LAS VEGAS – The 2025 AWFS Closets Symposium, sponsored by KCD Software, will take place on July 21, one day before the opening of the 2025 AWFS Fair in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and experts on a range of topics from marketing to business and design trends.

This all-day event is geared towards closet designers, custom cabinet makers, and home remodeling professionals, focusing on design principles, advanced implementations, and client value.

One of the six sessions includes “Building a Strong Brand and Customer Experience in the Closet Industry,” presented by Mike Carson, Inspired Closets Chicago. This session will demonstrate to attendees how to establish a strong brand, improve the customer experience, and succeed in a competitive market.

Carson is an industry veteran with vast experience in developing a closet business. He was also the founder of the National Closet Group, which evolved into the Association of Closet & Storage Professionals (ACSP). He now has three Inspired Closet showroom locations in the Chicagoland area: Oakbrook, The Mart in downtown Chicago, and Vernon Hills.

In a previous interview with Closets & Organized Storage magazine, Carson described the Vernon Hills location as a flex space designed to attract designers and clients through events and partnerships.

Carson will share his knowledge on how to develop and create effective marketing strategies to build successful brands.

Registration for the event will include lunch and entry into the 40 Under 40 Leadership Reception. To register, please visit awfsfair.org.

2025 AWFS Closets Schedule

Room W212

8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Breakfast

9 a.m.: Intro and Welcome: Michaelle Bradford, editor of Closets & Organized Storage

9:10 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Maximizing Vertical Space and Niche & Hidden Storage Solutions
Speaker: Eric Marshall, The Closet Training Institute
Description: This session moves beyond traditional closet layouts, exploring innovative vertical storage solutions, specialized compartments for accessories, and optimizing underutilized areas. We'll delve into pull-down systems, hidden storage, and custom solutions for unique items.

10:05 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.: Material Alchemy: Blending Sustainable & Luxury Materials for Modern Closets
Speaker: Miss Sjerven, Northern Contours
Description: Exploring the intersection of eco-conscious materials and high-end aesthetics. This session will cover sustainable wood alternatives, recycled materials, and innovative finishes, demonstrating how to create luxurious closets with a reduced environmental footprint.

11:05 a.m. – 11:55 am.: Optimizing CNC and Automation for Closet Manufacturing
Speaker: Doyle Edwards, Director of Marketing, MachMotion
Description: Looking into the latest advancements in CNC technology and automation for closet component manufacturing. This session will cover optimizing workflows, reducing waste, and improving production efficiency through advanced machinery and software.

Noon – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:05 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.: Lighting: Total Solutions for the Whole Home
Speaker: Ashleigh Lawson, vice president of sales, Elektra 
Description: What if you could incorporate customization and adaptability throughout your entire home? It’s important to open people’s minds to the idea that it’s possible to create ambiance and evoke emotions throughout the house without limitations. This can be achieved using lighting solutions that allow for cross-compatibility in all flexible spaces. Homeowners desire more diversity and options when it comes to lighting, making it essential for cabinet and closet design and manufacturing firms to think outside the box and develop solutions that go beyond traditional offerings.

2:10 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Building a Strong Brand and Customer Experience in the Closet Industry
Speaker: Mike Carson, president, Inspired Closets Chicago
Description: Addressing the evolving retail landscape and how closet businesses can build a strong brand, enhance the customer experience, and thrive in a competitive market. This session will cover marketing strategies, online presence, showroom design, and customer service excellence.

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.: Break

3:10 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Strategies for Growth, Profitability, and Sustainable Success
Speaker: Heather Fedewa, The Business of Closets
Description: This session will provide actionable strategies for closet design company owners and managers to achieve sustainable growth and profitability.

4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
40 Under 40 Leadership reception will be in the combined space of W228-W233