Announcing the 2025 Agenda!
We are thrilled to announce our agenda for our first event in Napa!
February 10, 2025
Monday, Day 1: Attendees arrive for check-in at the Hotel and Event Registration – pick up badges and other registration materials.
11:00AM - 7:00PM
Registration & Information Desk Hours
Attendees pick up badges, swag bag, event guide, and influencer/brand meeting information.
1:00PM-2:00PM
Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
2:00PM - 2:30PM
Sparkling Wine Welcome for All Participants
Get acquainted with your colleagues with a glass of bubbly before the conference kick off!
Location
The Meritage Hotel2:30PM - 3:15PM
Welcome Address: Connection in the Age of AI
Humans innately require community and connection; it’s a species thing. As the digital age emerged with new tools for connection (i.e. social media and messaging) we adapted community building and conversation styles to leverage the advantages of our new digital tools. Now, new tech (like AI) fast-forwards users to higher levels of agreeable content. What skills will our species rely on for creating meaningful connections in the new age? If, REALLY KNOWING A PERSON is important, what important steps will be required of all of us?
Join Adam for this opening presentation on his early research and conclusion on being seen and seeing others in a filtered digital age.
3:15PM - 4:00PM
Opening Keynote
To be announced shortly.
4:00PM-4:10PM
Marquee Presentation
Sponsor
4:30PM - 5:00PM
Shuttles depart the Meritage hotel to Opening Gala Reception Venue
5:30PM - 7:30PM
Opening Gala Reception at CIA Greystone
Location
Barrel Room at the Culinary Institute of America- Greystone7:00PM - 8:00PM
Shuttles return to Meritage hotel and/or drop-off in downtown Napa.
February 11, 2025
Tuesday, Day 2: Full day of conference sessions and one-to-one influencer/brand meetings on tap for Tuesday.
7:30AM -8:15AM
Wellness Session: Calm, Cool, and Collected
Take a moment for yourself and your spirit to set your intentions in a moment of calm. hold time for yourself to shift your perspective, add positive vibes and be in the moment as you are guided through a journey of wellness through words, crystals, and an open mind. Aviva provides the crystals which are yours to keep, you bring your open spirit!
8:00AM - 9:00AM
Continental Breakfast at the Meritage hotel
Elevate your mornings with a complimentary Continental Breakfast from our host hotel.
8:30AM-9:15AM
Roundtable Sessions
Roundtable Chairs host a series of conversational sessions for small groups during breakfast.
Roundtable 1:
Join Rasheeda Gray, an accomplished interior designer and TV personality with over eight years of on-screen experience, as she shares her insider strategies for pitching and positioning yourself for television success. With credits spanning HGTV’s Flea Market Flip and an entire season of a flagship HGTV show (premiering Spring 2025), A&E’s Sell This House, Magnolia Network’s In With the Old, and over a dozen segments on Good Day Philadelphia, Rasheeda built her impressive TV portfolio entirely through self-pitched efforts—no PR agency required.
Rasheeda will break down how she leveraged television exposure to elevate her brand, attract dream clients, and grow her business. You’ll walk away with actionable tips to craft winning pitches, stand out to producers, and maximize the impact of media opportunities for your design firm. Whether you’re looking to make your TV debut or take your career to the next level, this is a session you won’t want to miss!
8:30AM-9:15AM
Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
9:15AM-10:00AM
Keynote
Join in for the inspiration from Maggie McGaugh, a leading influencer boasting 1.4 million Instagram followers and 1.5 million TikTok followers. Maggie brings extensive knowledge on a variety of social media-related topics. She will kick off her presentation with a 5-10 minute introduction sharing her personal journey and success story. Learn firsthand how Maggie leveraged her unique style and content to build a powerful presence in the luxury home design space. Gain valuable insights into the strategies she uses to engage her audience and maintain her influential status across multiple platforms.
10:00AM - 10:45AM
Monetization Strategies for your Design Business Through Affiliate Marketing
Build your business and create additional revenue streams for your interior design business through the use of affiliate marketing. Holly will guide you through the steps to start this as well as share ideas of how to implement with existing and future clients. You’ll discover how to build the presence on social media platforms; ways to share your branded content; and the tools to simplify the process as well as extend the reach to your untapped client base.
Key takeaways:
- Learn what is affiliate marketing and how to use it
- How to create additional revenue streams to your traditional design business
- Social Media tips for expanding your affiliate marketing reach to new potential clients.
10:45AM - 11:15AM
Refreshment Break: Networking and Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
11:15AM - 12:00PM
The Art of the Micro-Influencer: Small Followings and Huge Payouts
It’s not the size of your social following that dictates whether your brand is wildly successful. Learn how to land big deals, build a loyal core following, and get great PR as a small brand.
Key takeaways:
- Creative high-profile (and high-paying) partnerships you should be landing for the best ROI for you and the partnering brand.
- Building your portfolio and PR opportunities through partnerships.
- How to build (and train) the type of following that is engaged and drives your business forward.
- Identifying factors that move the needle, and ones that don’t as a small business. Tools to set less important but necessary tasks on autopilot using automation.
