Universal Furniture’s in-person learning events ramp up to speed this fall, featuring industry heavy hitters like Traditional Home’s Krissa Rossbund, product and interior designer Erinn Valencich, interior design coach Gail Doby, and interior design business coach and author Melissa Galt.
The company’s high-tech Learning Center and Designer’s Lounge are hosting multiple events Friday, Oct. 21 through Tuesday, Oct. 25 Come experience one of designers’ favorite stops at Market. Here’s what’s on the calendar for October.
FRIDAY, October 21
Why Gainful Employment is the #1 Way to Fight Hunger and Poverty
Speaker: Carmin Black, Half United
Date: Friday, October 21
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: HALF UNITED is a North Carolina-based brand that fights hunger and poverty through the sale of home goods and apparel made by artisans in Haiti, Peru, Mexico and other countries. During High Point Market, the company’s goods will be sold in the Universal Furniture showroom. Hear from co-founder Carmin Black as she discusses how gainful employment is the number one way to fight hunger around the world.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
Telling Your Design Story Visually: The Importance of a Professional Portfolio and Social Media Presence
Speaker: Tori Sikkema
Date: Friday, October 21
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: With 20 years of marketing expertise, Tori demystifies branding, marketing, and business to help you get seen, published, and booked by dream clients. Attendees will learn:
How to visually tell your design story
How to leverage photography to get published
How to grow your social media
How to get yourself in front of your ideal clients.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
SATURDAY, October 22
3. How to Charge Flat Fees and Protect Profit
Speaker: Melissa Galt (Interior Design Business Coach)
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Are you tired of tracking your hours? Don’t miss this high impact presentation by interior design business coach and author Melissa Galt to learn how to find your fortune with a square-foot fee structure, percent of project cost and other proven fee structures. You’ll get the lowdown on a dual fee method and discover how to pick the right approach for your business. Stop leaving money on the table, and get ready to protect your profit from scope creep and indecisive clients.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
4. Get Your Design Biz Organized with MyDoma Studio and Sherwin-Williams
Speakers: Sarah Daniele, MyDoma Studio; Sabina Jahic, Sherwin-Williams; Shane Jones, Sherwin Williams; Rachel Moeller, Sherwin-Williams
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Sarah Daniele and SED Division Sherwin-Williams Designers will take us on their journey to discuss the premier platform and product brand built by designers and for designers.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
5. Speed Coaching
Speaker: Traci Connell
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture DESIGNER’S LOUNGE
Description: Are you ready to take your Interior Design business to the next level? Join Traci Connell, Business Coach & founder of The Gloss: The Ultimate Glossary of Business Resources for Interior Designers, for a 10 minute 'speed coaching' session! Bring one specific business challenge to the table and have Traci discuss it with you to unlock your potential and level up your business! Sign up for a spot at Calendly. https://calendly.com/traciconnell/speed-coaching-with-traci-connell?month=2022-10
6. Sensory by Design: A Wellness CEU
Speaker: Lori Miller
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture showroom at 101 S. Hamilton St. in High Point. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Wellness Design, Well Building, Design for the Senses. These industry buzzwords have become even more critical with each passing year. How do the 5 senses allow designers to deliver better results for their clients? In this course, we'll discuss how the focus of interior design is shifting as we move through an increasingly noisy world. From overall wellness and the impact of technology to safety in the home and our public spaces, design must now work on all levels to provide environments that foster health and mindfulness. IDCEC approved for 1.0 CEU.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
7. Becoming a Creative Renegade: How to Build a Brand, Not Just a Business
Speakers: Christi Barbour, Ericka Saurit, Ginna Christensen, Dawn Sweitzer
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture showroom at 101 S. Hamilton St. in High Point. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: The most successful designers in our industry know that it takes more than just confidence and hard work to truly stand out in the hearts and minds of their clients (and potential clients!). Becoming a Creative Renegade isn't about revenue, or number of followers, or even length of time in the industry, but something far more valuable: stepping into your power, welcoming and embracing limitations, and repeatedly turning failure into opportunity. Brand marketing strategist Ericka Saurit and creative leadership coach Ginna Christensen will lead a lively conversation with three extraordinary industry design leaders to unpack the essence of what it takes to become a Creative Renegade: differentiation, relevance, and resilience.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
SUNDAY, October 23
8. Salaries Revealed: The Answers to Who Gets Paid What
Speakers: Gail Doby, Nadia Roberts, Elissa Grayer, Kaitlin Petersen
Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Are you well paid or does payday leave you feeling undervalued? What are others making? Gail Doby, co-founder of Pearl Collective, Nadia Roberts, principal of Interior Talent and Elissa Grayer, principal designer, Elissa Grayer Interior Design, will reveal just-released data on owner and staff salaries and compensation in this revealing and lively conversation. Understand what compensation looks like for every level in your company. Learn what is happening regionally and nationally and how you can adjust your business to pay yourself and your employees what you deserve. Moderated by Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
9. Licensing your Product Designs
Speakers: Erinn Valencich, Mat Sanders, Joshua Rose, Rafael Kalichstein
Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Interested in creating new revenue channels for your design business? Discover the ins and outs of licensing from leading experts including Mat Sanders, Joshua Rose & Rafael Kalichstein of FORM Design Studio in conversation with Erinn Valencich of Erinn V. Design Group in an enlightening conversation about product design and licensing from all sides.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
10. Designing for Vacation Rental Properties
Speakers: Jessica Duce, Ericka Saurit
Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Want to learn more about the fastest growing design niche? Vacation rental design is a booming field for the billion-dollar short term rental industry. If you want to learn how these designers have gotten into this field, ways to navigate this niche and the lessons they have learned, join us for this very timely topic. With Jessica Duce, JDuce Design. Moderated by Ericka Saurit, former design lead for Air BnB and principal at Saurit Creative. Presented by High Point x Design.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
11. The Essential Systems and Processes Every Interior Designer Needs and Why
Speaker: John McClain
Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Join interior designer and business coach John McClain as he identifies the fundamental systems you need to efficiently operate your interior design business and the processes that support them. John will tackle essential strategies and methods like how to efficiently onboard new clients and which approval processes will limit your liability. These tools will help you run every project with a repeatable plan to ensure you and your clients are set up for success and satisfied with the design process.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
MONDAY, October 24
12. Designing for Celebrities
Speakers: Krissa Rossbund, Michelle Murphy, Vanessa Deleon, Shalena Smith
Date: Monday, October 24
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Working with celebrities can be a designer’s dream but learning how to navigate your business with the rich and famous has its challenges. Get first-hand accounts from designers who have worked with celebrities on a variety of interior design projects. From expectations on time and design to professionalism and discretion, our panel will share their celebrity design experiences and how they were able to leverage these sensitive relationships. Krissa Rossbund of Traditional Home will moderate this talented line-up that includes Michelle Murphy of Demi Ryan, Shalena Smith of Shalena Smith Interior Design and Vanessa Deleon of VDA Designs.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
13. Time Mastery - How to Get More Done in Less Time
Speakers: Melissa Galt
Date: Monday, October 24
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Turn productivity into profit. Become a master of time when you learn the three most important components of project management with interior design business coach Melissa Galt. Join Melissa as she shares her expert advice on how to document your processes, eliminate crisis management, and avoid client frustration. This high energy, high impact presentation will motivate you to love your design business more, in less time, with less stress and higher profits.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
14. Authenticity and Consistency in Online Branding: Top Tips To Help You Secure New Luxury Clients
Speakers: Leslie Carothers, Laura Muller
Date: Monday, October 24
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Learn exactly how Laura Muller, past president of ASID Los Angeles and principal of Four Point Design Build, attracted 9 new ideal luxury clients through her use of Instagram to authentically brand herself. Moderated by Savour Partnership principal, Leslie Carothers, come prepared for hands on REELS training, too!
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
TUESDAY, October 25
15. Contracts and Letters of Agreement
Speakers: Sharon L. Sherman
Date: Tuesday, October 25
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Learn the nuts and bolts about letters of agreement and what you need to have in your contract to ensure a happy and productive working relationship with your clients in this conversation led by Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CKD, NCIDQ, principal of New Jersey based Thyme and Place Design. IDCEC approved for 1.0 CEU.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
16. California Cool: The Future of Sustainability
Speakers: Kelly Finley, Susie Novak, Joshua Smith, Reginald Dunlap, Antonio Deloatch, LuAnn Nigara (moderator)
Date: Tuesday, October 25
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Universal Furniture Showroom, 101 S. Hamilton St. (Shuttle Stop 15) Red Line
Description: Do your part. Reduce your carbon footprint at HPMKT on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 2pm. Learn how to use sustainability trends to capitalize on the evolving needs of your business and clients. Join California-based designers Kelly Finley, Susie Novak, Joshua Smith, Reginald Dunlap and Antonio Deloatch as they explore how design and sustainability can positively impact our planet. Moderated by LuAnn Nigara.
RSVP: www.UniversalFurniture.com/marketevents
