TrendWatch will include three CEU-accredited webinars prior to High Point Market.

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- International Market Centers (IMC) announced today a robust lineup of virtual programming to be presented before and during Fall 2020 High Point Market, Oct. 13-21, 2020. IMC's 20+ educational webinar topics include trend forecasting, business practices during and after the COVID-19 crisis, consumer preferences, diversity and current market trends.

"IMC is delighted to provide a lineup of educational and influential sessions for fall market," said Dorothy Belshaw, chief marketing and digital officer for International Market Centers. "While in-person programming is still not possible, these expanded pre-market digital presentations give designers and retailers important trend-focused and business-building information to assist in market preparation and allows High Point Market attendees to focus on buying while at market."

IMC's proprietary TrendWatch program returns this fall as a series of three CEU-accredited webinars. Presented by 24-year magazine editor and home furnishings trends forecaster Julie Smith Vincenti of Nine Muses Media, the half-hour sessions will present each of the three trends - Touch Points (Sept. 23), Pod (Sept. 30) and Prologue (Oct. 7) -- currently shaping the home furnishings industry. For more information, visit http://www.imchighpointmarket.com/trendwatch.

IMC's popular Virtual Showhouse program, a project in which 6 well-known designers use IMC exhibitor product to create individualized rooms, will come to life during an hour-long CEU-accredited webinar titled The House that Diversity Built (Oct. 8) In the session, the panel of designers - Breegan Jane, of Breegan Jane Interior Design; Erika Taylor, of Taylored Interior Solutions, LLC; Evette Rios, interior designer, lifestyle expert and television host; Albie Buabeng, of Albie Knows and The Design Influence Podcast, and others to be announced - discuss their diverse backgrounds, design experiences and global perspectives as well as what went into creating their one-of-a-kind, dream home residence.

Pre-market offerings will feature another nine CEU-accredited webinars, including:

• Insider Tips for the Best Photography for Your Marketing & Money (Sept. 29), presented by photographer Stephen Karlisch and hospitality designer Chad Dorsey;

• Your Brand: Promoting, Licensing and Protecting It (Oct. 1), presented by Evette Rios, interior designer, lifestyle expert; Greg Wyman, of Jewel Branding & Licensing; Stephen Davies, attorney and design industry veteran and Ellen Gefen, host of TheHome.com;

• Expand Your Network: The Benefits of Building Relationships In and Outside of the Design Industry (Oct. 5), presented by four popular designers; Re-defining Luxury (Oct. 12), presented by Erinn Valencich, of Erinn V Design Group; Courtney McLeod, of Right Meets Left Interior Design; Chad James, of the Chad James Group; Vicky Serany, of Southern Studio Interior Design; Scot Meacham Wood, of Scott Meachum Wood Home + Design; Brynn Olson, of Brynn Olson Design Group and Lynn Terry of Southern Home;

• How COVID-19 May Change Home-Décor Preferences (Oct. 13), presented by Michelle Lamb and Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf of The Trend Curve;

• Using Financing to Retain and Attract Customers in Uncertain Economic Times (Oct. 14), presented by TD Bank's Mike Rittler;

• Sherwin-Williams: How Do Cultures Influence Color? (Oct. 15), presented by Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing, Sue Wadden;

• ReImagine, ReOpen & ReEngage - Visual Merchandising Transformed (Oct. 16), presented by Gretchen Kroll, of Tripar International, Inc.; and

• Walking the Market with Rug News & Design (Oct. 20), presented by Sarah Stroh and Leslie Stroh, of Rug News and Design.

Other virtual sessions will cover a collection of relevant topics.These sessions include How to Shop for Eco, No Matter What You're Shopping For - with Sustainable Furnishings Council: SFC (Sept. 24), presented by John Eason, of John Douglas Eason Interior Design; Jennifer Jones, of Niche Interiors; Anelle Gandelman, of A-List Interiors and moderated by designer Breegan Jane; Working With a Coach - Part 1 featuring Kimberley Seldon - Business of Design (Oct. 14), presented by Martha Lowry, CEO of Design of the Times, Inc. and Kimberly Seldon, Business of Design's advocate in chief; Working With a Coach - Part 2 featuring Gail Doby - Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting (Oct. 19), presented by Gail Doby and Jodi Cook, of Cook House Design. Additionally, Furniture, Lighting and Décor's Diane Falvey will also present four Think Tank – Maximize Profitability sessions, including Where's the Growth? (Sept. 15); The Ins and Outs of Product Design Licensing (Sept. 22); Down to Digital (Sept. 29); and Benefits of the Retailer/Designer Business Model (Oct. 6).

All virtual programing is free, and pre-registration is recommended. Complete descriptions are available online at http://www.imchighpointmarket.com/webinars-and-events/.

High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, with more than 2,000 manufacturers in 11.5 million square feet of showroom and exhibit space in multiple buildings in downtown High Point, North Carolina. Each Market attracts tens of thousands of retail home furnishings buyers, interior designers, architects, and others in the home furnishings industry. International Market Centers (IMC) owns 17 prime High Point Market showrooms which contain 70 percent of the exhibitors, including the majority of the top 500 manufacturers. Fall 2020 Market is scheduled for Oct. 13-21, 2020. For more information, visit www.imchighointmarket.com.