Ivy’s Preview Guide to the Design Bloggers Conference
The Design Bloggers Conference (DBC) in Beverly Hills, hosted at the Beverly Hilton, is the only conference of its kind solely focused on educating and inspiring interior designers and design bloggers to strategically and creatively utilize digital content to build brand awareness. Attendees include interior designers, interior design bloggers, design social media practitioners, traditional design media, leading design brands, new design media innovators, and interior design industry leaders (check out the full list of participants which is updated weekly).
In anticipation of this year’s event March 4th – March 6th, we have put together a preview guide for those considering to attend and attendees who plan to make the most of their DBC experience and are actively using or interested in learning about new media and the interior design industry. Check out our recommended seminars, keynote speakers, parties, accommodations, and hashtags you need to know about in the time leading up to DBC. You can also check out the full agenda here.
Must-Attend Educational & Inspiring Seminars
Making Houzz Transformative
Sunday, March 4 | 1:00PM – 1:30PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Kate O’Hara, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Martha O’Hara Interiors
Kate will reveal some of the ways that you can stay ahead of the pack integrating Houzz into your digital marketing strategy and keeping in mind responsiveness, editorial pursuits, and personality.
Build Collaborative Relationships: Photographers and Designers
Sunday, March 4 | 1:30PM – 2:15PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Grant K. Gibson, Founder of Grant K. Gibson Interior Design, Inc.; Kathryn MacDonald, Founder of Kathryn MacDonald Photo/Web Marketing
Having great imagery to support your blog, social media channels and marketing efforts is paramount to your success as a designer and design blogger. Consistency is important to building your brand. This presentation describes the importance and value in having an ongoing relationship with hand picked photographers. The presentation offers tips on building efficiencies, getting maximum value from every shoot, and developing consistent “brand vision” for marketing that expedites growth.
Power of Authentic Social Content Strategies: Powering Your Brand & Transactions
Sunday, March 4 | 2:30PM – 3:15PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Gen Sohr, Owner of Pencil & Paper Co.
Always making authentic decisions while creating social content can help social media BECOME the engine of your business and its growth. Gen Sohr will share her insights about building an influential Design Brand using social media which she credits as a primary growth and branding strategy for her successfully blossomed and integrated Pencil and Paper Co. business. This session provides helpful takeaways to put into action including authenticity & consistency on Instagram, curating effective photos, monetizing platforms, and establishing brand partnerships.
Social Media Rock Stars
Monday, March 5 | 9:45AM – 10:30AM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Moderator: Jill Waage, Editor, Traditional Home ; Jeanine Hays, Co-Founder, AphroChic ; Bryan Mason, Co-Founder, AphroChic ; Anne Sage, Lifestyle Media Guru, Anne Sage
Blogging and Social Media marketing have created paths of entry into the design world’s elite personal brands, using content marketing once unavailable to smart and aggressive design lovers. The speakers in this session have navigated their way to undeniable fame, and will share how they got focused and, more importantly, how they managed through building businesses and remaining steady in the face of content creation and marketing demands.
Designer Journey to Books and Lines
Monday, March 5 | 11:15AM – 12:00PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Carolyne Roehm; Jill Cohen, Founder, Jill Cohen Associates
Do you need to be a rockstar to start planning your journey to stature for publishing books and licensed line extensions? The answer is no, but where and how to start the climb. Jill Cohen has lead so many of the industry’s design stars through the process and will share practical ideas of how to make your brand a legitimate candidate for books and line extensions.
Savvy Giving by Design
Monday, March 5 | 12:45PM – 1:00PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Susan Wintersteen, Founder, Savvy Giving by Design, Ivy Designer
Susan, a mother of 5 daughters, founded Savvy Interiors in 2002 out of a passion for design and desire to find a creative outlet for her energies. As the business expanded over the years, she recently opened a local showroom, inSIDE by Savvy. Her love of children coupled with her talents has allowed her to give back in a way that is a meaningful contribution to children’s healing. Her children continue to inspire her daily. Susan started Savvy Giving by Design in December of 2014. Since that time, she has designed over 30 spaces for children and siblings facing a medical crisis. Susan’s non profit, Savvy Giving by Design is an official 501c3 status and plans on expanding nationwide in early 2018.
