Antique & Design Center sets seminar schedule for High Point Market

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 26, 2011

Karen Luisana

Leslie Carothers

HIGH POINT — The Antique & Design Center at Market Square has scheduled a slate of educational seminars for this fall's High Point Market.

"We were thrilled by the response from buyers and designers to our inaugural effort last spring," said Karen Luisana, founder and managing director of the center, "and we're planning to wow market guests once again with an expanded offering of educational seminars featuring world-class speakers, each of whom are considered rock stars in their chosen fields.

"Once again, the seminars will be free to all marketgoers thanks to the sponsorship commitment of VandM.com, the go-to online source for unique vintage furniture, antiques, art and jewelry," she said.

All seminars will take place in the Mezzanine Level Seminar Space in the Antique & Design Center in historic Market Square.

The series kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, with a breakfast presentation by social media guru Leslie Carothers. Billed as a wake-up call on social media metrics, the talk is sponsored by Pandora de Balthazar, a collector and purveyor of classic antique textiles who is exhibiting in High Point at the Antique & Design Center for the first time.

"Leslie Carothers will tackle the one topic on the minds of designers, retailers and manufacturers everywhere," Luisana says. "Namely, how do you measure the return on investment (ROI) of social media? Does it really work to get new sales? Secure new clients? Attract media attention?"

Other presentations include:

Saturday, Oct. 22

2 p.m.

Julia Edelman

Bill Indursky

Suzi West

David Lindquist

Modern-ique: Integrating Antiques and Artifacts with Modern Design for Today's Lifestyles
Chicago interior designer Julia Buckingham Edelman, principal of Buckingham Interiors & Design, sees aged objects as modern art. She has a reputation for mixing styles and eras to create surprising, whimsical and unique environments, and an educated eye for the best and most unique pieces.

Sunday, Oct. 23

2 p.m.
Yearbook 2011/2012: Trend Forecast for the Antique and Home Décor Industries
Bill Indursky, co-founder of VandM.com, will offer an in-depth and up-to-the-minute analysis of where the industries are headed.

3:30 p.m.
Passion and the Six P's of Successful Retailing
Stylist, designer and entrepreneur Suzi West has more than 17 years of retail experience in merchandising, marketing and managing at brands including Collier West, Express, Aeropostale, NBC, Homage, Limited Brands and DSW. She will break each practice into understandable and executable steps. This session is appropriate for leaders of both small businesses and large organization.

5 p.m.
You Don't Smell Potpourri in Here: Reinventing the Antiques Business
Luisana will moderate a panel featuring Hilary Eklund of Tandem Antiques, Breck Armstrong of Moss Studio and blogger Allison Watts of heirloomphilosophy.blogspot.com. Luisana says the business has evolved as more consumers look at antiques, seeking "furnishings of real quality" that also have a sustainable nature. "If you think this is your grandmother's business, these panelists are gunning to change your mind," she says.

Monday, Oct. 24

2 p.m.
Understanding the Value of Antiques in Today's Market
David Lindquist will use slides and objects drawn from the floor of the Antique & Design Center in a presentation will that prepare participants to speak intelligently about what is happening in the world of antiques, "particularly the astonishing decline of antique prices, which is bringing antiques into sharp competition with modern reproductions and fine modern furniture," he says.

3:30 p.m.
Found Objects Repurposed for Modern Home Décor
Presenter Breck Armstrong, principal of Moss Studios, offers industrial salvage pieces and "has gained a reputation for creating industrial modern furniture and home accessories and his ‘objects with stories' are featured in an enviable list of the country's leading-edge home and style retailers," says Luisana.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

2 p.m.
Entrepreneurship & Design: The Benefits of Local Sourcing

Clayton Oxford, principal of Clayton Oxford Designs, believes that when designers design from their local resources, furniture will be made in the United States again. As he says, "Design used to be driven by quantity, but now more than ever, design has to be driven by quality and value."

The Antique & Design Center features antiques, works of art and one-of-a-kind finds from more than 70 dealers showing in historic Market Square on the Ground and Mezzanine levels, just beyond the Suites and Salon. Buyer amenities include free parking on Tomlinson Street and a private entrance at 316 W. Commerce Ave. between Tomlinson and Jacob's Place.