HIGH POINT, N.C., March 10, 2026 – Universal Furniture has unveiled its spring event lineup for the Learning Center, featuring a refreshed slate of programming for the upcoming April Furniture Market. Running from Friday, April 24, through Monday, April 27, the showroom will host a series of expert-led seminars and panel discussions. These sessions are curated to provide industry professionals with actionable insights into evolving design technologies, luxury branding, operational efficiency and the psychology of client spaces.
All Universal Learning Center events take place at the Universal Furniture Showroom located at 101 S. Hamilton Street, shuttle stop 15 on the Red Line. RSVP for any and all events at www.universalfurniture.com/marketevents. A full schedule of events is listed below:
FRIDAY-MONDAY
April 24-April 27
Universal To The Trade Designer’s Lounge
Time: April 24 (noon-5 p.m.), April 25-27, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Description: Relax and recharge in Universal’s 2,000 square-foot Designers Only Workspace, available to Universal Furniture To The Trade account holders. (Designers can open an account on the spot.) Sponsored by Rue, Valdese Weavers, Moore & Giles and Regina Andrew Detroit.
Device charging and free Wi-Fi are available.
FRIDAY
April 24, 2 p.m.
The Hustle
Speakers: Carisha Swanson, House Beautiful; Arianne Bellizaire, Arianne Bellizaire Design; Kelly Finley, Joy Street Design
Description: Inspired by the launch of their new podcast, Hustle Adjacent, Arianne Bellizaire of Arianne Bellizaire Design and Kelly Finley of Joy Street Design will engage in an energizing conversation about building a successful creative business while managing the many demands of a full and vibrant life—without glorifying burnout. Moderated by House Beautiful’s Director of Special Projects, Carisha Swanson, the discussion brings together three industry leaders to explore how ambitious women are redefining success on their own terms. From navigating growth and visibility to setting boundaries and building sustainable careers, the panel will examine the evolving relationship between achievement and personal well-being in today’s world.
April 24, 4 p.m.
The Cost of the Wrong Client and How to Stop Paying It
Speaker: Ginna Christensen, Creative Recovery Specialist
Description: This is a condensed, highly practical session designed for interior designers who feel stretched thin or burnt out from working with the wrong clients. The workshop focuses on the hidden cost of misaligned clients – lost time, creative energy and revenue – and helps designers get clear on who they work best with and why. Attendees will: Understand the real drain of working with the wrong clients; Learn the benefits (and relief) of saying yes to the right ones; Create their own Ideal Client Criteria; Gain tools to identify alignment early and spot red flags; Learn how to attract better-fit clients without overhauling the brand or marketing. Designers will leave with clearer boundaries, more confidence in client conversations and practical tools to make more intentional, sustainable choices about their business.
SATURDAY
April 25, 10 a.m.
The Profitable Studio Formula: Scale Your Design Practice the Right Way
Speakers: Melissa Galt, Design Business Coach
Description: Scaling your interior design business is not about doing more; it’s about doing differently. In this transformative session, Design Business Coach, Melissa Galt, reveals the five critical pivots that turn a busy designer into a profitable studio owner, without burnout or sacrifice. Attendees will learn how to price for profitability, hire strategically, market authentically, discover efficiently and systematize effectively. This isn’t about working hard; it’s about building smarter infrastructure that supports the business and life you want. Whether you’re preparing for your first hire or restructuring a growing team, this session gives you the clarity and confidence to scale successfully.
April 25, 2 p.m.
Six-Figure Snafus: How to Mitigate Your Most Expensive Challenges
Speaker: Kristi Hopper, Kristi Hopper Designs; Dann Foley, Dann Foley Lifestyle; Blair Ryan, The Dove Agency. Moderated by Cindy Hodnett of Designers Today
Description: Even designers at the top of their game can face difficult and costly business situations. So when the unthinkable happens – fraud, embezzlement, breach of contract – what do you do? This session brings those challenges into the open with designers who have weathered these tough situations and addresses what they learned and how you can be better prepared for bumps along the way. Join Designers Today Executive Brand Editor Cindy Hodnett as she talks with designers Kristi Hopper and Dann Foley about adversity and how they gained awareness that has strengthened their businesses. Plus, learn to recognize the red flags with accountant Blair Ryan.
April 25, 4 p.m.
Trend to Transaction: Monetizing What Clients Want Next
Speakers: Deb Barrett, Decor Tours, Textile Expert
Description: Design trends don’t happen in a vacuum—and they don’t monetize themselves.
