The Closets Conference & Expo is scheduled for April 17-19 at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Illinois, alongside Wood Pro Expo Illinois. With a surge in registrations, attendance is pacing ahead of last year's event. On the opening day, attendees can expect a full slate of educational sessions to provide useful business tips, design inspiration, and a glimpse of the latest advancing technologies.

The Psychology of Business – The Edge of Successful Business Owners
Kicking off the Closets & Wood Pro Conferences on April 17 is a dynamic opening keynote exploring the psyche of successful business owners. Daniel Eisenbarth, a results coach and business results trainer for Robbins Research International, one of the top 1 percent of life and business coaches globally, will present “The Psychology of Business – The Edge of Successful Business Owners.”

Eisenbarth’s keynote will examine what sets the top 5 percent of businesses apart from the remaining 95 percent. The presentation will unveil seven core strategies that form the bedrock of success in the business world. Drawing from his extensive experience, he will show how these strategies can transform businesses, leading to substantial growth and prosperity.

How to Launch a Design Studio Through Collaboration

From developing business plans and leveraging industry partnerships to creating compelling content on social media, participants will learn strategies that everyone can replicate, whether a large or small company, to help their businesses grow.
Speakers: Jenny O’Connor, Design Director, Bespoke Closets / Burke Architectural Millwork, and Lis Ritz, Designer, Inspired Closets Chicago, will answer these key questions:
1.    What are the benefits to building a design studio for your closets company?
2.    How to leverage a design studio as a valuable asset
3.    Using your design studio as a tool for collaboration
4.    How to incorporate a design studio into your business plans
5.    How to use your design studio (as a vehicle for networking, social media marketing, and increasing brand awareness)

Emerging Trends: Accessories and Decorative Hardware 

In interior design, even the smallest details can significantly impact a space’s overall aesthetic. Every element plays a crucial role in shaping a room's ambiance, from the sleek handles adorning custom cabinetry to the subtle textures incorporated into decorative hardware.
Speakers Ariane Brabant, Business Development Manager at TAG Hardware, and Knikki Grantham, Creative Director at Keeler Brass Company, will discuss the latest trends in accessories and decorative hardware.
Key topics include the following:
1.    Consumers have a deep desire for consistency in design elements
2.    How texture makes Its way into hardware
3.    The importance of technology in the closet industry: Visual assets help clients connect with their very own custom space
4.    Size and scale for hardware in the custom cabinetry industry.
5.    Popular design styles - How do you choose the right hardware piece for your customer?
6.    The importance of continuous improvement

AI’s Role in the Future of Design

Learn about the latest AI-powered tools and technologies transforming the interior design landscape and how you can leverage them to enhance your design process, increase efficiency, and deliver results for your clients.

In a virtual presentation, speaker Jenna Gaidusek, Jenna Gaidusek Designs, Interior Designer/eDesign Educator, will answer questions live and discuss the following key topics:
1.    What is AI?
2.    What are the core AI programs available right now?
3.    How is AI being utilized in the interior design industry and how closet designers can utilize available tools.
4.    Examples of how AI is being used.
5.    What is on the horizon?

The Closets Conference track, co-sponsored by ACSP and Hettich America L.P., runs concurrently with Wood Pro Track, sponsored by the CMA.

To see the complete schedule, including the Wood Pro Track, view the 2024 Closets Conference & Expo Show Directory. 

Register now to attend the only international show for all closet and home storage and organization companies. 

Showroom and plant tours
The classroom portion of the conference will be followed by a tour of Perfection Custom Closets in Niles, Illinois, and Inspired Closets in Oakbrook, Illinois. Hafele America is sponsoring the tours.

Aman Bajwa, president of Perfection Custom Closets, brought a new wave of innovation and growth when he acquired the company in 2022. With previous success at Kambium, an ongoing cabinet and closet business in Minnesota, he saw the potential in Perfection and seized the opportunity.

Perfection Custom Closets caters to a diverse clientele, from individual homeowners to builders and large construction companies. Its expansive showroom and office space, spanning approximately 6,000 to 8,000 square feet at the Niles, Illinois, location, showcases various custom closet solutions, including pantry displays, home offices, mudrooms, garage cabinets, and wall beds.

Inspired Closets, a brand of The Stow Company, was officially launched in 2017, with Mike Carson opening the inaugural showroom. The Oakbrook showroom is approximately 3,000 square feet, and the self-guided tour will feature 14 displays showcasing a garage, pantry, office boutique, pantry wall bed, and more, offering a wide variety of custom organization features, colors, and hardware.

Carson says he is excited to welcome the closet industry to Chicago and his showroom.

The full day of education concludes with a reception sponsored by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals, ELEKTRA and Richelieu.

Expo, educational sessions, networking & more 

Following the opening conference, the two-day Closets & Wood Pro Expo on April 18-19 will feature industry suppliers' latest product and machinery innovations. To see the full exhibitor list and sponsors, visit the 2024 show directory.

Expo attendees will also be able to earn CEUs through DESIGN Talks sessions presented by Uniboard and VintageView Wine Storage Systems and network and unwind with industry peers at the Top Shelf Design Awards Reception, sponsored by Sauder Closets and Grizzly Industrial Inc. and Closets & Cocktails: A Speakeasy Soiree, sponsored by CM Closet Design and Optimization Dolls.

Additional highlights include:
•    Keynote: Transforming Wood Industry Education 
•    Keynote: Crafting Your Identity, Shaping Your Success – Your Personal Brand, Your Unique Story 
•    Closet Lighting Installation Clinic 
•    Molding & Scribe Installation Clinic
•    DESIGN Talks session from ASID 
•    ACSP Certification 
•    ACSP Designer Exchange 

To see the complete show schedule, visit the 2024 show directory.

Register now to attend the only international show for all closet and home storage and organization companies.