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Hooker Furnishings Announces Educational and Networking Events at Spring 2025 High Point

Furniture World News Desk on 3/11/2025


Hooker Furnishings will host a series of expert-led discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities at its Spring 2025 High Point Market showroom. The event lineup, taking place April 25-28, will cover emerging design trends, business growth strategies, and digital marketing insights, offering valuable takeaways for retail and design professionals.

All events will be held at the Hooker Furnishings Showroom, Showplace, 3rd Floor.

Friday, April 25

  • 2:00 PM – Succeed with 2025 Trends: Insights from the ASID Outlook Report
    Speaker: Dr. Dawn Haynie, Ph.D., Research Fellow, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
    Description: The 2025 ASID Trends Outlook Report reveals the key shifts shaping the future of design, from wellness-focused environments to sustainability and technological advancements. As spaces evolve to meet changing lifestyles and expectations, understanding these trends is essential for designers, retailers, and industry professionals alike.

    Join Dr. Dawn Haynie, a leading researcher and industry expert, as she unpacks the latest findings and provides actionable strategies for creating innovative, purpose-driven spaces that enhance well-being, resilience, and inclusivity. Whether you're a designer, retailer, or simply passionate about the future of interiors, this engaging session will equip you with the insights needed to stay ahead in 2025 and beyond.
    This is a CEU-accredited educational event (1 CEU Hour)
    Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

 

Saturday, April 26

  • 2:00 PM - Interiors in Focus: Smartphone Tips and Styling Secrets
    Speakers: Linda Holt, Photographer & Smartphone Photography Educator, Linda Holt Creative; Christy Day, Interior Stylist & Founder, Christy Day Designs
    Description: Join smartphone photography expert Linda Holt and interior stylist Christy Day for a fun, interactive workshop on capturing and styling interiors like a pro. With over 25 years in photography and a background in interior design, Linda teaches designers how to take polished, professional-looking photos using just a smartphone. Christy, whose work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and Coastal Living, brings her expertise in styling for top brands to show how composition and finishing touches can elevate any space.

    If you are looking to refine your visual storytelling, this session will provide simple yet impactful techniques to make your interiors stand out. Walk away with easy, practical tips to enhance your styling and photography skills—perfect for creating stunning portfolio images or social media content.
    Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
  • 3:00 PM – Happy Hour
    Location: Clyde’s Café | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

 

Sunday, April 27

  • 10:00 AM – Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers: Building a Standout Brand in 2025
    Moderator: LuAnn Nigara, Business Mentor, Speaker & Host of A Well-Designed Business® Podcast
    Panelists: Laurie Laizure, Cameron Sellers, and Jude Charles 
    Description: This session will dive into effective marketing strategies tailored for interior designers, helping them attract ideal clients, build their brand, and leverage digital tools for growth. With LuAnn Nigara moderating an expert panel, you’ll takeaway insights on:  
    • Brand voice: are you positioning yourself as a luxury, mid-market, or accessible designer? 
    • The power of storytelling: Showcasing projects in a compelling way 
    • Balancing organic content vs. paid advertising 
    • Using AI tools for content creation & marketing efficiency 
      Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

  • 2:00 PM –  Roar Forward…Meet Your Future
    Speaker: Kelly Peterson, Business Intelligence Expert & Marketing Strategist, ROAR Forward
    Description: America has entered a period of disruptive demographic change which is remaking social, political, and economic norms while ushering in a new era for our country. Older populations will outnumber younger ones across the nation as we are experiencing declining birth rates, and increased longevity. 

    Meet the Re-Imagineers: today’s 50+ consumers who are redefining stereotypes and driving new trends toward making their best future a reality.

    With more than 30 years of experience in media, publishing, and marketing strategy, Kelly has advised global brands on how to adapt to evolving consumer landscapes. In this session, she will provide actionable strategies for businesses and interior designers to thrive in an era of demographic transformation.
    Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
  • 3:00 PM – Happy Hour
    Location: Clyde’s Café | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

 

Monday, April 28

  • 10:00 AM – Lessons Learned & Profits Earned: Design Pros Share Their Design Business Journey & Their Path to Profitability
    Moderator: Rick Campos, Host of Design Biz Survival Guide Podcast
    Panelists: DuVal Reynolds - DuVal Design, LLC, Melissa Sanabria - Sanabria & Co, LLC; Antonio DeLoatch - Antonio DeLoatch Design + Interiors
    Description: Join us for an insightful panel discussion with three industry pros about where they started, where they’ve been, and where they’re headed in the business of design. Our panelists will reveal lessons learned, finding their why, their path to profitability, and the vision for the future of their design business.
    Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
  • 2:00 PM – Beyond the Basics: Vacation Rentals, Residential, and Staging Design
    Moderator:     Caroline Hipple, Chief Creative Officer, Hooker Furnishings
    Panelists: Jessica Duce, Principal Designer & CEO, JDuce Design & Vacation Rental Designers; Rachel Moriarty, CEO & Principal Interior Designer, Rachel Moriarty Interiors; Birgit Anich, CEO & Creative Director, BA Staging & Interiors
    Description: The differences between vacation rental design, residential design, and staging design go far beyond the products you specify. In this expert-led panel, STR-expert Jessica Duce, residential designer Rachel Moriarty, and luxury stager Birgit Anich will break down the unique aspects of each discipline, offering key insights on pricing structures, client focus, and the designer-client relationship across these industries.

    Whether you're looking to expand your services or better understand the nuances of these growing markets, this discussion will provide the expertise you need to navigate the opportunities within each category.
    Location: Designer’s Theater | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor
  • 3:00 PM – Happy Hour
    Location: Clyde’s Café | Hooker Furnishings Showroom | Showplace | 3rd Floor

 

 

About Hooker Furnishings
Headquartered in Martinsville, VA, Hooker Furnishings is ranked among the nation's largest publicly traded furniture sources and encompasses 12 operating businesses. These brands include: Hooker Furniture, Bradington-Young, HF Custom, Shenandoah Furniture, H Contract, M, BOBO Intriguing Objects, Pulaski Furniture, Samuel Lawrence Furniture, Prime Resource International, Samuel Lawrence Hospitality, and Sunset West. Hooker Furnishings Corporation's corporate offices and upholstery manufacturing facilities are located throughout Virginia and North Carolina, and the company has showrooms in High Point, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Hooker Furnishings operates distribution centers in the United States, China, and Vietnam. The company's stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol HOFT.