Category: News Article

The Business of Luxury Design (BOLD) Summit announces inspiring program agenda for its 2017 conference

BOLD announces its eventful, three day agenda featuring intense business development and training for its 2017 conference. Taking place at The Auditorium Theater located in Downtown Chicago, Illinois from September 25-27, 2017, BOLD shares topics, resources and speakers that are relevant to the current challenges that luxury focused designers and architects face.

Each day BOLD Summit will bring round table and panel discussions featuring topics, resources and speakers that are relevant to the current challenges luxury designers face. Conference speakers include icons in the design industry like Barclay Butera, Jamie Drake and Pamela Babey.

In addition to daily training and development the BOLD Summit features BOLD topic dinners, a BOLD cocktail party, lavish lunches in the Congress Plaza Hotel Ballroom and a black-tie charity dinner and fundraising event to be held in the John Hancock building.

“As our 2017 event draws closer and closer we couldn’t be more pleased with the finalization of our jam-packed agenda and our glamorous nightly events that I know attendees are going to love,” states Julia Molloy, Owner BOLD Summit and Julia Molloy Consulting. “The conference content this year will focus on strengthening and diversifying revenue streams with advanced level information from top tier speakers. I think this year’s speaker lineup truly elevates the level of education that BOLD Summit has to offer, we can’t wait to learn and work with these staples of the industry to help grow our attendees to the next level in their business.”

One of the most powerful resources for business development and collaboration in the design industry, the 2017 Business of Luxury Design Summit will feature workshops and presentations on topics such as PR, creating a revenue stream with product lines, online marketing strategies, building referral networks, getting to your 40% gross profit margin and much more.

Cost for attendance for limited time early bird registration is $2,795 and $3,495 for open registration.

The Business of Luxury Design (BOLD) Summit to host exclusive BOLD Designer Showcase highlighting products from acclaimed designers

The BOLD Summit, the premier business conference for principal designers, will host an exclusive designer showcase featuring products from luxury interior designers throughout the three-day event. The BOLD Product Showcase provides an opportunity for attending designers to display their unique products to the design community as well as gain national media exposure.

The BOLD Designer Showcase is set to feature design industry products from highly talented designers such as, Michelle Workman, Jillian O’Neill, Liz Carroll, Marlene Holmquist, Susan Winchester and Deborah Main.

“The BOLD Designer Product Showcase is one of my favorite elements of the BOLD Summit because it allows some of our attendees to showcase their talent and passion in a new way. It is an added benefit of being an attendee and allows us to shine a light on the product side of their business.” states Julia Molloy, Founder of BOLD Summit and Julia Molloy Consulting. “Whether it be furniture, a fabric line or home décor, the showcase gives our attendees a unique opportunity to get their products fantastic exposure not only within the design community but in the media as well.”

About the “Featured” Designers

Michelle Workman

As one of America’s most sought-after interior designers, Michelle Workman designs high-end residential and commercial spaces from West Coast to East Coast. Touted as “Showbiz Royalty” by Variety Magazine, Michelle possesses an esteemed and influential client roster ranging from Emmy Award winning producers and actors to Silicon Valley executives and entrepreneurs to Manhattan philanthropists. Recently Michelle has begun licensing and currently has two collections launched with more on the horizon. Her breathtaking trim line has taken the design community by storm and is as unique as it is brilliant.

 

Jillian O’Neill

Jillian O’Neill of Jillian O’Neill Interior Design specializes in working on modern and luxurious yet livable residential spaces. With a discerning eye for fresh and timeless furnishings and a love for color, texture and functionality, Jillian’s work has been featured in various publications including Elle Décor, Modern Luxury, Luxe Interiors and many more. Jillian now brings her beloved signature aesthetic to her luxury line of furnishings that debuted in 2017. Her signature pieces have sleek and sensual lines with rich materials and tones evoking a beautifully modern feel. 

 

 

Liz Carroll and Charlotte Lucas

Interior Designer, Liz Carroll, of Liz Carroll Interiors, and her sister, Charlotte Lucas, of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design, have teamed up to create House of Harris, a fabric and wallpaper line launching in the Fall of 2017.  Both sisters lead their own high-end interior design firms in North Carolina and have become highly sought after with projects spanning the Southeast.  Now pairing up as sisters to create a unique product line is a natural next step in their evolution.  House of Harris has received early accolades having been featured in Vogue and Veranda.  Their whimsical patterns and vibrant colors with a decidedly modern flair have made quite a splash in their debut collection.