The Editor is IN!
Monday, March 5 | 2:00PM – 2:45PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Amy Flurry, Founder and Author, Recipe for Press; Marjorie E. Gage, Interiors Editor, Art + Intuition
Is your design work ready for media attention? Join Recipe for Press founder Amy Flurry and interiors editor Marjorie Gage for a behind-the-scenes fact-check on what editors and content producers everywhere love (and loathe) in a pitch. They’ll share where to find the right contacts, how package your pitch, when to follow up, and smart ways to steer clear of the little mistakes proven to kill big opportunities. Here’s the essential editorial etiquette you need now to win your projects, products, and you positive notice in the opinionated eyes of today’s press.
Millennial Markets & Social Media Marketing
Monday, March 5 | 2:45PM – 3:15PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Moderator: Sacha Strebe, Editorial Director, MyDomaine; Brandon Quattrone, Co-founder/Development Director, Consort; Mat Sanders, Co-Founder/Creative Director, Consort
Millennials now represent 25% of the global population and have emerged as a critical market for brands to connect with. Research shows an extraordinary reliance on digital content, leaning on the internet during all phases of the shopping experience; even at the point of purchase. But their online habits, digital networking, and purchase patterns are new phenomena to earlier generations of experienced marketers. This session is designed help you bridge the gap in your marketing approach to this emergent market.
Cause Marketing & Brand Benefits
Monday, March 5 | 4:00PM – 4:30PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Jaime Rummerfield, Owner, Woodson & Rummerfield; Ron Woodson, Owner, Woodson & Rummerfield
In this session, learn how initiatives designed to help worthy causes, in this case architectural preservation of historical sites during remodel and redesign phases, can make the world a better place to live while simultaneously turbo charging your brand. Using digital marketing to spread the word intensifies participation and awareness with side benefits to your business brand.
Let the Editors Speak—How To Get Your Project Published
Tuesday, March 6 | 8:30AM – 8:45AM, Location TBC
Presenter: Stacy Kunstel, Stylist/Editor/Writer/and Producer
Stacy Kunstel introduces editors from the nation’s top magazines and asks them what’s on every designer’s mind—”How do I get my project featured in those magazines?” Editors will share what they’re looking for and how to submit your work.
Social Media Etiquette
Tuesday, March 6 | 8:45AM – 9:15AM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Moderator: Anne Sage, Lifestyle Media Guru, Anne Sage; Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl, Studio Life.Style.; Chelsea Shukov and Jamie Grobecker, Sugar Paper
This panel will highlight the do’s and don’ts and social media. The panelists will discuss various concerns including, but not limited to how to properly credit work on social media, examples of good photography, how to respond to negative comments, and best practices for Instagram posts vs. Instagram Stories.
Instagram: How Communities Become Loyal Customers
Tuesday, March 6 | 10:15AM – 10:45AM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Farah Merhi, Founder, Inspire Me! Home Decor
Instagram continues to evolve to create conversion tools for their best users. But, some smart design marketers have figured out a way to build community around brand in Instagram and take them with you to the place online where fans become customers. Farah leveraged her community to launch her business on the web. Learn her secrets for building massive followings and converting the effort into a handsome business model.
Influencer Marketing: Brand Perspectives
Tuesday, March 6 | 11:45AM – 12:15PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenters: Erica Reitman, Blogger and Interior Designer; Ivette Serrano, Senior Public Relations Manager, Lamps Plus; Kristy Wicks, Lifestyle Blogger, kristywicks.com
Ivette has worked with hundreds of design influencers developing engaging content that resides both on the brand website and on the influencers’ blogs and social media channels. This panel of brands and influencers will cover what types of influencers to look for, the definition of ROI (and how to measure it), influencer/brand collaborations, and the importance of focusing on long-term & sustainable relationships.
