High Point Market
As a multifaceted business strategist, entrepreneur, and creative, Yudi Kaufman, founder and president of YKD Associates, is uniquely a left-and-right-brainer. With over a decade of experience successfully navigating the home furnishings and interior design industry from the inside out, he is announcing an exciting collaboration for High Point Market, with an informative talk on How to Grow Your Design Business. Yudi commented, “In these turbulent times, where the design industry’s landscape can change overnight, the need to focus on creative strategies and business growth has never been more pressing.”The collaborative talk titled, “Design Business Blueprint: Discover How to Strategize and Grow Your Design Business” will feature an exclusive one-to-one chat between Yudi Kaufman, Founder & President of YKD Associates and Business Development & Licensing Expert, and Courtney Porter, Editor in Chief of Decor News Now.
SEVERAL INTRODUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUICK SHIP IN ONE TO TWO WEEKS
HIGH POINT, NC September 2023 – Luxury outdoor furnishings manufacturer, Sunset West, will launch three new collections at the Fall High Point Market. Introductions include a mixed material group featuring teak and resin wicker, a cushion-less rope seating group as well as new accent pieces designed to add interest to any space, indoors or out. Several of the cushion-less seating, accent pieces and dining options are available for quick ship in one to two weeks.
Inspired by the rustic charm of the high desert, the Sedona outdoor furniture collection highlights the natural beauty of organic materials and textures. Crafted from 100-percent solid teak wood, Sedona features Sunset West’s signature weathered teak finish, coupled with a textured resin weave to provide exceptional durability. Characterized by contemporary scale, with oversized deep seating, the collection offers a full suite of dining, lounge, occasional, and deep seating silhouettes.
“Designed to serve many of the various needs of our customers – from full customization to quick ship – our Sedona collection has a variety of options,” said Aliena Klaus Squire, vice president of marketing with Sunset West. “For our customers looking for custom options, the cushioned, deep seating items in the Sedona collection are available in a selection of over 300 Sunbrella fabrics, as well as stocked, quick-ship option for those who need it now.
“In addition, our cushion-less deep seating, lounge and dining options in our new collections are available for quick ship in one to two weeks from both our east and west coast warehouses,” she added.
Including a variety of outdoor seating options that will complement existing collections, the Bahia and Grigio line will also be introduced this fall. Offering cushion-less designs with handwoven rope seat decks and backs, the group is available in two colorways – Sand and Graphite.
“Our take on the classic Adirondack chair, the Bahia and Grigio high-back chairs are perfectly pitched, with a body contouring seat design for upgraded comfort,” said Squire. “Featuring a high-performance open rope weave and wrapped paddle arm, the group offers a breathable, stylish and contemporary seating solution for dining, bar and lounge areas.”
Rounding out the introductions this fall, several new items will be added to the Bazaar Collection, injecting mixed materials and new color options into the line that can be used in both indoor and outdoor living spaces. Pieces include dining, bar, coffee, and end table pieces designed to complement existing collections and designed for both indoor/outdoor living.
Highlights include the “Pebble” and “Tree Trunk” Table series, featuring a unique grouping of end tables and coffee tables crafted with glass fiber reinforced concrete.
As part of Hooker Furnishings’ design-centric programming lineup in its new Designer’s Theatre this fall, Sunset West will offer a designer CEU session in partnership with Sunbrella.
Event details are listed below:
Saturday, October 14th, 2pm – 3pm
Sunbrella: Sustainable Performance Fabric: From Fibers to Design (Designer CEU)
Speaker: Marcia Blake, Sunbrella Merchandising Manager + ICFA Board Member
Location: Designer’s Theatre @ Hooker Furnishings Showroom, Showplace (3rd Floor)
About: The proven durability and colorfastness of many performance fabrics allows them to maintain their appearance even in harsh outdoor environments. Today’s high-quality performance fabric looks right at home indoors, too, with soft inviting textiles available in a wide array of colors, textures, and patterns. This course provides an analysis of the manufacturing processes, testing and relevant sustainability considerations and discusses the many possibilities for designing exceptional luxury and lifestyle spaces with performance fabric. Earn 1 IDCEC Continuing Education Unit (CEU); Continuing Education Course Code: CC-110253R1-1009
The Sunset West showroom is located inside Hooker Furnishings in Showplace, Floor 3.
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.
Jessica Bantom, known as, The Design DEIB Consultant, is the industry’s leading figure in the field of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Her overarching mission revolves around empowering design industry professionals to enhance their cultural competence, enabling them to create in a manner that respects and celebrates humanity. These shifts are also reflected in their bottom lines. Click play on the video below to watch Jessica Bantom in conversation with DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter:
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Jessica Bantom to give keynote at Fall High Point Market 2023
Why has the inclusion of identity in design become increasingly crucial today? How can designers proactively adapt to stay ahead of the cultural and demographic transformations influencing our customer base and the talent available to us?
Discover insights to these inquiries and more at our Keynote Series featuring Jessica Bantom, the author of “Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World.” This event is presented by the High Point Market Authority in collaboration with the Diversity Advocacy Alliance. Visit here to learn more about the keynote.
