by HIGH POINT — Universal Furniture has announced its educational programming for the fall High Point Market, continuing its commitment to providing interior designers with timely insights that extend well beyond product introductions. This season’s programming reflects the rapidly evolving business of design, bringing together respected industry leaders to share perspectives, challenge conventional thinking and equip designers with ideas they can put into practice long after market concludes.
All Universal Learning Center events take place at the Universal Furniture Showroom located at 101 S. Hamilton St., shuttle stop 15 on the Red Line. RSVP for any and all events at Event Brite or www.universalfurniture.com/marketevents (available Sept. 1). A full schedule of events is listed below:
FRIDAY-MONDAY
October 16-October 19
Universal To-The-Trade Designer’s Lounge
Time: October 16 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.), October 17-19, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Description: Relax and recharge in Universal’s 2,000 square-foot, designers-only workspace, available to Universal Furniture To-The-Trade account holders. (Designers can open an account on the spot.) Device charging and free Wi-Fi are available.
FRIDAY
October 16, 10 a.m.
Creating the Soulful Home
Speakers: Margo Roth, House of Margot; Cate Gutter, CWG Design; Ann Sargent, Sargent Design Company. Moderated by Ben Ashby of Cottage Journal.
Description: Too many of today’s homes are designer-made for designer peers rather than storied homes for a homeowner’s life well lived. A lively discussion on homes created with texture, story, antiques, heirlooms, and the soul of those that live there. Skip the cookie-cutter, social-media mood-board trends, and create homes that empower authentic living.
October 16, 2 p.m.
The Psychology of Luxury: Why Clients Buy, Resist & Say Yes
Speaker: Tracee Murphy, The Design Biz Therapist
Description: Luxury isn’t about products; it’s about emotion. High-end clients are not simply purchasing furnishings and finishes; they’re investing in identity, transformation, comfort, and meaning. This session explores how emotional intelligence, empathy, and behavioral psychology can help designers communicate value more effectively, navigate money conversations with confidence, and create stronger client relationships. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of luxury decision-making and learn how to sell luxury without feeling like they’re selling.
October 16, 4 p.m.
Why Underpricing Kills Design: How to Command What You’re Worth: Discussion & Book Signing
Speakers: Jonathan Miller, Jsquared Interior Staging & Design; Jessica Duce, JDuce Design
Description: Your pricing model should be as unique as your talent and value. This engaging and interactive conversation will reveal why underpricing is one of the most damaging mistakes creative professionals make—and why copying a competitor’s pricing model can be just as costly. Attendees will learn how to evaluate the factors that should influence their rates, recognize the hidden dangers of comparison-based pricing, and build the confidence to charge based on the unique value they bring to the marketplace.
SATURDAY
October 17, 10 a.m.
Double Your Revenue Without Doubling Your Hours: The 3 Profit Shifts That Turn Busy Design Firms Into Highly Profitable Businesses
Speaker: Melissa Galt, Design Business Coach
Description: Busy does not always mean profitable. Many interior design firm principals reach a point where their calendars are full, their projects are thriving, and yet their profits fail to reflect the value they create. More projects and longer hours only reinforce a business model that eventually limits growth. This session will reveal the three profit shifts that separate busy firms from highly profitable businesses. Attendees will discover where revenue is quietly being constrained, why ideal clients are often lost before a proposal is ever presented, and the business model shift that allows leading firms to earn more, increase profitability, and create greater freedom without taking on more work.
October 17, 2 p.m.
Why Color is Back–and What’s Driving It
Speaker: Rachel Fasciani, Design News Now; Isabel Ladd, Isabel Ladd Interiors.
Description: Quiet, neutral interiors are moving out, and color is returning with renewed confidence. But what is driving the shift? And what does it signal for the interiors market, designers, and how clients want to live? Join a panel of successful designers and color experts including Isabel Ladd as they explore the financial climate, cultural influences, emotional needs, and consumer preferences shaping today’s palettes; the hues gaining momentum; and the many ways color can be introduced, from immersive rooms to carefully considered accents. The conversation will also examine why color matters beyond aesthetics and how designers can use it to create spaces with greater personality, connection, and emotional resonance.
