HIGH POINT, N.C., March 6, 2012 – The Knabusch-Shoemaker International School of Furnishings at High Point University is sponsoring the third annual online marketing seminar for students and home furnishings industry officials, titled “Online Merchandising: Web Strategies to Increase Sales and Profits.” The seminar will focus on increasing company revenues in a world where online advertising, social media and company websites are becoming some of the most effective ways to reach consumers.
The event, which will feature keynote speaker Kristine Kennedy, editorial director of Wayfair, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 21 in the Francis Auditorium in the Phillips School of Business at HPU. It is open to home furnishings retailers, manufacturers, designers, suppliers and HPU students.
During the seminar, Kennedy will give an overview of how Wayfair is implementing a brand strategy and creating inspirational content to build customer loyalty and purchase likelihood. Wayfair.com is the largest online-only retailer of home furnishings, selling 4.5 million items from 5,000 vendors. Kennedy recently joined Wayfair after 17 years with Better Homes and Gardens to implement a rich visual and editorial content strategy to enhance the customer experience, loyalty and engagement.
Christine Pierpoint, IMRE vice president of Emerging Media, will give a presentation on measuring “Return on Investment” through analytics.
A four-member panel of industry professionals – including two retailers, a manufacturer and an interior designer – will present case studies for their effective use of online marketing. Breakout sessions will involve tactics to manage time for the most effective return and customer engagement through social media marketing. This includes the fast growing, online design board Pinterest, the emerging power of online promotional platforms like Living Social and Groupon, and understanding the business model around QR codes.
For seminar details, and to register, visit http://furnishings-hpu.com. There is no cost for the seminar, and lunch will be served. Seating is limited.
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.℠ HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. HPU was selected in the 2010-2011 list of “Colleges of Distinction,” as well as one of the top green schools in the country by the Sierra Club. The university offers 44 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and 10 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]