LAS VEGAS – (Dec. 6, 2011) – For the second year in a row, the Interior Design Society has selected Las Vegas Design Center as the host site for their 2012 National Leadership Conference, Jan. 27-29, to coincide with the upcoming Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30-Feb. 3.

The 2012 event, expected to attract double the attendance of last year’s event, will be comprised of a two-day workshop with educational and relevant seminars, an awards ceremony, vendor showcase and a keynote address.

“Synchronizing our National Leadership Conference with Las Vegas Market gives attendees an excellent opportunity to not only participate in IDS’ top annual event, but also attend the premier west coast market for furniture, gift and home décor,” said Pamela White, chief executive officer for IDS. “We are thrilled to once again partner with Las Vegas Design Center for this conference to deliver important and relevant content to our members.”

The 2012 IDS National Leadership Conference begins Jan. 27 with a welcome reception at Las Vegas Design Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Day one of the conference begins with a welcome session and concurrent educational seminar sessions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees will have the option of attending presentations such as “The Power of Color and Light Working Together” by Margi Kyle and “The Selling Process: Selling & Closing Techniques and Overcoming Objections” by Shelley DeVall. The first business day concludes with the IDS semi-formal annual awards ceremony from 7-11 p.m. at Paris Las Vegas.

Day two of the conference, Jan. 29, will host concurrent educational seminar sessions from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendees will have options such as Ed Mattingly and Laurie Clark’s “Faux Demystified for Interior Designers” and “How to Avoid Fee Fiascos…and Attract Your Ideal Client” by Gail Doby. The second business day concludes with a keynote presentation from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. entitled “How to be Profitable in Any Economy” presented by past national president and current chapter president for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Vicki Suiter of Suiter Financial Systems.

Suiter’s presentation will offer attendees clear tools and strategies to positively affect their bottom lines. Attendees will gain clarity and confidence on where to focus in order to create productive changes and leave with a greater understanding of what drives profits and cash flows. Additionally, the seminar will have CEUs from CQRID.

Following this day’s seminars, IDS will hold a vendor showcase at Paris Las Vegas.

Other educational seminars running concurrently throughout the days include:

The Power of Color and Light Working Together
Presented by Margi Kyle
Sat., Jan. 28, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Attendees will learn color language of 25 colors on the color wheel. How to narrow down the selection of colors in a clients home and to properly illuminate space. Attendees will also learn how to select the correct light bulbs, temperature of the bulb, and how to create ambience matching the bulb to the activity, color and feeling of the room.

Margi Kyle is the past IDS national chairman and the Designing Doctor. Margi has received her master’s degree in Interior Design and is the executive director for We Make Color Easy - The Dewey Color System. Margi’s credentials include professional level of IDS, WCAA, ASID, WFCP and CMG.

The Selling Process: Selling & Closing Techniques and Overcoming Objections
Presented by Shelley DeVall
Sat., Jan. 28, 2012 from 1:45 to 5 p.m.

Designed to assist designers in tackling everyday business challenges, this workshop focuses on developing an effective sales plan, utilizing key sales metrics, and incorporating specific selling techniques and tools into a plan. Throughout this energetic and interactive workshop, attendees will go through the essential steps needed to develop and grow a bullet-proof business. Learn the six key selling principles: sales plan, sales forecasting, twelve stages in the selling process, closing techniques, overcoming objections and utilizing technology.

Shelley DeVall is currently the manager of business development for Hunter Douglas. Shelley worked for six years as a regional sales manager for Hunter Douglas, working with retailers and designers to assist them in growing their sales and business planning. Previously, she owned a successful retail window covering store for 20+ years, giving her a wealth of experience in running and managing a business.

Faux Demystified for Interior Designers
Presented by Ed Mattingly and Laurie Clark
Sun., Jan. 29, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Join us for a special preview of the industry’s newest and best professional faux finishing system. In this seminar Mattingly will present the Sherwin-Williams line of Faux Products, Faux Impressions. This presentation will explain the various layers and building blocks that go into each finish, as well as discuss appropriate specification guidelines for specific projects. Attendees will leave this session prepared to engage with contractors and properly communicate and direct their next decorative finish project to a successful and profitable end.

Laurie Clark is the senior designer account executive for Sherwin-Williams in Arizona and Las Vegas. She has worked with Sherwin-Williams since 2005 and has been an active and supportive industry partner for many design organizations. Ed Mattingly has been involved with faux finishes and decorative painting techniques since 1978. Ed is renowned for his unique wall solutions and designs. Ed currently supports Sherwin-Williams nationally for product development and training.

How to Avoid Fee Fiascos…and Attract Your Ideal Client
Presented by Gail Doby
Sun., Jan. 29, 2012 from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.

Discover the 10 biggest mistakes interior designers make with fees, and how to avoid them. Clients and designer have fears associated with money and how one deals with client's concerns determines whether one get the job, makes money, or struggles to get paid. Find out how to make small changes and immediately feel more confident about your business and ability to satisfy clients.

Gail Doby, chief vision officer of Design Success University, is a seasoned interior designer with more than 34 years of business experience starting with a Fortune 500 company in sales and marketing. Gail created Design Success University with Erin Weir more than three years ago and now serves over 6,000 designers worldwide.

Following the conference, attendees are invited to attend the Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market where they will be able to browse a vast array of new products throughout more than 1,600 manufacturer showrooms, attend seminars by industry experts and leaders, and network with thousands of other attendees in the furniture, gift and home décor industries.

Registration for Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market is now open. Attendees are able to register online at LasVegasMarket.com and take advantage of discounted hotel rates at some of Las Vegas’ best hotels, both on and off the Strip, through the Las Vegas Market website.

For a complete schedule of IDS conference events, visit InteriorDesignSociety.org. For a more information on the Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market, visit LasVegasMarket.com. For more information on Las Vegas Design Center, visit LVDesignCenter.com.

About Las Vegas Design Center
Sitting at the epicenter of the world’s fastest growing home furnishings complex, Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas is a year-round resource for design-seeking consumers and designers showcasing top names in fine furniture, decorative accessories, wall décor, lighting, floor coverings, fabrics and trim. Open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., LVDC offers nearly 40 showrooms carrying hundreds of leading manufacturers’ lines. An important source of education for the industry, Las Vegas Design Center also attracts many of the industry’s most prominent thought leaders to its comprehensive slate of seminars, networking receptions and other sought-after events. Las Vegas Design Center is also home to the award-winning restaurant Mundo, A Culinary Haute Spot. For more information, visit www.lvdesigncenter.com.

About World Market Center Las Vegas
World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex. The campus showcases furniture, decorative accessories, gift, lighting, area rugs, home textiles and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center open daily to consumers and designers. For more information on World Market Center Las Vegas and its trade shows including the bi-annual Las Vegas Market and Gift+Home, visit www.wmclv.com. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Las Vegas Design Center and World Market Center Las Vegas are properties of International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. International Market Centers owns and operates 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit imcenters.com.

About Interior Design Society
Based in High Point, N.C., Interior Design Society is a national trade association that recognizes and assists specialists in all walks of residential interior design, including designers, sales specialists, design-related businesses, interior design students and manufacturers/suppliers. IDS is a national organization of more than 3,000 members strong across local chapters located across the United States. IDS offers valuable education, resources, programs, and services to aid its members in their path to professionalism in residential interior design.