The 26th edition of Furniture Today’s Leadership Conference is all about “Standing Out” and has everything the industry needs to boost business, support our leaders in all areas, and keep the industry moving forward.
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For more information and to register, please visit the Conference website.
More about the event
Keynote: Standing Out
From an empty bank account to sold out stadiums and a wait-list for tickets Jesse Cole has turned the Savannah Bananas baseball team into one of the hottest tickets in professional sports. And he did it with a simple idea; stand out and create a great experience. His fun and often humorous insights will give furniture retailers actionable strategies they can employ to create their own winning store experience. You’ll have to be there to find out how!
Keynote Speaker
Jesse Cole, Owner, Fans First Entertainment and the Savannah Bananas
Retail CEO Panel
Find out how some of today’s most successful retail leaders are navigating the most unpredictable business cycle in a generation. From dramatic shifts in consumer demand and unpredictable supply chains these retail leaders will share their strategies for navigating a fraught business climate.
Moderated by Andrew Koenig, CEO City Furniture
Panelists
Jeff Harris, CEO, Furnitureland South
Sam Zavary, President, Exclusive Furniture
Will Harris, President, Darvin Furniture
Economic Outlook: Is recession real or rumor; how to prepare either way
Are we in a recession? If one is not coming? What impact will rising interest rates have on consumer demand? What unforeseen economic headwinds could furniture retailers and manufacturers face in the coming months? Find out the answers to these critical questions in this must-see session.
Speaker
Mark Vitner, CEO, Vitner Consulting
Former managing director, chief economist, Wells Fargo
Panel
“What Women Want and Why You Want Women Leading in Your Workplace: Building a Coaching Culture for Empowerment” (in partnership with WithIt)
Changing demographics and business models are opening the door to new best practices. Twenty five years after the founding of WithIt the home furnishings industry continues to evolve and learn. An expert panel of female industry leaders will provide fresh insight into how companies can strengthen their organizations and serve their customers.
Moderated by Lorri Kelley
Panelists
Nora Gomez, Chief Merchandising Officer, Nebraska Furniture Mart
Julie Messner, Senior Vice President, Home Décor, International Market Centers
Laura Aldrich, Executive Vice President, Licensing, Scott Brothers Global
Fireside Chat: Maximizing your most important asset—People!
In today’s business environment, employees are both the most scarce and most precious resource furniture retailers, and manufacturers have. Find out how to hire, train and retain your best employees and how to motivate them to perform at their highest levels in this insight-packed discussion.
Guests
Jaime Zepeda, executive vice president, Best Companies Group
Kelley Kenner-Patridge, Vice President, Chief People Officer, Nationwide Marketing Group
Delivering an Immersive Retail Experience In Your Store
Giving consumers a reason to come into the store, particularly for Millennials and the emerging Gen Z shopper is critical in today’s highly competitive retail environment. Dale McGiboney, co-founder of Highland Media Works will unveil an emerging immersive technology that could turn your store into the Van Gogh home furnishings immersive exhibit. Find out how to make this technology work for you.
Retail Panel: Changing Channels: Uncovering New Paths to the Consumer
The consumer purchase path is ever-changing with new retail formats emerging daily. Once considered disruptive, these emerging retailers are pioneering new paths in consumer engagement and revealing entirely new consumer market segments. This is a must-attend for any serious student of retail.
Moderator: Bill McLoughlin, editor in chief, Furniture Today
Panelists
Anna Brockway, founder, Chairish
Khushu Sikaria, executive vice president, Inhabitr
Alex O’Dell, Kyle Hoff, co-founders, Floyd
Panel
Is bedding your most profitable department? Here’s how it could be
The bedding business has shown itself to be resilient through myriad disruptions from pandemic to supply chain to a changing consumer purchase journey. Through it all the category has remained one of most consistent and strongest performing segments of the furniture industry. This panel of experts will offer tips, tricks and strategies for maximizing bedding department profits.
Moderator: Alan Vonder Harr, senior retail analyst, Miskelly Furniture
Panelists
Scott Perry, Executive Vice President, Digital, Jerome’s
Vanessa Contreras, Owner and CEO, McRoskey Mattress Company
Hanny Diab, Vice President Merchandising and Business Development,Darvin Furniture