Keynotes
Opening Keynote: Jamie Drake
Sunday, March 4 | 4:30PM – 5:30PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Jamie Drake, Drake/Anderson
Monday Keynote: Miles Redd
Monday, March 5 | 9:00AM – 9:45AM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Miles Redd
Keynote: Michelle Workman
Monday, March 5 | 4:30PM – 5:15PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Michelle Workman, Principal and Interior Designer, MICHELLE WORKMAN INTERIORS
Keynote: Justina Blakeney
Tuesday, March 6 | 12:15PM – 1:00PM, Beverly Hills Ballroom
Presenter: Justina Blakeney, Designer, Artist, and Author
Must-Attend Parties & Tours Must-Attend
Sunday’s Welcome Reception Sponsored by Benjamin Moore|Century
Sunday, March 4 | 5:30PM – 7:30PM, The Beverly Hilton
All attendees are invited to attend – must wear your badge for admission.
Official Sunday After Party, Sponsored by Traditional Home & Miele
Sunday, March 4 | 8:00PM – 10:00PM, Miele Beverly Hills Experience Center | 189 N. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills
Free to all DBC attendees! Complimentary bus service will run continuously to and from the Beverly Hilton starting at 7:30p.m. from the Wilshire Entrance.
VIP Tour of Historic Greystone Mansion
Tuesday, March 6 | 1:55PM – 3:00PM, Location TBD
Presenters: Ron Woodson, Owner, Woodson & Rummerfield; Jaime Rummerfield, Owner, Woodson & Rummerfield
Join founders of Save Iconic Architecture Ron Woodson & Jaime Rummerfield for a private tour of the historic Greystone Mansion and Gardens. Designed by the renowned Southern Californian architect Gordon B. Kaufmann in 1929, you will have a first-hand experience in seeing this glorious Tudor revival estate that consists of fifty-five rooms within the 46,054 square feet once owned by the legendary Doheny family. Ron and Jaime will be your guides in taking you back to an opulent Hollywood bygone era of luxury living. Only 40 tickets available @ $75 per ticket – all proceeds will benefit SIAProjects.org.
Bubbles & Bites at Hollywood at Home
Tuesday, March 6 | 2:00PM – 4:00PM, Hollywood at Home, 703 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
Presenters: Hollywood at Home; Peter Dunham
Please join Peter Dunham at Hollywood at Home, 703 N. La Cienaga Blvd in Los Angeles for bubbles and bites!
Official Gala Closing Networking Party Bash
Tuesday, March 6 | 4:00PM – 7:00PM, Hollywood at Home, 703 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
Exclusive to DBC attendees! Join Monogram Appliances for an evening to remember at the private luxe home of one of LA’s fabulous designers. Meet Chef Nick from the Venice Whaler and see the Monogram Flush Pizza oven in action. Sparkling wines and signature spritzy cocktails, serious networking, and a unique venue make this party one not to be missed!
Accommodations for Your Stay Near DBC in Beverly Hills
The Beverly Hilton, beverlyhilton.com (The discounted group rate room block is now closed. Call The Beverly Hilton at 310-285-1307 to make reservations.)
SIXTY Beverly Hills Hotel, sixtyhotels.com/beverly-hills/
Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, luxehotels.com/rodeodrive/
Sirtaj Hotel, sirtajhotel.com
Photo by @thesirtajhotel
The Peninsula Beverly Hills, beverlyhills.peninsula.com/en/default
Maison 140 Beverly Hills, maison140.com
Montage Beverly Hills, montagehotels.com/beverlyhills/
Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills, avalon-hotel.com/beverly-hills
Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/beverlyhills
Photo by @viceroybevhills, Design by @sfadesign
Hashtags to Use at DBC
#DBC
#DBC2018
#atDBC
#designbloggersconference
#lifeofaninteriordesigner
#designblog
#designlife
#maketimefordesign
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