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2008 West Coast Interiors
Seminar Discriptions
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
4:00-5:00 pm
Strategies for Success (1A)
Grace McNamara, President, CEO, Grace McNamara Inc.
1 WFCP Credit, .1 CEU
Broaden your vision and get more control over your life while listening to the industry's nationally acclaimed expert Grace McNamara, president and CEO of Grace McNamara Inc., publisher of Window Fashions magazine.
For over 22 years, Grace has defined success on her own terms. As the voice of the window-fashions industry, she has inspired women to expand their dreams and to define and grow their businesses. Highlighting the details of starting a business from scratch, negotiating deals, building brands, and balancing a busy life, Grace will share the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful, including the five things you NEVER do as a woman in business and the 10 things you SHOULD do.
This talented mogul will certainly get you thinking, and she will definitely inspire you to start doing!
Member $35/Non-Member $50
3:00-5:30 pm
Design RX: Adapt or Disappear (1B)
Susan Schultz and Deb Barrett, GMI Trend Specialists
2 WFCP Credits
The design industry is in the midst of rapid, business-altering changes, and savvy business professionals recognize the challenge: either adapt or disappear. The pressure is intense—you need to develop solutions to big-picture issues while still running a profitable business-which is why we've developed this small-group discussion workshop. Together we'll explore some of the most problematic and the most promising aspects of today's design businesses including:
Pricing: Front-end vs. back-end loaded, communicating your worth, setting prices, and pricing models.
Positioning: Defining a scope of service, transitioning your business, and moving into new markets.
Marketing: Building awareness through authenticity, understanding the value of niches, and effective communication in the Experience Economy.
We guarantee it will be exciting, exhausting, and emotional. Before you arrive, some pre-planning is required in order to tailor your experience—plus, you'll need to bring certain materials with you. And we'll follow up with you in the weeks and months after to help make sure your efforts are paying off. It sounds like a lot, right? Well it is, but it also promises to be one of the best investments you've ever made in yourself and your business.
Cost: $200
5:15-6:15 pm
Welcome Reception
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
9:00-10:30 am
What's Hot and What's Not in Kitchen Design 2008 (2A)
Jim Krengel, CMKBD
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
What's Hot & What's Not takes you on a journey of the kitchen today and yesterday, exploring every avenue. Jim will discuss all of the latest kitchen design trends as well as the changing social trends that influence kitchen design. The program is rich with kitchen statistics that every designer should know, as well as images that will spark your imagination. Find out why the square footage of the kitchen is increasing while the average North American family spends less and less time in meal preparation. Learn the right and wrong ways to use multi-color finishes, along with viewing a selection of very special kitchens showcasing the latest trends. This program is fast-paced, interactive, and entertaining. It will leave you re-energized and give you a new perspective on kitchen design.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
9:00-10:30 am
Get Your Name in Lights (2B)
Bruce Knott, Director WFCP, CMG chair holder
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
You've worked hard to start and to maintain your business, but how do you make it grow? Grow and enhance your business through the power of marketing yourself. Does that scare you? It shouldn't—come find out how easy, and how much fun, marketing can be. Learn how to promote yourself and your business professionally. Discover ideas and resources that will help you develop and deliver the right message to the clients you want to attract. Marketing doesn't have to be expensive, but you do need to effectively promote yourself in order to be successful in your career.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
9:00-10:30 am
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful (2C)
Joan Willis, WFCP Expert, Patterns Plus/Robb & Stucky
1 WFCP Window Credit and .150 CEU
Through samples, gain a better understanding of working with prints, stripes, plaids, and textured fabrics. See how the selection of fabric can make a treatment just good, bad, or very beautiful. Build a new portfolio as all of Joan's samples are new and fresh. Along with great ideas, discover fabrication techniques that create beautiful treatments and save you time and money.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
9:00-10:30 am
ID Your Ideal Client (2D)
Susan Schultz, GMI Trend Specialist, Space Downtown
1 WFCP Business Credit and .150 CEU
You've got the ability, the portfolio, and the marketing materials—everything is in place and you're ready to develop new clients. But in order for your business to grow, you need to know who to talk to and where to find them. What if you knew the fastest growing neighborhood in your region? How many homes sold in a certain zip code over the past few months? Or the zip code with the highest average income in your city? Discover how many easy-to-use resources are available that allow you to truly target your marketing efforts, without running down to the local registrar! Plus, Susan will share tips and innovative marketing ideas from designers across the country to apply to your own business strategy.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30 pm
Inspiration to Installation (2E)
Deb Barrett, GMI Trend Specialist
1 WFCP Window Credit and .150 CEU
When she discovered a collection of 19th-century window-treatment illustrations featuring several unique and elegant never-before-seen styles, Deb was presented with several challenges: how to recreate the looks, and, how to tweak, revise, and update them. What happens when we substitute different fabrics or fabric combinations? What about different trims? What can be used as inspiration-altered to be fresh and current for today's interiors? Join Deb as she walks through the intricate design process, from the original source material, some of her experiments, and actual full-sized treatments, many with contemporary twists for today's clients. You'll gain a wealth of couture knowledge from the hands-on samples as she details the steps necessary to create some of these looks. Use the in-progress notes to jumpstart your own creative exercises and receive several of Deb's final work orders as examples.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30 pm