About Design for Identity
Design encompasses not just expression, but also serves as a creative act and a vital service. However, despite the profession’s mission to design for everyone, diversity within the field remains startlingly limited. In her upcoming book, Jessica Bantom delves into the profound implications of design in our daily lives, spanning environments, products, imagery, and the fashion industry. Frequently, design concepts rest upon assumptions and stereotypes that fail to resonate with the diverse lives and values of customers. Some company symbols and brands, such as Aunt Jemima, have long ignited controversy, but it’s only recently that a corporate social awakening has taken hold. As our society undergoes demographic shifts and becomes increasingly diverse, varied perspectives are too often disregarded unless compelled by public outcry.
Bantom explores the concept of human-centered design, which delves into the complexities of identity: how people live, their values, and the factors that shape their perspectives and experiences. The foundation of human-centered design lies in direct engagement with customers, identifying their challenges, and collaborating to test ideas and solutions. It is imperative for businesses to embrace this paradigm shift and shed outdated mindsets if they aspire to thrive. Bantom elucidates the six habits of culturally competent designers that can drive this transformation, yielding design solutions that resonate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. She presents a Design for Identity Blueprint that pays homage to humanity, celebrates diversity, fosters equity and inclusion, and ensures that the design profession mirrors the evolving realities of our world. This enlightening book is slated for release in the spring of 2023.
More about Jessica Bantom
Jessica Bantom is a combines the practices of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), with interior design consultation. She passionately believes that immediate action can be taken by all to generate positive outcomes for those who have historically faced exclusion. In addition to her role as a leadership coach and consultant, she is dedicated to empowering aspiring allies to take actions that result in meaningful change for historically marginalized communities.
Throughout her distinctive career, Jessica’s consistent theme has been a deep concern for people’s well-being. She approaches her work, whether it involves designing systems, strategies, experiences, or spaces, with a fundamental question: “How will this project or initiative impact everyone involved?” Hailing from Philadelphia and based in Washington, DC, with a global outlook, Jessica’s appreciation for cultural diversity stems from her early education in desegregated schools and diverse public classrooms. Her unique talent lies in making challenging topics approachable and authentic, a skill appreciated by her clients and audiences. Jessica’s aim is to normalize conversations about identity and inspire meaningful actions, both large and small, to benefit historically excluded individuals.
With a background spanning marketing, IT and management consulting, and startup leadership, Jessica is a versatile and business-oriented creative. Boasting more than two decades of consulting experience, she has worked with prestigious institutions such as renowned universities, global professional associations, and government agencies. Jessica’s educational journey includes graduating from the University of Virginia and Marymount University and earning a Master’s in interior design, alongside a collection of certifications in DEI, change management, design thinking, coaching, and facilitation.
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.
ABOUT NATHAN ANTHONY
Recognized for its mastery of upholstery craft, Nathan Anthony is a luxury furnishings resource for interior designers and upscale dealers. Award-winning designs are fully customizable and benchmade-to-order at the company’s Los Angeles based production studio. Personalization options include frame size, cushion fill, C.O.M., C.O.L, and other fabric-to-frame specifications, wood and metal finishes, and more. Nathan Anthony’s unique Custom Design Concierge™ service includes a highly specialized team, on call to successfully facilitate custom projects and minimize errors.
ABOUT FAYETTE STUDIO
Fayette Studio is a leading provider of custom and bespoke rugs, offering a wide range of design-forward options to the trade. From flatweaves to hand-knotted, the brand offers customization for almost any rug type, ensuring the perfect fit for your project. We work to curate a unique and elevated collection of rugs, featuring our own Fayette collection as well as industry trusted rug brands and private label manufacturers. In addition to our vast selection, the Fayette Studio team provides full concierge services, working with their network of industry professionals and product experts to provide a variety of design options at various price points.
About the High Point Market Authority
The High Point Market Authority is the official sponsor and organizer of the High Point Market in High Point, N.C. Featuring an extensive selection of exhibitors spanning every category, style, and price point, and attracting tens of thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries twice each year, High Point Market is the driving force of the home furnishings industry. Find High Point Market online at highpointmarket.org, and follow on social media using the hashtag #HPMKT.
The High Point Market Authority has added Bobby Berk, interior designer, Emmy-nominated host of “Queer Eye” and author, as its Sunday keynote speaker for the upcoming October High Point Market.
Furniture for well-being: Meet next-gen designer and creator of “BEAR” LOS ANGELES, August 2023— Luxury custom-upholstery resource Nathan…
The Summer 2023 edition of Shoppe Object, New York’s premier trade event for curated home and gift, wrapped another sold-out show at Manhattan’s Pier 36 last week, delivering 20% attendance growth and exceeding core expansion goals. Presenting close to 600 carefully selected brands from 24 countries in a maximized footprint, Shoppe Object’s new Cityside Pavilion made its summer market debut, August 13-15, 2023, at their waterside home on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
When do you know the work is finished? When do you step away? That was a problem Kristi always struggled with as a visual artist and one many creatives will find relatable. Something finally clicked during her recently completed project: a chic, feminine flat in Los Angeles that was, “all about the furniture.” When reflecting on what would become her favorite residential project, she recalled trying to put her client’s art collection on the walls. It was beautiful but it “never felt right.” That’s when she realized, that was because it was unnecessary. “There are sometimes when undone is done.”