WHFA Unveils Annual Conference & Expo Agenda

Furniture World Magazine

Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA) unveiled their 2009 Conference & Expo agenda for the 2009 Conference & Expo that takes place May 17-19, 2009 in Maui. The conference, they The conference, they say, will offer attendees top-notch education relevant to today’s business conditions, an all new EXpresso EXpo and hours of retailer-to-retailer networking.say, will offer attendees top-notch education relevant to today’s business conditions, an all new EXpresso EXpo and hours of retailer-to-retailer networking. With a motto of expand your mind, escape to paradise, the WHFA 2009 Conference & Expo focuses on giving retailers the tools to rejuvenate their minds, spirits and business. With 12 educational sessions planned during the three-day conference, attendees will be able to learn how to remain positive and generate more revenue in challenging times, use the Internet to drive store profits, manage people, maximize sales and much more. The opening session, How to Succeed, Stay Sane, and Have Fun at Work: A Survival Guide for the Retail Weary, will show how to shift attitudes caused by today’s business stresses to create a more positive and fun work environment. At the close of conference, Dewitt Jones, who has worked as a photographer for National Geographic for 20 years, will share his experiences and extraordinary photographs during Extraordinary Visions. This motivational session will show retailers how to take their vision to the next level, increase their passion for life and grow themselves in the future. The addition of the EXpresso Expo provides added opportunities to discover new business enhancing ideas. The EXpresso Expo features 20-minute shots of education on topics such as advertising, marketing, technology or operations, and will deliver powerful content in order to maximize the conference experience. Attendees can enjoy shots of macadamia nut espresso and fruit smoothies while listening to marketing tips and tricks, consultant Q&As, new product demos and more. Also, the retailer-to-retailer roundtable discussions have been scheduled on two days, giving retailers even more opportunities to share their best money-saving and business generating ideas. These popular sessions are always a highlight of conference with attendees sharing their success stories and exploring ideas and solutions on a variety of issues. Registration is $495 for WHFA members and $595 for non-members. Teams traveling together can take advantage of the Team Discount and receive each registration for $395 each. WHFA has negotiated low rates at the Westin Maui property and has secured excellent travel deals through Hawaiian Airlines, which has just announced roundtrip fares as low as $248 from multiple cities in the West. For more information and to register for WHFA’s 2009 Conference & Expo visit www.WHFAconference.com or call (800) 422-3778. About the WHFA:The Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA) is the largest affiliate of the NHFA, representing more than 1,000 independent home furnishings retailers in more than 2,800 stores in 12 western states. For more information, visit www.WHFA.org.