HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The first week of International Market Centers' (IMC) High Point Virtual Market Experience offered content and community for the industry -- with hundreds of participants logging-into six webinars and thousands of visitors sourcing and discovering products and a digital audience generating funds for City of Hope. Week two offerings, which began Monday, May 18, and is available at www.imchighpointmarket.com, include a Virtual Showhouse debut, another eight information-rich webinars and continued product discovery and online sourcing through IMC's Catalog Connexion.

"IMC's High Point Virtual Market Experience is a great opportunity to leverage our current digital tools to enable product discovery and provide industry-relevant content," said Bob Maricich, IMC CEO. "We were delighted with the high levels of participation and engagement for our debut last week and look forward to two more weeks of exceptional offerings and opportunities for buyers and suppliers alike."

CATALOG VIEWS SKYROCKET FOR NEW PRODUCT DISCOVERY TOOL

IMC's Catalog Connexion, a keyword-searchable catalog library that connects buyers and sellers through product flipbooks, debuted last week with more than 543 vendor catalogs loaded to the site. By the conclusion of week one, 8,581 visitors had viewed a total of 218,546 pages with many contacting vendors for additional product information. During the next two weeks of IMC's High Point Virtual Market Experience, IMC Exhibitors can continue to upload catalogs to the site.

IMC PARTNERS WITH CITY OF HOPE FOR ONLINE CONCERT

Week one concluded with a special concert benefitting City of Hope, a not-for-profit cancer treatment and research center in California. Ray Allegrezza and the RMSB Band performed on Facebook Live, Instagram Live and Zoom, raising money via text-to-donate and direct donations on the City of Hope website. Participants can donate through the end of the IMC High Point Virtual Market by texting "FurnitureCares" to 41444 or visiting https://app.mobilecause.com/form/RXG26g?vid=8d48e.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WEEK TWO: VIRTUAL SHOWHOUSE LAUNCHES & WEBINARS CONTINUE

Week two highlights include the launch of IMC's Virtual Showhouse, a project in which six well-known designers use IMC exhibitor product to "build" their ideal room. Participating designers are Corey Damen Jenkins, of Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates; Bria Hammel, of Bria Hammel Interiors; Erinn Valencich, of Erinn V. Design Group; Jason Oliver Nixon, of Madcap Cottage; Libby Langdon, of Libby Langdon Interiors and Shayla Copas, of Shayla Copas Interiors. To learn more and to see the designers' finished rooms, visit http://www.imchighpointmarket.com/virtual-showhouse.

Week two also features another eight content-rich webinars -- five of which offer CEU-accreditation for participants -- addressing business practices during and after COVID-19, current market trends, color forecasting and utilizing media opportunities and more. A complete schedule follows, and information and registration for these free sessions is available online at http://www.imchighpointmarket.com/webinars-and-events/.

Tuesday, May 19

Home Decor Trends in Today's Market

Thomas Lester (Home Accents Today) and panelists

1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Join Thomas Lester, digital/managing editor for Home Accents Today, and a veteran panel of industry trend and thought leaders for an in-depth look at current and emerging home decor trends. Find out how brick-and-mortar retailers and design businesses are navigating today's troubled business waters. Learn how companies are finding new and innovative ways to stand out in a crowded and disrupted marketplace. You will come away better prepared to adapt and guide your business going forward. (1 CEU)

Communicating, Connecting with Clients: Part 1

Melissa Galt (Melissa Galt Interiors)

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

In partnership with Furniture Lighting & Décor

Your passion for what you do is often conveyed in expression. In today's environment, where in-person connection is limited, how are you continuing to connect with your clients/customers to stay connected, and share that you are there for them? Melissa Galt, of Melissa Galt Interiors, shares her expertise on communicating and connecting with clients in a one-on-one conversation designed to offer insights and strategies for creating the most effective connections.

Wednesday, May 20

Sherwin-Williams Colormix Forecast 2020

Sue Wadden (Sherwin-Williams)

1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Enjoy a visual journey with stimulating imagery, factual statistics and perceptive research that supports the 2020 forecast for color and design trends. Explore the drivers influencing future color and design trends that include global, technological, historic, psychological and economic factors that shaped Sherwin-Williams' forecast. This year's 45-color palette is titled, "Color in Balance," features five theme palettes: ALIVE, MANTRA, PLAY, HAVEN & HEART. These intuitive palettes will bring joy, serenity and focus to mind, body and spirit. (1 CEU)

Thursday, May 21
Coaches in Your Corner: Learn How Media Can Help Expand Your Design Business

Evette Rios, Stephen Davies, and Ellen Gefen (TheHome.com)

11 a.m. - noon

This seminar includes the How to's from Evette Rios, interior designer, lifestyle expert and television host, and Stephen Davies, an attorney with 20 years of design industry experience, on getting the best advice to grow your design business through media opportunities, licensing and design collaborations all while not signing your rights away. They will give pointers to help you navigate television and other media. A question and answer segment will follow. (1 CEU)

Communicating, Connecting with Clients: Part 2

Designer & Retailer Panel Discussion

Diane Falvey (Furniture, Lighting & Décor)

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Interior designers share their communication experiences, detailing the strategies they've used to stay connected, and tips that can be incorporated in your business now and in the future. Panelists include Goff Christian, Goff Designs; Kimberly Coffman, Fine Art Interiors; and Jenna Wedemeyer, Jenna Wedemeyer Design and moderated by Diane Falvey.

Friday, May 22

Bottom Line Basics -- Financial Preparations for Future Success

Gail Doby, ASID (Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting)

1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Join us for an informative look at the design business of today and how it has already changed. Learn what you need to know and how to prepare yourself for what may be coming. Review the basics of business and learn how to change little things so you can maintain and grow your interior design business and put it on the fast track to higher profits, sustainable growth and business mastery. Leading interior design business coach, Gail Doby, ASID, chief vision officer of Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting, will show you the steps to take to work smarter, not harder, and to love your business and your life. (1 CEU)

About International Market Centers

International Market Centers (IMC) is the world's largest operator of premier showroom space for furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. International Market Centers owns and operates nearly 20 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta. IMC's mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. For more information on IMC, visit www.IMCenters.com.