenue? Reinvent your next marketing strategy by upping the ante on your next big game, contest, or promotion. We’ll show you how to develop a custom promotion that is designed to help you reach your marketing goals through this compelling method of customer engagement and boosted brand awareness. Let the allure of big prizes speak for themselves while you sit back and relax knowing someone else will pick up the tab.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
3 Ways to Enable Your Sales Associates to Drive Repeat Business
Ryan Blumenthal, Clientbook
Your sales associates are your greatest asset. They are often the face of your business. Sales associates also play a key role when it comes to driving repeat business. As such, enabling your sales associates for success is one of the most important responsibilities of store owners and sales managers. In this session, we will share three specific ways to enable your sales associates for success. We’ll also present a profile of how the “modern sales associate” uses clienteling techniques to build long-term relationships with clients and win more business.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Advanced Digital Marketing Techniques: Learn About Your Competitors
Fredy Wright, Conquest Digital
Ever wonder what your competitors are doing with digital ads? We’ll show you ways to find out! Plus, we’ll take an in-depth look at how to use some of the more advanced digital advertising products like Social Mirror™ Ads, Online Audio, OTT Video, Native Ads and Live Chat.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
In Synch with your Customers
Sheila Dreyer Van Buskirk, Synchrony Financial
In this session, Synchrony will build on its’ monthly consumer sentiment study to share a more future focused look at the macro forces affecting consumers and the marketplace including such topics as: shifting consumer values, the climate economy, the social commerce revolution and the role and importance of payment products in consumer decision making. You will gain a better understanding of how these macro forces are impacting consumers and what this means for businesses going forward.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Connection Between Culture & Employee Retention
Vincent Mendez & Stacy Hafliger, ProtectALL by GBS Enterprises
It’s no secret that the employee turnover rate in Retail is high. In fact, recent studies have shown that, while the average employee turnover rate in retail averages above 60 percent. The cost of a high turnover rate doesn’t just impact your bottom line, it can translate to an inferior experience for your guests at nearly every touchpoint. In this session we will share ways to reduce your turnover rate today by creating a culture that employees don’t want to leave. You will learn how employee engagement, communication, accountability, and ongoing sales education can help your organization to reduce your turnover rate and take your culture to new heights!
Cutting Through the Clutter: Effective Ways to Activate a Sales Promotion
Jonathan Fador, Tokio Marine
Looking for a way to increase foot traffic and stimulate revenue? Reinvent your next marketing strategy by upping the ante on your next big game, contest, or promotion. We’ll show you how to develop a custom promotion that is designed to help you reach your marketing goals through this compelling method of customer engagement and boosted brand awareness. Let the allure of big prizes speak for themselves while you sit back and relax knowing someone else will pick up the tab.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
3 Ways to Enable Your Sales Associates to Drive Repeat Business
Ryan Blumenthal, Clientbook
Your sales associates are your greatest asset. They are often the face of your business. Sales associates also play a key role when it comes to driving repeat business. As such, enabling your sales associates for success is one of the most important responsibilities of store owners and sales managers. In this session, we will share three specific ways to enable your sales associates for success. We’ll also present a profile of how the “modern sales associate” uses clienteling techniques to build long-term relationships with clients and win more business.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Advanced Digital Marketing Techniques: Learn About Your Competitors
Fredy Wright, Conquest Digital
Ever wonder what your competitors are doing with digital ads? We’ll show you ways to find out! Plus, we’ll take an in-depth look at how to use some of the more advanced digital advertising products like Social Mirror™ Ads, Online Audio, OTT Video, Native Ads and Live Chat.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
In Synch with your Customers
Sheila Dreyer Van Buskirk, Synchrony Financial
In this session, Synchrony will build on its’ monthly consumer sentiment study to share a more future focused look at the macro forces affecting consumers and the marketplace including such topics as: shifting consumer values, the climate economy, the social commerce revolution and the role and importance of payment products in consumer decision making. You will gain a better understanding of how these macro forces are impacting consumers and what this means for businesses going forward.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Connection Between Culture & Employee Retention
Vincent Mendez & Stacy Hafliger, ProtectALL by GBS Enterprises
It’s no secret that the employee turnover rate in Retail is high. In fact, recent studies have shown that, while the average employee turnover rate in retail averages above 60 percent. The cost of a high turnover rate doesn’t just impact your bottom line, it can translate to an inferior experience for your guests at nearly every touchpoint. In this session we will share ways to reduce your turnover rate today by creating a culture that employees don’t want to leave. You will learn how employee engagement, communication, accountability, and ongoing sales education can help your organization to reduce your turnover rate and take your culture to new heights!
