SOFA and Home Staging Industry Celebrate the end of the Canadian Home Furnishings Market Show with a Charity Donation for Acquired Brain Injury Research.
(Toronto, ON) January 19th, 2012 – Source of Furniture + Accessories announced the winners of the SOFA Window Contest during the 40th annual Canadian Home Furnishings Market this past week. Home Staging Professional Business Owners came together under the banner of staging organizations; Certified Staging Professional (CSP), Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and Professional Stagers Network Association (PSNA). Each organization was invited to choose two teams to represent their organization in a friendly competition of Window Dressing. The winning team receives $250 donation to the charity of their choice.
“Not only is this a creative outlet for the participating stagers, it is a great way to network, while giving back to the local community” says Christine Rae, award winning author and president of the CSP International™ Training Academy.
“The easiest part of helping organize the event, was enlisting the teams. Everyone was so eager to participate for a great cause…”says Angela Brooks, Director of Marketing for Certified Staging Professional and VP of RESA Canada. “Most of the stagers involved were members of all three organizations. It means, really that everyone wins…including the charity of choice.”
With a very tight timeframe, over the Christmas holidays, all teams did an exceptional job. RESA Canada Kelly Peletier team (Angela and Lisa McIntee) was awarded first place with $250 donated to Acquired Brain Injury at Hamilton Science Hospital. Certified Staging Professional Kelly Ralph team (includes Sonya MacDonald, Roula Thalassinos, and Deborah Toffoli) came in 2nd while the other Certified Staging Professional Team Brenda Aalto (Annie Caya, Wendy Vankeep, and Patricia Morgan) placed third.
“We were thrilled to foster the contest; it set the precedence for future opportunities to showcase professional stagers as they are one of the fastest and growing industries.” Says Linda Kafka, Director of SOFA Marketing & Tenant Relations. “In the past we didn’t understand the importance and the role of a stager in our trade, now with understanding of just how vital a part they play, we are thrilled to be an advocate for stagers and promote them to retailers, decorators and home sellers. This contest provided the opportunity, but the stagers get the kudos for tackling the project with efficiency, creativity and professionalism gaining notice by showrooms and attendees of the show.”
Source of Furniture + Accessories – SOFA is a one-stop design center; an amalgamation of permanent interior design showrooms for trade-only interior design professionals, manufacturers, buyers and dealers. Our evolving 200,000 sq. ft. space is a thriving conclave, open from 10 am – 4 pm Tuesday through Thursday. The elegantly designed, luxuriously appointed showrooms in our design center feature top Canadian, and many of the world’s most sought-after manufacturers of home furnishings and accessories, along with top commercial and hospitality manufacturers and distributors.
CSP International™ Training Academy is North America’s leading staging training school dedicated to providing certification for those wanting to enter the staging industry as a professional real estate stager. The CSP® designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry, which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics. www.stagingtraining.com
The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) is a member governed trade association for Home Stagers. RESA was formed in order to support all professional real estate stagers also known as home stagers in North America. www.realestatestagingassociation.com
Professional Stagers Network Association is a non-profit network association of stagers dedicated to providing support to independent Professional Stagers with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. www.psna.ca
