San Francisco Summer Market 2005 Events & Seminars

Furniture World News

In 2005, the San Francisco Mart is celebrating 90 years of serving the Western home furnishings industry. In this 90th year, the Mart is bringing in fresh new faces in furniture, decorative accessories, wall décor and gifts. One key strategy in the Mart’s transition plan is aligning its markets with the San Francisco International Gift Fair (SFGIF). With overlapping days of the SF Furniture Market and the SFGIF, buyers can take advantage of thousands of unique products and vendors – everything from trend-setting gift items to beautiful furniture and accessories – that will help boost margins and build store traffic. Buyers can also learn to improve their business practices and differentiate themselves from the competition at the Mart’s seminars. Additionally, the Western Home Furnishings Association (WFHA) will host seminars, and the SFIGF will also host a variety of events and seminars. With numerous choices, attendees at the San Francisco Furniture Market in August will find plenty of opportunities for learning, networking and socializing. Summer Market 2005 Events & Seminars August 3-6, 2005 (unless otherwise noted, all events & seminars are free) Wednesday, August 3 2-3 p.m. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Leather Speaker: Heather Rapp, American Leather Location: SF Mart, Showroom 500 Cost:Free Admission & Refreshments Topic:Learn about leather grades, leather care and how to sell leather to your customers. Dinner Giveaway 11 a.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby Dinner Giveaway 3 p.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby Asia SFM 5-7 p.m. Location:SF Mart Lobby Join us for free cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with an Asian twist – sushi, sake bombs, chow mein and more! Thursday, August 4 10-11 a.m. The Art of Antique Reproductions Speaker: Rafat Shaheen, Josephine Homes Location:SF Mart, Josephine Homes showroom, space 205 Cost: Free Admission & Refreshments Topic: Educate yourself in the fine nuances of high-end antique reproductions and learn to differentiate between quality and mediocrity. Dinner Giveaway 11 a.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby 2-3:30 p.m. Outrageous Customer Service Speaker: Kent Burnes, Business Consultant Location: SF Mart, Space 250 Cost: $10 for SF Mart Members; $15 for non-members Free refreshments Topic: Is your business building a customer service program that extends beyond the basics? This workshop stresses more than just fast, friendly and efficient service. You’ll find out what types of services are most important to your customers and how to implement them in your business. RSVP: Reservations and pre-payment required. Call 415-437-7100 or e-mail seminars@sfmart.com. Dinner Giveaway 3 p.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby Friday, August 5 9:30-11 a.m. Competing with the Big Box Retailers Speaker: Kent Burnes, Business Consultant Location: SF Mart, Space 250 Cost: $10 for SF Mart Members; $15 for non-members Free refreshments Topic: When the big boys roll into town, you don’t have to roll over! Kent Burnes has been researching the effects national discounters have on small businesses and communities for over 20 years and has developed some very effective techniques for small businesses to use when national discounters hit town or expand in their markets. With companies like Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes targeting your customers, you won’t want to miss this seminar. RSVP: Reservations and pre-payment required. Call 415-437-7100 or e-mail seminars@sfmart.com. Dinner Giveaway 11 a.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby 2-3:30 p.m. Designing an Organized Home Speaker: Cyndi Seidler, Professional Organizer Location: SF Mart, Space 250 Cost: $10 for SF Mart Members; $15 for non-members Free refreshments Topic: Trusted pros can bring order to the chaos in living areas, and offer solutions for organizing issues that will transform a room into one of beauty and functionality. Find out how to apply simple steps to clearing the clutter and restoring order in a space. Learn the steps and products professional organizers use to organize a room and maximize space, and discover the strategies organizing experts use to incorporate into your own practice or service. RSVP: Reservations and pre-payment required. Call 415-437-7100 or e-mail seminars@sfmart.com. Dinner Giveaway 3 p.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby 4-6 p.m. Happy Hour Location: SF Mart Lobby Join us for free cocktails and nibbles before heading for out for dinner and a night on the town. Saturday, August 6 8-9:30 a.m. Buyer Breakfast Location: SF Mart, Space 250 Cost: Free to buyers and designers Jumpstart your day! Register early, eat some breakfast, and be ready to shop when the showrooms and exhibits open. Show your buyer badge to enjoy this full breakfast buffet. Dinner Giveaway 11 a.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby Dinner Giveaway 3 p.m. Enjoy dinner in the #1 city for Dining Out – and have it on us! The SF Mart is holding a drawing twice daily for gift certificates to some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. Register to win at the Information Booth in the Mart 1 Lobby, and perhaps you will enjoy a sumptuous feast for free! Location: SF Mart Lobby For up-to-date information on events & seminars, visit www.sfmart.com or refer to the Buyers Guide at Market. The San Francisco Furniture Market is open to buyers, members of the home furnishings and gift industry, the design trade and members of the press. For more information, call (415) 552-2311 or visit www.sfmart.com.