Monday, July 25
9:00 am – 10:00 am
How to leverage your influencers for branding and sales
Jamie Gaston, Esquire Advertising
Today, social media platforms have emerged as central forums for day-to-day interactions with the world at large, giving rise to a new phenomenon: the social influencer. With influencers holding trust and sway over massive followings, brands are willing to pay millions to reach target audiences and promote their products. But while it seems influencers are the exceptional few, we found differently! Influencers are not limited to digital celebrities – they are friends, family, and colleagues. We are all influencers, and we have the data to prove it! Let us show you how to capitalize on them!
10:30 am – 11:30 am
A Brand Conscious Home Delivery Experience Starts with Drivers
Jenni Kimpel, J.B. Hunt Transport
Do you focus on your brand all the way through your home delivery experience? The driver team is the last brand association your consumer will have so it is important that you provide the support for your teams. We will review some important factors to consider to ensure that your home delivery program is well supported.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Automation is the Key to Business Efficiencies
David McMahon, PerformNOW
David will show you how business are using automated workflows to accomplish more with less resources. You will see examples of how technology enables better pre-sales lead management, customer open-sales follow-up, delivery / pick-up, after-sales service, re-marketing, vendor order status, and new hire candidate communications. By the end of this session, you will have a clear understanding of how business automation can help improve your efficiency and bottom line.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Cut Through the Visual Merchandising Noise and Drive Conversion
Leah Kirkland, Outward
Visual merchandising is more challenging and confusing than ever before. The content demands keep coming! Product image requests for your website, social, email marketing, print marketing, who can keep up?!? All the while, lifestyle retailers seem to have a never-ending photography budget. Who can compete? Come to this seminar to learn practical tips you can use to cut through the noise and produce content that matters to the consumer and drives conversion.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Best Practices for eCommerce Fraud Prevention
Evan Walczak, Riskified
The eCommerce industry is booming in the furniture industry. In 2021, retail e-commerce revenue from furniture and homeware sales amounted to $132.7 billion and is projected to increase to over $208.2 billion in 2025. It’s crucial for furniture retailers leveraging eCommerce platforms to have a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of eCommerce and eCommerce fraud prevention. In this session you’ll learn how to best implement an end-to-end, adaptable fraud prevention solution that will optimize security while creating a strong base for customer loyalty.
How to leverage your influencers for branding and sales
Jamie Gaston, Esquire Advertising
Today, social media platforms have emerged as central forums for day-to-day interactions with the world at large, giving rise to a new phenomenon: the social influencer. With influencers holding trust and sway over massive followings, brands are willing to pay millions to reach target audiences and promote their products. But while it seems influencers are the exceptional few, we found differently! Influencers are not limited to digital celebrities – they are friends, family, and colleagues. We are all influencers, and we have the data to prove it! Let us show you how to capitalize on them!
