Luxury Products Group (LPG) celebrated a year of significant growth with its largest-ever Spring Conference and Expo, held January 29-31 at the Marriott Marquis – San Diego Marina.
In welcoming members and vendors, Executive Director Jeff MacDowell shared a list of successes that the group accomplished in 2019:
• Record-setting membership now exceeds 440 showrooms across the U.S. and Canada
• Above industry growth in sales, and overall improvement in rebate performance
• Record-setting attendance at the Expo
• Expansion of LPG marketing platform, which enhances members’ social-media campaigns and offers them options to customize a low-cost communication to the retail and design community
• Expansion of subcommittees to help curate the LPG vendors, services and training programs
• Announcement of launch date and partners for the new LPG training portal
LPG has become a force with not just showrooms that are connected with wholesaling operations but also with the true designer boutique showrooms. Virtually any decorative showroom can benefit from what LPG has to offer — and MacDowell said there is more to come.
“We have an even more aggressive growth campaign planned for this year,” he stated. “We are going to own the training initiative for our member showrooms and create something that no other organization has been able to do, in relation to training far beyond product selling. We will help teach creating the experience.”
Guest speaker Robb Best of Elkay USA, a leading expert on the connection between neuroscience and sales, had showroom leaders thinking about how they sell during his presentation. He discussed the science behind body language and how using it correctly can help grow sales.
Other educational sessions were led by industry executives and consultants on topics designed to increase the knowledge and capabilities of showrooms and their partners. Also, small group roundtable meetings allowed members and vendors to share questions and ideas on a variety of best practices.
Several awards were presented during the event:
• MrSteam was announced as the Vendor of the Year
• Ultra Design Center of Denver was selected as Showroom of the Year
• BainUltra received the Best Booth Award during the Expo.
Of course, there was plenty of time for fun, friendship and networking. The highlight of the event was an evening on the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum, where members enjoyed a tour, refreshments and flight simulators.
“This was the best-attended, most-engaged Luxury Products Group event in its history,” said MacDowell. “Our members came to the meeting prepared to engage vendors in business planning. I am excited about the future of LPG with our investment in technology and our focus not just on the vendor partners, but also on creating the best shopping experience for the customers that enter an LPG-supported showroom. There is no better time to be in LPG than right now!”
