Mon 9/27, 10:30—11:30 AM (CT)

TBP

Speaker: Joe Derochowkski, The NPD Group

Moderated by Peter Giannetti, HomePage News

Mon 9/27, 12—1 PM (CT)

Independent housewares retailers, at first shaken by pandemic shutdowns, were among the first to pivot to innovative, safe and effective ways of serving their communities with necessary products and reassuring services. In this panel discussion, Peter Giannetti of HomePage News will examine how leading independent retailers are aiming beyond the pandemic with fortified merchandising and operational platforms and a determination to set a new and competitive standard for the long-term success of a channel that remains vital to the home and housewares industry.

Speakers: TBP

Moderated by Peter Giannetti, HomePage News

Tue 9/28, 10:30—11:30 AM (CT)

A new ethos is influencing every facet of Home and Housewares lifestyles. It’s a spirit grounded in a need for simplicity, modernity and functionality, with an unapologetic passion for color and design. At the core of this movement is a desire for improving and enhancing IRL experiences adopted during the pandemic with a focus on Home and Housewares Style, Design, and Quality that supports our plans to resume in-person socializing and entertaining at home.

Nancy Fire, founder, and principal of Design Works International, brings decades of experience marrying design with commerce, specializing in trend research product development, pattern and color direction. Among her works: Guiding Food Network in the development and production of brand extensions in the kitchen and home space.

Speaker:
Nancy FireFounder & Principal, Design Works International

Tue 9/28, 12—1 PM (CT)

The character and responsibility of today’s Home cannot be described simply. In a single day, it must expand and contract, shapeshifting to serve seemingly conflicting needs. The modern Home must be a fluid microcosm; Home is workplace, play space and home base. Above all, Home is a fortress, representing a unique sense of safety and security unattainable in the ‘outside world’. This expanding definition of ‘Home’ has meant new challenges for the Home and Housewares industries and requires a sharp awareness of expanding consumer needs and expectations.

Join a panel of industry experts in this exploration of dramatic shifts in the value equation, and the potential of this transformative period in our industry’s evolution.

Speakers:
Joe Derochowski The NPD Group Tom MirabileSpringboard FuturesLeana SalamahIHA

Wed 9/29, 10:30—11:30 AM (CT)

For a century, the function of store windows has remained the same. Store windows were a place to feature and sell merchandise or hype the latest sale or promotion; however, like everything else— things have changed.

Store windows have evolved into a powerful communication tool for the retailer to express its character, style and values. Design, technology and social media influence our perceptions of space, and static displays no longer have the power to attract or grab the attention of today’s consumers. An understanding of advanced storytelling and experience design are integral for the surviving brick and mortar retailers. Join Anne for a new directive on Designing Windows 2022 as she considers the techniques and tactics most effective for today’s marketplace.

Stay tuned for the entire session as Anne will award the TOP WINDOW AWARD to a retailer with the best window display from around the globe.

Speakers:
Anne KongFashion Institute of Technology

Wed 9/29, 12—1 PM (CT)

To come.

Speakers:
Peter GiannettiHomePage News Leana SalamahIHA

Thur 9/30, 10:30—11:30 AM (CT)

Futurists from Sphere Trending explore the trends and strategies accelerated by the pandemic, poised to create the new-normal of 2030. In this exciting and informative session, they will dive into:

• Generations: Cross-influence on lifestyles & economics
• Space: Wants & needs in a post-pandemic world
• Localism: Across community, retail & leisure
• Renaissance: New era of tech & creativity
• Relevancy: Intersection of community & commerce

Speakers:
Susan YashinskyVP Innovation TrendsMandi MankvitzVP Engagement Trends, Sphere Trending

Thur, 9/30, 12—1 PM (CT)

To come.

Speaker:
Adrienne Weiss

Fri, 10/1, 10:30—11:30 AM (CT)

To come.

Speaker:Dr. Gayatri Keskar, PhDVP of Research, Material Connexion

Fri 10/1, 12—1 PM (CT)

Consumer relationships with brands have become more complex and more important than ever. That means looking at every business as a brand and evolving in a way which can adapt and survive in a market of increasingly distracted and decreasingly loyal customers. Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf of Project Partners Network will discuss the ‘Three B’s of Branding: Building, Buying and Borrowing’, and how they work to grow relationships, cement loyalty, and create a responsive and resilient Brand You.

Speakers:Leigh Ann SchwarzkopfFounder & Principal, Project Partners Network