10:30 am – 11:30 am
A Brand Conscious Home Delivery Experience Starts with Drivers
Jenni Kimpel, J.B. Hunt Transport
Do you focus on your brand all the way through your home delivery experience? The driver team is the last brand association your consumer will have so it is important that you provide the support for your teams. We will review some important factors to consider to ensure that your home delivery program is well supported.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Automation is the Key to Business Efficiencies
David McMahon, PerformNOW
David will show you how business are using automated workflows to accomplish more with less resources. You will see examples of how technology enables better pre-sales lead management, customer open-sales follow-up, delivery / pick-up, after-sales service, re-marketing, vendor order status, and new hire candidate communications. By the end of this session, you will have a clear understanding of how business automation can help improve your efficiency and bottom line.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Cut Through the Visual Merchandising Noise and Drive Conversion
Leah Kirkland, Outward
Visual merchandising is more challenging and confusing than ever before. The content demands keep coming! Product image requests for your website, social, email marketing, print marketing, who can keep up?!? All the while, lifestyle retailers seem to have a never-ending photography budget. Who can compete? Come to this seminar to learn practical tips you can use to cut through the noise and produce content that matters to the consumer and drives conversion.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Best Practices for eCommerce Fraud Prevention
Evan Walczak, Riskified
The eCommerce industry is booming in the furniture industry. In 2021, retail e-commerce revenue from furniture and homeware sales amounted to $132.7 billion and is projected to increase to over $208.2 billion in 2025. It’s crucial for furniture retailers leveraging eCommerce platforms to have a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of eCommerce and eCommerce fraud prevention. In this session you’ll learn how to best implement an end-to-end, adaptable fraud prevention solution that will optimize security while creating a strong base for customer loyalty.
Tuesday, July 26
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Furniture Protection Plan Strategy and Analysis
Dan Miller, Guardsman
Are you looking to reevaluate your business strategies, grow your business and increase revenue? One strategy is by offering furniture protection plans to your customers. In this seminar, we will look at case studies of successful retailers, learn how this strategy is helping them increase revenue and grow, plus, where you should price your plan and how to offer it at every stage of the buying cycle.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
The Inventory Journey Through Your Business
Mark Jackson, Swan Retailer (SwanFRS)
Product inventory management is essential in maximizing profits. Selling the right product to the right customer at the right time. Inventory management maximizes the sales team’s ability to sell, the merchandising teams’ ability to order the correct lines and the distribution teams to deliver the correct product to the customer. In this session, we will help you in setting positive processes and procedures to aid the customer’s journey, improve customer service and boost profits.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Learn How Evolving Customers Want to Shop for Goods
Mike Giordano, Progressive Leasing
As shopping habits continue to change and evolve, more and more customers want to pay for goods on terms that make the best sense for their personal financial situations. Expanding flexible payment options is a powerful piece of a businesses’ tool belt that leads to converting a higher percentage of website and store traffic to sales. We will discuss the impact of tech-driven flexible payments on new customer acquisition, increased POS conversion, average order size, repeat customer rates, and more.
Furniture Protection Plan Strategy and Analysis
Dan Miller, Guardsman
Are you looking to reevaluate your business strategies, grow your business and increase revenue? One strategy is by offering furniture protection plans to your customers. In this seminar, we will look at case studies of successful retailers, learn how this strategy is helping them increase revenue and grow, plus, where you should price your plan and how to offer it at every stage of the buying cycle.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
The Inventory Journey Through Your Business
Mark Jackson, Swan Retailer (SwanFRS)
Product inventory management is essential in maximizing profits. Selling the right product to the right customer at the right time. Inventory management maximizes the sales team’s ability to sell, the merchandising teams’ ability to order the correct lines and the distribution teams to deliver the correct product to the customer. In this session, we will help you in setting positive processes and procedures to aid the customer’s journey, improve customer service and boost profits.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Learn How Evolving Customers Want to Shop for Goods
Mike Giordano, Progressive Leasing
As shopping habits continue to change and evolve, more and more customers want to pay for goods on terms that make the best sense for their personal financial situations. Expanding flexible payment options is a powerful piece of a businesses’ tool belt that leads to converting a higher percentage of website and store traffic to sales. We will discuss the impact of tech-driven flexible payments on new customer acquisition, increased POS conversion, average order size, repeat customer rates, and more.