WithIt December 2011 Newsletter

MEMBERSHIP
Renew Your Membership Today 2012 membership dues are due by January 31st. We don't want you to miss any of the fun as we celebrate our 15th Anniversary in 2012! Renew today.

NATIONAL EVENTS

Las Vegas Market

WithIt's January 2012 Las Vegas Market events promise to educate, energize and entertain--and all are free to registered Las Vegas Market attendees. From a panel discussion featuring leaders in both the interior design and social media spheres, to an intimate presentation that teaches solutions for dealing with difficult clients, WithIt brings its top-notch programming and superior networking opportunities to the industry's West Coast venue, World Market Center-Las Vegas. Here's what's on tap:

Monday, Jan. 30

Influential Women in the Home & Design Industry

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

WMCLV, Building B, 16th Floor, World Forum

Mid-stream career changes, social media, sustainability and community-building blogs have altered the fortunes of many home furnishings professionals and brands. WithIt has invited four home industry leaders to share their career successes in what promises to be an informative and spirited discussion. Interior designer and sustainability expert Lori Dennis; celebrity interior designer and TV host Kelli Ellis; Mod Mom Furniture owner and product designer Kiersten Hathcock; and social marketing strategist Julia Rosien will engage in a timely and topical discussion, and ultimately empower attendees to become better leaders in their companies.

"This is the type of event that every attendee, no matter what his or her role in the home furnishings industry, will walk away with new business insights and implementable strategies," says WithIt Regional Vice President Kassie Smith, who will moderate the panel. "Ultimately, this educational event is helping professionals, no matter what their title or role, to become stronger leaders."

Margi Kyle

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Difficult Clients & Practical Solutions

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WMCLV, Building C, Space 176

What do you do when your dream client turns out to be your worst client? Interior designer and TV host Margi Kyle, known in the industry as the "The Designing Doctor," knows how to avoid such problems before they start and how to handle the problems if they do. Learn how to run your business, create a brand for your business, and deal with the changing needs of your clients in this CEU-approved course. Figure out which clients will make you money--and which clients will take your money. A wine reception, book signing and door prizes will follow.

WithIt thanks the event host, Ergo Bedroom, and the event sponsors, Kassie Smith Lifestyle Group and WithIt.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

ENERGIZE!

8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WMCLV, Building C, Space 344

WithIt's ENERGIZE! mentoring event will connect successful female executives in a half-day session that includes showroom tours, topical roundtable discussions led by WithIt leaders, and great networking opportunities.

"This session is perfect for all women who are interested in excelling within one of the many exciting areas of the home furnishings industry," explains WithIt Vice President of Mentoring Lorri Kelley, Palliser. "We are reaching out to all women, including students, to introduce them to a new career, or simply to inspire them to be better at what they do now!"

NATIONAL EVENTS

Kimberley Seldon

The Canadian Home Furnishings Market - TCHFM

WithIt's burgeoning Canadian region kicks off a new year with what promises to be well-attended and talked-about educational event. "An Evening with Kimberley Seldon" will be held Sunday, Jan. 15, during The Canadian Home Furnishings Market. Seating is limited for the session, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Palliser Showroom, Hall 5A, showroom #5900, International Centre, Mississauga, Canada.

In addition to running an award-winning, full-service design firm, Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Seldon shares her wealth of knowledge with industry professionals through Business of Design, a series of live seminars since 2006 and now an online business resource for design professionals.

BusinessofDesign.com, which launches Jan. 26, offers online courses, a live webinar series, an interactive forum and other business resources from a panel of experts. Prior to and after Seldon's presentation, guests are encouraged to mingle and network. Also, Seldon will have her latest book, "Kimberley Seldon's Business of Design: Part 1," available for purchase; a book-signing will follow the presentation.

To encourage deeper discussions, the guest list is being capped at 150 people. While there is no charge to attend this event, guests must register at http://withit-seldon.eventbrite.com/.

The event is sponsored by Palliser Furniture and WithIt.

JUST FOR FUN

Holiday Shopping

Still looking for a holiday gift for the home furnishings professional that has everything? Stop combing the cyber sale offers and visit the industry gem that is The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library. WithIt asked member and The Furniture Library curator Karla Webb to share her favorite titles for 2011 holiday gift-giving:

Chairs: A History by Florence De Dampierre

Harry N. Abrams publisher, $65

"This book is for the more serious design enthusiast," Webb says. "It's a readable and grandly illustrated history of seating from the ancient world to the present."

California Gardens: Creating a New Eden by David C. Streatfield

Abbeville Press publisher, $35.

"This is a great gift for the avid gardener, landscape designer or outdoors man or woman," Webb offers. "This book is filled with lush photographs and authoritative text that explains the history of California gardens by capturing both the past and dynamic present."