What's Hot in Bathroom Design 2008 (2F)
Jim Krengel, CMKBD
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
What's Hot & What's Not In Bathroom Design will not only provide you with all of the latest bathroom design trends, such as glass counters and multi-shower heads, but also with an extensive array of new bath design ideas as well. You will see examples of some of North America's finest bath designers and discover details in bathroom design that truly make a difference. This program offers everything you want to know about bathroom design in 90 minutes.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30
World Tour: The Hottest Designs from the World's Top Markets (2G)
Susan Schultz, GMI Trend Specialist, Space Downtown
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
See the latest new product introductions and color and material trends from some of the world's leading design shows through both photos and actual sampling. This whirlwind tour brings the latest design themes to you, outlining how certain products and style references develop from one show to the next. Get your hit of international inspiration with reviews of Cologne, Paris, Milan, Frankfurt, and London, as well as some of the top US markets—all without having to walk endless miles of aisles.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30 pm
Headings and More (2H)
Joan Willis, WFCP Expert, Patterns Plus/Robb & Stucky
1 WFCP Window Credit and .150 CEU
You may be surprised at the number of heading styles Joan will show you. She'll review not only pinch pleats, but many other styles, along with ideas from the heading down to the hems. You will leave this class with inspiration and knowledge to create many one-of-a-kind treatments. Fabrication techniques will be included. Don't forget your camera; you will want to capture these wonderful styles for future reference.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
Thursday, August 21, 2008
9:00-10:30 am
Window Fashions Inspiration (3A)
Deb Barrett, Window Dressings, GMI Trend Specialist
1 WFCP Window Credits and .150 CEU
What inspires you? This edition of Window Fashions Inspiration includes Deb's sources of inspiration that define her signature style through a unique and sometimes unexpected mix of new window treatments. See over 75 new designs and products in this showcase. Deb will briefly discuss the fabrication and finer points of each treatment and share some trade secrets.
The extended format gives you a chance to get a closer look, time to discuss the details, and snap more pictures. Bring your camera to build your portfolio and to capture every idea. No matter which way your style veers, regardless of your specialty niche, you will walk away with fresh inspiration and strategies. It's always a sellout, so register early.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
9:00-10:30 am
Color Vision 2009/2010 Forecast (3B)
Bruce Knott, Director WFCP, CMG chair holder
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
Learn which industries have forecasted color directions for 2009-2010. Take a colorful tour of what's hot today, what's right around the corner, and what is predicted in the future for color. Gain insight into the process of color forecasting. Over 100 vibrant slides will take you on a colorful journey.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
9:00-10:30 am
Pricing Panel (3C)
Moderator: Grace McNamara
Are you frustrated wondering how to charge your clients or how much? Are you earning the income you want or are you just squeaking by? How do you raise your prices without losing your client base? Get the answers to these questions and more at this panel discussion. We've asked industry experts to be part of a panel and share their knowledge and experiences with you in all areas of pricing. Free to WFCP Members.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
9:00-10:30 am
Designing for the Generations (3D)
Maxine Lauer, Sphere Trending
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
For the first time in our history, we have four distinct generations in the work force—largely an adult population of varying generations. Maxine Lauer of Sphere Trending will discuss the generational divides which make designing for these groups both exciting and challenging.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30
It's A Material World (3E)
Deb Barrett, GMI Trend Specialist, WFCP Expert
1 WFCP Design Credits and .150 CEU
Designers are always on the lookout for what's new—we have a soft spot for innovation—but it can be hard to navigate through the material maze. We've taken a critical eye to the myriad of new developments coming to the marketplace that will shape the way we design in the coming years. Our curated survey supplies a wide—angle view of the fascinating future and then zooms in to focus on distinctive materials and products that work for windows through actual samples and imagery. Plus, you'll get all the info needed to track down every item featured.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30 pm
Relevancy and the New Consumer... Are You Ready? (3F)
Maxine Lauer, Sphere Trending
1 WFCP Design Credit and .150 CEU
Join Maxine Lauer of Sphere Trending as she discusses the exciting ways the future is challenging firms to become more relevant to today's consumer. Consumer-centric strategies are replacing producer-centric strategies for product, promotion, and placement-are you ready?
Member $35/Non-Member $50
2:00-3:30 pm
Window Magic (3G)
Joan Willis, WFCP Expert, Patterns Plus/Robb & Stucky
1 WFCP Window Credit and .150 CEU
Joan magically transforms fabric into fabulous valances, panels, shades, cornices, and pillows. Each sample, sprinkled with magic dust-fringe, tassels, beads, and cording-changes treatments from simple to splendor. Joan will reveal her magic so that other workrooms can reproduce these majestic window treatments. Don't forget your camera; you will want proof that all the samples were as great as you expected.
Member $35/Non-Member $50
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