WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Moving from hand sketches to digital presentations is a critical strategy for boosting sales and protecting margins in the custom storage industry. To help designers confidently adopt these digital tools, the upcoming 2026 Closets Conference & Expo will feature a dedicated "Closet Design Clinic 101" session titled "Design Software Essentials: From Layout to 3D Presentation."

The fast-paced clinic will take place in Room 1DE at the Palm Beach County Convention Center from 1:30 to 2:20 PM. Led by technology experts Joe Bergamo and Vin Bergamo of ClosetPro Software, the session welcomes all experience levels and is designed to walk attendees through turning initial concepts into accurate layouts, clean elevations, and compelling 3D visuals.

For designers transitioning from hand sketches or basic 2D layouts, the primary shift comes down to instantly engaging the client.

"ClosetPro allows you to show your customer an interactive 3D view of your design instantly, letting them see the room and get excited about their new closet," the speakers noted. "You can send these views at any point, whether you're in the home with the customer or remote."

In addition to enhancing the initial presentation, the system features online proposal links that automatically alert the designer when a customer has viewed the proposal, serving as a direct reminder to follow up.

To address the common concern that digital platforms might slow down the creative process, the clinic will focus on time-saving best practices that allow designers to spend less time on technology and more time with clients.

A key strategy is the use of room templates. These serve as prebuilt starting points that designers can modify, allowing them to copy units or walls even if room dimensions differ. Furthermore, building a personalized library of units allows designers to "shop" with the customer, showcasing available configurations in real time rather than creating them from scratch.

Beyond client presentation, integrating layout software directly with production workflows safeguards a business owner's bottom line. The digital platform establishes a formalized process from initial design to final manufacturing, increasing overall team accountability and efficiency while making it easy to track workflow issues.

The 2026 Closets Conference & Expo runs from June 30 to July 2 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center and is co-located with Wood Pro Expo Florida. Register at closetscon.com.