The Magic of Community: The Staging Collective
/Hey there, home staging enthusiasts! Picture this: a sun-soaked city, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a super educational event all about helping you market a home with the power of high-quality home staging. That was my recent adventure in Tampa, Florida, where I attended The Staging Collective inaugural event and it was a blast!
First things first, let's talk about the location. Tampa is a gem of a city, known for its vibrant culture and beautiful weather. Being from San Diego, Ca, I didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised with this destination. The conference venue, the Hyatt Grand Resort, was the perfect home base, nestled right on the water with easy access to the city's top attractions. Whether it was soaking up the sun on the boardwalk or indulging in delicious cuisine, Tampa offered the perfect backdrop for this home staging event.
Now, let's dive into the conference itself. Hosted by the newly formed organization, The Staging Collective, this event covered everything from strategic planning, pricing, warehouse management and performance to marketing and design. The Staging Collective is a community of home stagers that encourages, educates and empowers its members. Formed by a group of truly experienced leaders in the home staging industry from across the country, they recognized the need for high standards and accountability in the industry and formed this new ‘Collective’. I was fortunate enough to connect with a some rock-solid business owners from Canada, New York and Boise, Id, who not only schooled me in the Canadian and New York accents but also started to feel like family as we learned, dined and celebrated with each other over the three days. (Shoutouts to Charlotte Interiors, Upstate Roots Design, Frances Joy Staging and Modern House Staging)!
The sessions were packed with inspiration and expert advice. I felt like a sponge soaking up every tidbit of knowledge and most importantly, the collaborative nature of the event meant I could contribute my experiences and knowledge as well, to help other stagers with their specific business struggles. And the best part? I got to meet some of the industry's brightest minds, each more passionate and creative than the last. Todd and Ryan of Onstage in Portland/Seattle had info-packed sessions on business and warehouse management. Patrick and Anne of Step by Stage were the most thoughful hosts, helping everyone feel welcome and droped truth bombs regarding networking and staging dos and don’ts. Melinda and Anna of St. Louis we’re truly inspiring with thier social media presence and Shari of Maryland’s Staged Above, inspired all the solo-preneurs in the room with her nationally recognized success.
Of course, what's an event like this in a hip locale without a bit of fun? For the evenings, we were on our own to mingle with fellow stagers from all over the country (and Canada) and mingle we did! Picture long chats and lots of laughs over yummy dinners with fellow business owners under the starry Florida sky. It was a great opportunity to bounce ideas off one another and gain fresh perspectives on the world of home staging in a relaxed atmosphere.