12:00PM - 12:45PM
How to Take Your Brand from Local to National
Getting your brand in front of a national audience requires an entirely different strategy—from brand messaging to marketing—than selling local design services. Whether you’re dreaming of a
book deal, a product line, or making the AD100 list, Sandra Funk and Nicole Heymer will give you the steps to evolve your brand from local influence to national attention.
Key Takeaways:
- Exactly what it takes to go from the “nine big local projects per year” mindset to an engaged national audience
- Strategies to increase the perceived value of your brand on a national scale
- 3 steps you can take now to put yourself on this track
12:45PM - 1:45PM
Lunch at the Meritage hotel
1:00PM - 2:30PM
Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
2:30PM- 3:00PM
Building Influence at High Point Market
Everyone knows High Point is an amazing shopping and sourcing venue as well as new supplier discovery. But what has developed is that people come to shop, but the networking opportunities and educational possibilities have turned HP MKT into one of the best influence building opportunities available in the industry. Today we have a panel of speakers that will share some of the things they have experienced at market that built their standing in the industry which turned into meaningful outcomes in their businesses.
3:00PM - 3:45PM
Social Media Strategies for Increasing Your Influence
In this dynamic session, we will explore the ever-evolving landscape of social media and how recent algorithm changes and the integration of AI are reshaping the way influencers and brands connect with their audiences. From entry-level influencers to national brands, understanding these shifts is crucial for staying ahead in the competitive world of home and interior design. Join us as we delve into practical recommendations and strategies for leveraging AI to enhance your marketing efforts, boost engagement, and make a lasting impact. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this talk will provide valuable insights to help you thrive in the digital age.
3:45PM - 4:30PM
Legal 101: Influencer Basics You Need to Know
Join us for this informative session on key legal concepts and issues for influencers and brands alike. This discussion will provide attendees with an understanding of intellectual property concepts relevant to the influencer marketing space, the FTC’s regulations around influencer marketing, and provide practical solutions to mitigating the legal risks and challenges in this field.
4:30PM - 5:30PM
Leveraging Digital Tools for Your Business Success and Wine Tasting
Known for his influence on modern wine culture, Hardy Wallace has garnered attention for his innovative approach to brand building in the wine industry. With a remarkable track record of creating two thriving wine brands through the strategic use of social media, Hardy is set to deliver an insightful presentation on the intersection of tradition and digital innovation in wine marketing. Attendees can expect to delve into Wallace’s journey of harnessing the power of social platforms to engage and educate consumers, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and community-building in establishing a loyal following. His talk promises to offer invaluable lessons on leveraging digital tools to navigate and succeed in today’s competitive market landscape.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to define your brand effectively and streamline your content creation process for maximum impact.
- Discover essential equipment and online programs that are crucial for executing successful digital marketing campaigns.
- Gain insights into best practices and strategies from Hardy’s top list of influential books, courses, podcasts, etc.
Hardy’s talk and tastings are sponsored by Crypton Fabric, who will have a moment to remind you why you should never try any of this without the right protection!
5:30PM-6:30PM
Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Networking Time and Dinner Meetings
8:30PM - 10:30PM
An Extra-Dimensional Evening in Crush Lounge at the Meritage hotel
Location
Crush LoungeFebruary 12, 2025
Wednesday, Day 3: Education and Excursions await on the last day of the conference!
7:30AM - 8:15AM
Wellness Session: May the Quartz Be With You
Curate a “cocktail” of crystals to take home with you while learning about their properties. There are simple ways to layer in nature to inspire positive energy around you. Aviva invites you to see how you can celebrate and honor our precious Earth by bringing in natural elements in your life and upcycle materials in unique ways.
8:00AM - 9:00AM
Continental Breakfast
Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
9:00AM - 10:00AM
10:00AM - 10:45AM
Influencer and Brand One-to-One Meetings
10:45PM - 11:30AM
Your Financials Can Be a Powerful Tool for Your Design Business
Improving your company’s financial picture doesn’t have to be a scary and daunting prospect. This session offers practical tips and tricks for interior designers seeking to put their business on solid financial footing . Learn simple solutions that every business owner can understand and implement, especially the specific challenges and demands facing entrepreneurs in the interior design industry – Greg offers practical tips and tricks for design professionals seeking to put their business on solid financial footing. Learn simple solutions that every business owner can understand and implement, especially the specific challenges and demands facing entrepreneurs in the interior design industry.
Greg is a managing partner at Blackburn Capital. He has led companies through turnarounds, mergers, acquisitions, and other significant financial events. As a former business owner, he knows what it’s like navigating through good and tough times – and how both situations bring unique questions about the right financial decisions.
11:30AM - 12:15PM
Elegantly Efficient: AI Tools to Streamline Design and Buy Time
Discover how AI continues to revolutionize the home design space, not only enhancing processes but also freeing up valuable time. This session will explore how artificial intelligence can transform your projects from initial planning and budgeting to final touches and ongoing relationships management. Learn about AI’s role in creating photorealistic renderings, accurate quoting, reimagined layouts, and automated documentation. This session is perfect for designers and leaders eager to integrate cutting-edge technology to streamline their workflows and reclaim time for life beyond work. Join us to gain actionable insights that will elevate your designs and buy back valuable time.