And from The Furniture Library half-off shelf, Webb recommends:

Pattern by Tricia Guild

The Splendor of France by Laure Murat

Caribbean Elegance by Michael Connors

French Connection by Betty Lou Phillips

Classic Design Styles by Henrietta Spencer-Churchill

The Furniture Library is able to ship books for the holidays. For more information visit www.furniturelibrary.com, email info@furniturelibrary.com or phone (336) 883-4011.

RESOURCES

High Point
Meet Up

The Furniture Library, a High Point, NC, facility and WithIt partner, is proud to announce its recent dedication of The Vuncannon Room, a 40-by-16 meeting space named for Carl Vuncannon, the library's curator from 1985-2010. The room seats up to 35 people and "is perfect for use by colleges and universities, furniture industry organizations and businesses, as well as scholars and members of the design and art community," according to WithIt member Karla Webb, The Furniture Library curator. "The room is available for seminars, lectures, conferences and meetings, with a small catering kitchen to meet all your needs.

"Ultimately, it's a place where industry members and those who are passionate about furniture and design can unite," Webb adds. Along with use of the Vuncannon Room comes a suggested tax-deductible contribution of $150. To schedule an upcoming event, visit www.furniturelibrary.com, email info@furniturelibrary.com or phone (336) 883-4011.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

To Market, To Market

WithIt hosts educational, networking and mentoring events at several key trade shows throughout the year, including the Atlanta Intl. Gift & Home Furnishings Market, The Canadian Home Furnishings Market, Las Vegas Market and High Point Market. Meanwhile, the annual New York Design Tour takes members to the hottest design spots in New York City. WithIt's annual professional conference provides put-in-play leadership training, unmatched networking opportunities and business know-how in an affordable program that many consider a must-attend event. And you'll spot WithIt members throughout 2012 on the trade show circuit:

Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas -- Jan. 10-13

Heimtextil, Frankfurt, Germany -- Jan. 11-14

Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market,

Atlanta -- Jan. 11-18

The Canadian Home Furnishings Market, Toronto -- Jan. 14-17

imm Cologne, Köln, Germany -- Jan. 16-22

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Dallas - Jan. 18-24

Dallas International Lighting Market, Dallas - Jan. 19-23

Maison & Objet, Paris -- Jan. 20-24

Surfaces, Las Vegas -- Jan. 23-26

New York International Gift Fair, New York -- Jan. 28-Feb. 2

Las Vegas Market, Las Vegas -- Jan. 30-Feb. 3

NAHB International Builders' Show, Orlando, FL -- Feb. 8-11

Tupelo Furniture Market, Tupelo, MS -- Feb. 16-19

International Home & Housewares Show, Chicago -- March 10-13

Architectural Digest Home Show, New York -- March 22-25

Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Milan, Italy -- April 17-22

High Point Market, High Point, NC -- April 21-26

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, Chicago -- April 24-26

Hospitality Design Expo & Conference, Las Vegas -- May 15-17

International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York -- May 19-22

WithIt New York Design Tour -- May 19-21

Showtime, High Point, NC -- June 3-6

NeoCon World's Trade Fair, Chicago -- June 11-13

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market -- June 20-26

Dallas International Lighting Market, Dallas -- June 21-24

Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market,

Atlanta -- July 11-18

Las Vegas Market, Las Vegas -- July 30-Aug. 3

New York International Gift Fair, New York -- Aug. 18-23

WithIt Educational Conference, Raleigh, NC -- Aug. 14-16

Tendence, Frankfurt, Germany -- Aug. 24-28

Maison & Objet, Paris -- Sept. 7-11

HD Boutique, Miami -- Sept. 11-12

International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market,

Chicago -- Sept. 20-23

High Point Market, High Point, NC -- Oct. 13-18

Showtime, High Point, NC -- Dec. 2-5

CONGRATULATIONS
National Membership Day Drawing The winner of our National Membership Day drawing for an iPad2 is Carol Gregg from red egg! Thank you Carol for participating in National Membership Day and introducing a colleague to WithIt. Thank you to Wright of Thomasville for sponsoring the iPad2 and supporting WithIt's membership drive!

JUST FOR FUN

That's a Wrap

According to a recent study commissioned by Scotch® Brand tapes, nearly three in four adults (71 percent) believe that women are better gift wrappers than men, based on the overall appearance of the gift. It seems to follow then, that nearly three in four adults (74 percent) say that the female head of household is most likely to wrap the majority of holiday gifts in their home, while just 19 percent say the male head of household wraps the majority of the gifts.

When asked what they would be most likely to give their spouse or significant other in return for wrapping all the holiday gifts, men say that they would buy the wrapper an extra gift (33 percent), watch the latest chick flick or action movie (18 percent) or take out the trash for a week (9 percent). Half of women (49 percent) claim "it wouldn't matter because they would never agree to [wrapping all the holiday gifts]."

Have a story idea for an upcoming e-newsletter? Submit your idea to Julie Smith Vincenti, Vice President-Media.

WithIt, Inc.

PO Box 16264, High Point, NC 27261

Office: 2125 Eastchester Drive Suite 103, High Point, NC 27265