My name is Carolyn Racine and I received a scholarship from the National Upholstery Association to attend the Custom Workroom Conference in Erie, PA. I was interested in attending this conference to gain more practical knowledge as I begin to grow my upholstery business. I currently work full time and run an upholstery business on the side called Pigeon Princess Furniture. However it is my goal to run the upholstery business full time in the coming years.
The conference kicked off with lunch on the Victorian Princess riverboat on the Presque Isle Bay of Lake Erie. This was a great way to decompress after a 4-hour drive from southeast Michigan and get excited about the days to come. I struck up conversation with 3 women at my table who all do window treatments, a trade I was unfamiliar with but so interested in learning more about. This was a scenario that would happen many times at the CWC conference - friendly chit chat would turn into learning very valuable information for me as an upholsterer and business owner.
After we checked into the hotel, there was also a conference mixer on the patio of the Bayfront Conference Center with great food, drinks and live music. Both of these events set the tone of the conference perfectly - a fun and relaxed environment with folks who are passionate about this industry. I honestly felt like I was on vacation talking with some amazing women in the industry and watching the sun set over the bay. And I was on vacation! An upholstery vacation.
Before the conference even began I connected with many friendly people and spoke with them about their businesses and experiences in upholstery and window treatments. As someone new to the conference and only a few years into my own upholstery journey, I felt so welcomed and encouraged right off the bat. I began to feel proud to be a part of an industry where people share knowledge and encourage each other’s growth. It was also great to see people who have become friends by meeting at the Custom Workroom Conference and staying connected over the years.
Day one of the conference was a series of classroom sessions with a variety of focuses including business strategy, upholstery and window treatments. I chose a mix of sessions that would help me both elevate my upholstery skills and expose me to new techniques. I particularly enjoyed Work That Skirt! With Jonathan Bennett, a demonstration about various ways he sews and attaches skirts to sofas and chairs. I have yet to take on a project that requires a skirt, so I was excited to see a few different techniques from a seasoned upholsterer.
I also felt really inspired by Manuel Fernandez’s presentation on Establishing Value, Setting Boundaries & Building a Profitable Workroom. This was an incredibly helpful presentation I think not just for me, someone just starting a business, but it also seemed helpful for people years into their businesses. Manuel gave us guidance on firm pricing, tracking material costs and managing client relationships. It was really empowering to be told I know I’ll be referencing the materials from this class for a long time to come.
Another highlight from day one included a presentation from Stacy McAleer, CEO of the Cavanagh House in Baltimore. It was very heartwarming and inspiring to hear about their work empowering people with upholstery skills in their training programs.
Day two of the conference featured an exhibitor marketplace as well as a series of short, 30-minute demos. I really enjoyed meeting reps from different suppliers. It’s so helpful to see different fabrics, pillow inserts, tools, etc in person. It was great meeting Alicia, The Zipper Lady, in particular. I make a lot of custom cushions and have struggled to find zippers that I really like, so I really enjoyed chatting with her about what my needs are and finding the right (high quality!) zippers from her inventory.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to attend The Custom Workroom Conference. It would have been cost prohibitive for me this year, but it was truly an invaluable experience. I learned so much from both other conference goers and the classroom sessions. I exchanged business cards with countless talented and friendly people in the industry as well. The conference really exceeded my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone working in the upholstery industry and look forward to attending again in the future. Thank you again, National Upholstery Association!!