In this forward-looking seminar, Deb connects the dots between consumer purchasing behavior, emerging design trends, and real-world business opportunities. You’ll gain a clear understanding of why today’s clients buy the way they do, how trends take hold in the design marketplace, and where designers can monetize to capture new revenue. Drawing from current market introductions in product, style, and color, this presentation breaks down what’s driving today’s design decisions, exploring how trends develop, why they matter, and how designers can move beyond simply following them to strategically selling them.
SUNDAY
April 26, 10 a.m.
Clarity Over Chaos: Using AI to Strengthen Visibility, Communication & Design Decisions
Speakers: Jennifer Smiga, Ultraviolet Agency; Mary Beth Chau, Materio; Jenna Gaidusek, AI for Interior Designers
Description: Most designers struggle to get discovered online, stay consistent in the endless and sometimes chaotic client communications, and create compelling client presentations. This power-packed panel delivers a three-part strategy that addresses all three challenges. Jennifer Smiga reveals AI-powered SEO strategies that get you found by ideal clients. Mary Beth Chau shares how AI supports consistent communication, leading to clearer deliverables and enabling confident decision-making for your clients. Jenna Gaidusek showcases AI tools that create stunning mood boards and presentations in minutes.
April 26, 2 p.m.
Stop Guessing. Start Leading. Build Your Design Business to Run Like A Well-Oiled Machine
Speaker: Gail Doby, Pearl Collective
Description: Running a design firm shouldn’t feel like constant guesswork. This leader-level session with Gail Doby, co-founder of Pearl Collective, challenges you to step out of reaction mode and lead with clarity. During the presentation, you’ll participate in a business diagnostic that reveals where your firm is strong, where it’s strained, and what deserves your focus now. Gain knowledge, perspective, and a clear starting point—so you can lead your team forward one smart, intentional step at a time toward the business you actually want.
April 26, 4 p.m.
Ten Things You Need to Do For Your Business Right Now
Speakers: Melissa Mittag, Collyer & Co.; Joseph Aldrich, The Cypress Group
Description: 10 Things Your Interior Design Practice Needs to Do Now is a candid, interactive conversation about the realities design firms are navigating today. Industry veterans Joseph Aldrich (The Cypress Group) and Melissa Mittag (Collyer & Company) will share what they’re seeing across successful practices-what’s gaining traction, what’s falling flat, and where focus matters most-while inviting attendees to bring their questions, challenges, and real-world scenarios into the discussion. Designed as an open exchange, this session emphasizes audience participation, honest insight, and practical takeaways you can put to work immediately.
MONDAY
April 27, 10 a.m.
Hospitality: The New Service Standard for your Design Business
Speaker: Rick Campos, Design Biz Survival Guide
Description: Presented by Certified Unreasonable Hospitality Coach Rick Campos, this workshop will break down the customer journey as it relates to the business of design and uncover opportunities to transform ordinary moments in your process into extraordinary and memorable experiences. You’ll learn how to rank and prioritize every touch point of your design process and develop a new “hospitality forward” approach to client engagement that will change your definition of service and make an unforgettable impression on your clients.
April 27, 2 p.m.
Say This, Not That: 5 Messaging Fixes That Attract Better Design Clients
Speaker: John McClain, John McClain Design
Description: You can be an incredibly talented designer and still attract the wrong clients. In this practical, straight-to-the-point session, interior designer and branding expert John McClain breaks down five simple but powerful messaging shifts that immediately change how potential clients see you, trust you, and decide to work with you. Most designers default to industry language that sounds professional but doesn’t actually land with homeowners. The result? Vague inquiries, price-shopping conversations, and projects that don’t match your level of expertise. This session will help you figure out what to say (and what to stop saying) so your message clearly communicates your value, attracts better-fit clients, and sets expectations before you ever hop on a call.
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About Universal
Retailers and interior designers around the world trust Universal Furniture’s award-winning, smart and stylish designs to create modern, well-appointed living spaces for the whole home. The company’s casegood, upholstery, accent and outdoor designs are developed under the brand names Universal Furniture, Miranda Kerr Home and Coastal Living.
Universal Furniture, founded in 1968 and based in High Point, N.C., is the recipient of 14 Pinnacle awards for design excellence from the International Society of Furniture Designers. It is a brand of Samson Holdings, one of the world’s largest vertically integrated furniture manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.universalfurniture.com, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @UniversalFurn.