October 17, 4 p.m.
Bookkeeping Essentials: Building a Financial Foundation for Your Business
Speakers: Blair Ryan, The Dove Agency; Birgit Klein, Birgit Klein Interiors; Michelle Lynne, ML Interiors Group. Moderated by Cindy Hodnett, Designers Today.
Description: Strong financial systems are just as important as great design. Together, this panel will break down the essentials of bookkeeping for design firms, from managing job costs and monitoring profitability to tracking monthly sales tax and making informed business decisions. Whether you’re handling your books internally or considering outsourcing to a professional, this discussion will explore the advantages, challenges, and key considerations of each approach to help you determine the best fit for your business.
SUNDAY
October 18, 10 a.m.
Construction Management: Your New Revenue System
Speaker: Renee Biery, deVignier Design Studio
Description: Designers give up revenue and stability when they stick to design services alone. Adding construction management to their business – not consulting, but actual project oversight – brings in a new revenue stream. This feels especially timely right now. In a market where clients are more cautious and projects are harder to close, designers who can manage the full build have a real advantage over those who hand a project off once the drawings are done.
October 18, 2 p.m.
Luxury Meets Intelligence: How Smart Designers Are Using AI to Attract, Convert & Nurture Their Best Clients
Speakers: Gail Doby, The Pearl Collective; Michelle Murphy, Demi Ryan; Michelle Huck, House of Huck
Description: Luxury isn’t about automation. It’s about trust. Relationships. Confidence. Exceptional experiences. So where does artificial intelligence fit? Join this panel of luxury design leaders for an open conversation about using AI to fill your pipeline, create sophisticated marketing systems, and nurture high-value leads—and where the designer’s voice, intuition and personal touch remain irreplaceable for high-net-worth clients. If you’re AI-curious or already experimenting with new tools, you’ll leave with strategies to help your team market smarter, communicate better and convert more of the right clients.
October 18, 4 p.m.
Workshop: Future-Proof Your Design Firm for AI Search
Speaker: Jen Smiga, ultraviolet Agency
Description: AI is changing how homeowners discover and evaluate interior designers, yet most firms don’t realize the signals that influence whether they’re recommended. In this interactive workshop, digital marketing strategist Jennifer Smiga, CEO of ultraviolet, will guide attendees through the practical steps designers can take to strengthen their online authority and get served up in today’s AI search. Through live demonstrations, guided exercises, and real-world examples from designers who have successfully adapted to this shift, attendees will learn how AI evaluates expertise, trust, and credibility and leave with a roadmap that you can begin implementing immediately.
MONDAY
October 19, 10 a.m.
The 3 Secrets to Pricing Furniture for Success
Speaker: Heather McManus, The Designers Collective
Description: For interior designers looking to redefine their pricing structure for greater profitability, this session is for you. The outdated cost-plus model isn’t cutting it anymore. Heather shares innovative pricing strategies that keep clients happy while ensuring your profit margins thrive. Learn how to price with confidence and create a more sustainable, successful design business—in record time.
October 19, 2 p.m.
AI Is Your New Employee
Speakers: Mary Beth Chau, Materio; Dalia Soles, The Designers Agency; Elissa Coughlin, Matchpointe by Elissa.
Description: Most design firm principals have experimented with AI by now. The real question isn’t whether to use it — it’s knowing exactly where it fits in your operation, and how to make it stick. Mary Beth Chau, co-founder and CEO of Materio, moderates a working conversation with two people who’ve actually figured this out. Dalia Soles, founder of The Designers Agency, helps designers build streamlined, tech-integrated operations from the ground up. Elissa Coughlin, founder of Matchpointe by Elissa, draws on her background at Google, IBM, and Apple to run her firm differently than most. Together they’ll get specific about what AI can realistically do for your firm right now, and the difference between trying it once and building it into how you work.
