Inspired.talk

Design Bloggers Conference and News about Blogfest 2012

Presenting in Seattle with the help of panelists Leah Steen and Faith Sheridan.

One of the greatest rewards of my job is hearing how designers are using social media to leverage their skills and experience and gain more recognition, more clients and offer better service to their existing clients. We began to host social media presentations across the country more than two years ago, and it eventually sparked the idea that became Blogfest. The world of social media has changed since 2009, but our core instinct to connect with one another remains intact, and these tools make it easier than ever.

The ballroom at the Design Bloggers Conference.

I recently attended the Design Bloggers Conference in Los Angeles. It was a jam-packed two days of great information for the design blogging community, not to mention great parties. I came back, mind reeling, ready for Blogfest 2012, which will be here before we know it!

If you’re attending Blogfest, we have a few exciting announcements:

Travel: If you haven’t made your travel arrangements just yet, keep in mind that there may be a great event Wednesday evening. We can’t reveal the details until everything is confirmed, but wanted to let you know. Also, you’ll get a free ticket to ICFF and the best time to attend will be Monday afternoon before we kick off at 5pm.

Swag: Our sponsorship team has been hard at work securing tons of great swag. I know it’s not time to think about packing, but when you do, make sure you leave room in your suitcase!

Speaking of sponsorship, we are still exploring a few strategic brand alliances for Blogfest 2012, so email us if you’re interested in sponsoring. If you’d like to attend, we are currently sold out but taking names for our waiting list. Email us your name and blog URL to add your name.

We’ll host a few more social media presentations this spring, so make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news and updates.

-JP

Presentation: Maximize the Benefits of Social Media to Grow Your Interior Design Business

Next week, join us in Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles for a special social media presentation and panel discussion. The presentation serves as a follow up to the popular series from last year, “What is Social Media and How Can it Help the Design Industry.” It will address the changing landscape of social media and provide simple strategies for maximizing the benefits for yourself and your business.

By now, we’ve all heard the virtues of social media, and many of us have explored Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Beyond the benefits of keeping in touch with loved ones, a presence on social media can provide a short cut to attracting ideal clients, keeping in contact with prospects and magazine editors, and sourcing great products to better service your clients.

The panelists will take audience questions, addressing how they use social media and how each site has influenced the way they work with clients and network within the industry.

Each event will take place in Kravet showrooms. See below to meet the panelists at each event. RSVP by calling or emailing the showroom. We hope to see you there!

Portland: Special Guests Brad Clifford and Jenny Guggenheim

11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

RSVP: 503.228.4040 portland.showroom@kravet.com

 

Seattle: Special Guests Faith Sheridan and Leah Ball Steen

11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22

RSVP: 206.762.9370 seattle.showroom@kravet.com

 

Los Angeles: Special Guests Janette Mallory and Shirry Dolgin

Pacific Design Center 2 p.m. **note time change** Thursday, Feb. 23

RSVP: 310.659.7100 ext. 4 losangeles.showroom@kravet.com

Behind the Scenes at Blogfest

Last month Kravet brought together bloggers, marketing experts, design professionals and print magazine editors for the first annual Blogfest 2011 in New York City. This event gathered more than 100 design and lifestyle bloggers from across the US and Canada. All learned about it from engaging with Kravet on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which is how we announced and promoted the event. These bloggers chronicle the inner workings of the design world, from education to inspiration, through their blogs and we wanted to celebrate their influence at Blogfest.

Bloggers snapping photos during the Lee Jofa studio tour

In order to chronicle every moment of our exclusive event, I had the great pleasure of doing on-camera interviews with bloggers, designers and editors throughout Blogfest 2011. In doing so, I gained behind-the-scenes access to the industry greats who showed their support for Kravet during the event and allowed me to share their enthusiasm for the world of interior design.

 
Interviewing House Beautiful Editor-In-Chief Newell Turner, photo via Pretty Pink Tulips

I was a bit nervous at first about having interactions with my design idols captured on film, but their warmth and generosity of spirit put me at ease each time as they so effortlessly emoted a love of their craft and support of the blogging community. One thing that impressed me was that every person I spoke to radiated enthusiasm and passion, which always makes for a great interview.

Chassity Evans with Beth Greene

Abbe Fenimore and Eric Cohler

One of the attendees, Austin Handler, a Hamptons-based designer with Mabley Handler and blogger for Designing the Hamptons, expressed his excitement well: “If [Kravet] put together an event just for design bloggers, where we all got to meet in each other in person and interact, that would be worth getting on an airplane. But throw in our industry’s best magazine editors and top designers and tv personalities and this becomes an event that’ll be hard to top!”

Sarah Baynes, ELLE DECOR Editor-In-Chief Michael Boodro and Manvi Hidalgo

We've already started planning for next year and continue to relive all the fun and excitement of the event through the hundreds of blog posts we’ve seen so far. We are so impressed by the talent and unique perspective each blogger captures in his or her posts. We are inspired, humbled and, most of all, motivated to take Blogfest 2012 to the next level!

Stay tuned as we continue to recap some of the great moments from our Blogfest week and of course make the announcement about dates and details of Blogfest 2012.

-JP

Toronto and Montreal – Social Media Tour

Next week we’re traveling to Toronto and Montreal to present on social media marketing. As you’ve seen on the blog (link to prev. posts), or perhaps in person, we have been traveling to showrooms around the country and now we’re taking the message across the border!

Our thoughts on social media, branding and marketing are intended to inspire designers about developing a personal brand, attracting ideal clients and educating others about the value of professional design services.

The course has recently been approved for CEU credit by the IDCEC. In Canada, this means IDC designers can earn credit for attending the presentation.

In Toronto, speaker and Kravet social media coordinator Jennifer Powell will moderate a panel discussion featuring Lisa Ferguson and Meredith Heron, expert designers who have used social media to better service their clients and create new opportunities for their business.

In Montreal, Jennifer will present with the help of designer and blogger Michelle Carangi of Holley & Gill.

If you would like to attend the Toronto presentation, call 416.921.1262. For Montreal, call 514.931.2437.

           

Design Bloggers Conference and TradHome

Photo via the Cypress Group

Barely a week from a whirlwind trip to LA for the Design Bloggers Conference, our heads are still reeling with inspiration. For two days we heard from interior designers and industry leaders who are pioneers in social media and digital marketing. It was a real treat to hear first hand stories of successes achieved through this medium, and it will absolutely inform our second round of presentations as we travel to Kravet and Lee Jofa showrooms across the US talking about social media.

From left: Traditional Home editor-in-chief Ann Maine, publisher Beth Brenner, Lonny editor-in-chief Michelle Adams

We also had the honor of having dinner with Ann Maine, editor-in-chief of Traditional Home and Michelle Adams, editor-in-chief of Lonny, who have just launched an exciting new joint venture online called TradHome mag. We had such a great time chatting with these ladies about how the concept of traditional has changed in today’s world, and how digital media is influencing print media, and vice versa. They are also excited about being the sponsor of our Tuesday evening event during Blogfest 2011 in May.

We came back energized and motivated and can’t wait to apply some of the great things we’ve learned.

-JP, AF, BG