 

Marlene Holmquist, “The Cowgirl Designer”

With decades of experience in the art and design industries, Marlene Holmquist of Luxury Ranch Interior Design specializes in new construction and remodels for ranches and luxury homes. Marlene brings her refreshing signature style of “Contemporary Western Design” to homes from contemporary to cowboy. A true cowgirl in every sense of the word, Marlene easily blends authentic cowboy tradition, modern design and contemporary materials to create the ultimate in exclusive equestrian and ranch furnishings. Each is an artistic expression based on horses and ranch life and make for the perfect statement piece in any sophisticated project. Marlene will also be showcasing limited edition and one of a kind leather “art” pillows, along with equine-inspired jewelry designs.

 

Susan Winchester

Susan Winchester has successfully combined two of her passions, a love of boating and beautiful design into a thriving business creating luxury yacht and home interiors. Having traveled thousands of nautical miles, Susan understands the need for functionality on even the largest yacht, believing that our living spaces have a very real impact on our personal lives. Her luxury outdoor décor line, WaterHaus is the ultimate in true performance, created to withstand the might of the sun and the majesty of the water while embodying all of the elements of refined décor. WaterHaus is a brand where luxury meets water.

 

 

Deborah Main

Product Designer, Deborah Main of Deborah Main Designs attributes her work and design inspiration to fashion, nature art and her love for travel. Specializing in luxury artisan pillows with new and vintage textiles, Deborah’s designs express her passion for color and texture. Her attention to detail demonstrates an appreciation for beauty and quality craftsmanship. Known affectionately as “The Pillow Goddess,” Deborah has been nationally recognized as a Martha Stewart American Made Award finalist and locally as a three-time winner of Best Home Accessories Designer for Austin, Texas Fashion Week.

What’s In It For Me? Designers Evaluate The Real Value Of Professional Development Conferences.

The constant stream of work demands, emails and more keep us tied to our desks. But many experts agree that while a small amount of success comes from output, a bigger portion is from creating and leveraging your network and upon successful delivery of your brand to your customers and stakeholders. One change-making tool successful pros use is the professional development conference. Professional conferences go a long way towards pulling you from that day-to-day grind to evaluate your next smart moves. They give you the space to take in how your business is changing, to build your network and to make sure you are on track for success.

According to Julia Molloy, founder of the BOLD Summit, “We can all feel it. The design industry is evolving quickly. In fact, within 3 years, the landscape will be quite different than it is today. Adapt or die is the name of the game in an industry disruption event and it has happened many times before.“

We asked designers to weigh-in on the benefits of attending design conferences such as the upcoming BOLD Summit in Chicago (September 25-27). Are events worth the expense, the time out of the office and what do they deliver in real, measurable ROI value?

  • Tell us why attending professional conferences is important to you? 

Anne Hepfer – Anne Hepfer Designs, Inc.

“I attended the 2015 BOLD Summit in Palm Springs and I gained an incredible amount of ‘take-home’ value to apply to my business. Meeting and having the opportunity to sit at a round table with the honored Masters was an incredible experience.”   — Anne Hepfer

  • How has this helped your business? Do you have a specific example or case study to share?

Danny Russo, ASSOCIATE ASID – SRG // INTERIORS inc.

“Before attending the BOLD summit I always questioned some of the things that were happening to me with my clients. Was I the only person these things were happening to? The answer was NO, the same issues that were plaguing my firm, were happening to many others in the industry. It gave me a network of many connections and friendships that I cherish very much.”   — Danny Russo

  • What is one game changing thing you learned at a summit or conference?

Angela Todd – Angela Todd Studios

“One speaker took a few designers on stage and found out what most of their client’s had in common with a series of rapid-fire questions. Then she suggested that all of us figure out what our client’s had in common – and suggested we market to that ONE person. This made my marketing so much more powerful and even fun this last year.”   — Angela Todd

  • Why would you recommend the BOLD Summit?

Corinne Brown – Brown Design Group

“You don’t know what you don’t know… until you go. There’s a bigger world out there. You kind of wonder about this – but you have to expose yourself, have people to bounce off of and network. There’s so much out there to learn and absorb. You can’t do it unless you go to an event like BOLD Summit.”   — Corinne Brown