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 Mark your calendar with these important dates for 2005. November 17-20 December 7 |
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Suppliers Invited to Attend
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Supplier Division members are invited to attend the first Annual Meeting of the American Home Furnishings Alliance November 17-19 at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas.
AHFA will commemorate its 100th anniversary of service to the home furnishing industry when it convenes at the elegant, Mediterranean-style resort in Henderson, Nevada, but this event will also mark one year since a new name and new membership criteria were adopted.
“High Renaissance” is the theme given this historic membership gathering, and an unprecedented lineup of speakers has been assembled to make it an exceptional learning experience for manufacturers and suppliers alike. With more company presidents and CEOs in attendance than at any other AHFA event, the Annual Meeting is also the pinnacle networking opportunity of the year.
Among the headline presenters on the two-day program are:
- David Liu, CEO of The Knot, who will outline how the furniture industry can unlock the purchasing power of 2.4 million newlywed couples a year – a demographic that he says represents a $5 billion segment of the furniture industry.
- Charles Kennedy, senior vice president of social trends for DYG Inc., who will track the transition of three different generations of consumers into their next life stage, providing critical insights that impact both product development and product marketing for the home furnishings industry.
- Robyn Waters, president of RW Trend, who will dissect today’s trends and counter-trends with the expert eye that earned her the title “Master of Design” by Fast Company magazine. For 10 years Waters traveled the world translating trends into unique product designs to enhance Target’s “Expect More, Pay Less” brand image and dismantling the notion that low price and good design are oxymorons.
- Kate Alini, customer experience director for MiniUSA, who will describe how Mini Cooper creates a “zero-to-smile-in-under-2-seconds” online consumer branding experience.
Additional speakers include Jill Waage, editor of Decorating magazine on “Real Life Decorating;” Jeff Cook, president and CEO of Magnussen Home on women in home furnishings management; Bob Stec, chairman and CEO of Lexington Home Brands on “Destination Home: Creation of a New Shopping Experience;” and Dana Telsey, senior managing director of Bear Stearns, with a retail outlook for 2006 and beyond.
Executives are invited to arrive at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas in time for a 6:30 p.m. opening reception on Thursday, November 17. A Continental breakfast will be offered from 7-8 a.m. on Friday, November 18, with the business program following from 8-11:45 a.m. Golf and optional tours are offered in the afternoon. A reception is scheduled from 6:30-7:30 p.m., after which guests are invited to enjoy nearby Las Vegas restaurants and entertainment.
Breakfast once again precedes the business agenda on Saturday, November 19. The program concludes at 11:45 a.m. with the election of AHFA’s 2006 officers. An awards gala including dinner and dancing conclude the event Saturday night. Departures may be scheduled for Sunday morning.
Lake Las Vegas is a 320-acre lake offering water sports, yacht excursions and water taxi service. The nearby MonteLago Village is a walking village filled with boutiques, restaurants, clubs and a casino. The Ritz-Carlton also offers a 30,000-square-foot spa with a complete fitness center and full-service salon, as well as the Falls Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole course designed by Tom Weiskopf, and Reflection Bay Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course.
Hotel reservations should be made directly with The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas by calling 702/567-4700, or online at www.ritzcarlton.com. Meeting registration can be completed online here.