Our 2008 IAHSP Convention just wrapped up last night, and it was amazing! The time we had seemed to go so fast and that is because we were learning so much and enjoying the camarderie of fellow ASP and ASPM Home Stagers in attendance.
Tuesday, The IAHSP Convention started out with a day of acknowledging and appreciating the leaders and vendors that made the event possible with their time and talent and contributions to help make this event so great. Barb Schwarz devoted countless hours to ensure that our event was top notch and of the quality one would expect as an ASP or ASPM Stager. And still – the convention surpassed everyone’s expectations!
Wednesday our registration opened and we had a steady stream of attendees come from 10-6 PM to get their programs and sign up for our Meet the Pros tables that would be an all-day Friday event. On Wed evening, the ASP Masers that came to the convention had a special intimiate reception with Barb Schwarz where each wsa honored for their commitment to excellence and for furthering their education as a Master ASP, the hghest designation in the home staging industry.
Thursday our convention officially kicked off with a wondeful session by Barb, where she shared why 20% of the ASP Stagers out there are getting 80% of the business, as well as key speaking tips we can all embrace as we work with clients. Thursday afternoon we were treated to an expert ASPM Panel that Barb interviewed – which was very helpful and revealing as to the strategies for success for our businesses. We enjoyed a fabulous social and networking time in the evening and got ready for the next day’s full schedule.
Friday was our Meet the Pros day – and it was great – and everyone learned so much from the Pros that contributed and shared for consecutive sessions. It was a jam-packed and high-energy day – and we so appreciated the ASPMs that gave of their time and talent to help share their knowledge and ideas with the other attendees.
Saturday was a day full of breakout session Speakers that shared on strategies to thrive in this market including marketing ideas and business building and management strategies. We heard from myself (Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP), Cindy Lin (ASPM, IAHSP), Jason Maxwell (ASP, IAHSP) and Dan Skoglund – and of course Barb Schwarz closed out the day with a great inspirational, informaive and motivational session that was very touching and an appropriate way to end our educational part of the convention.
Last night – we had fun at our Masquerade Ball with dinner, dancing and a live auction that raised thousands of dollars for our Worldwide Staging Service Week that will be held in September. We had great fun and some of the costumes were a riot – as we came in “disguse” and had fun wondering “who” was behind the mask!
Special awards were also given out in recognitiong of those who contributed to our convention, and then the award for IAHSP Spirit Award was given to Melanie Warren, ASPM, IAHSP, the Rising Star Award was given to Michelle Morris, ASPM, IAHSP, and the Barb Schwarz Staging Excellence Award was given to Trish Kim, ASPM, IAHSP – all three such deserving and talented women and Stagers. We also recognized IAHSP Chapters from around the country with the “Chapter of the Year Award” that was shared amongst 7 chapters as a way to recognize them for their leadership, growth, and sharing among their community of ASPs and the larger communities in which they live.
So now we are all heading home – fortified with new knowledge of how to increase our business revenues qnd new tools and services to provide for our clients, inspired to continue on our paths of success and excited about being in the family of Stagedhomes.com that leads the way for the home staging inudustry.
Now the question on my mind is “Where will it be next year?” And that will be answered in the coming months as our IAHSP Chapters that would like to be the “host chapter” submit a proposal for their city. I am excited to see everyone next year – and meet the many new faces I know will be a part of the 2009 IAHSP Convention.
– Jennie
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP is the Vice President of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, Course Trainer with Stagedhomes.com and owner of We Stage Sacramento, (www.WeStageSacramento.com) a full-service Home Staging Company serving the entire Sacramento and Foothills regions. As a team of ASP and ASP Master Stagers, we honor our clients and work with integrity to help them achieve their goal of selling their house in the shortest time. Since 2002, we have helped over 2,500 clients achieve this goal, where our Staged properties sell an average of 2-3 times faster and 5-10% more than the un-staged competition. For more information please call 888-WE-STAGE.
