Furniture Today has announced an exceptional roster of speakers for its 2026 Leadership Conference, December 1–3 at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort in Aventura. Headlined by globally recognized AI authority Sharon Gai and featuring senior executives from some of the industry's most respected retail organizations — including Bob's Discount Furniture, City Home, Grand Furniture, Slumberland and Star Furniture — the conference brings together the leaders defining the next chapter of furniture retail.

Now in its 30th year, Leadership 2026 is the industry's most influential gathering for strategic thinking and peer exchange. This year's program delivers direct answers to the forces reshaping retail: AI adoption, housing market shifts, tariff pressures, consumer behavior, and the business case for design-driven selling.



FEATURED SPEAKERS

Sharon Gai — A globally recognized authority on artificial intelligence and digital commerce, Gai will open the main stage with the keynote presentation "Preparing for the Age of Agentic AI: A Furniture Store Survival Guide," sponsored by Bread Financial. Her session will arm retailers with a practical playbook for the next frontier of AI — autonomous systems capable of transforming how stores operate, sell, and serve customers.
Keith Koenig, Chairman, City Home — One of the industry's most respected voices, Koenig will appear in two sessions: a veteran retail leaders panel and a headline fireside chat exposing how foreign importers exploit tariff loopholes on major e-tail marketplaces — and what retailers can do to fight back.

Carl Lukach, CFO, Bob's Discount Furniture — Lukach joins Koenig on the Retail Leaders Panel, "Revealing the Secrets of Sustained Success," where veteran operators will share hard-won lessons on navigating disruption and sustaining growth.

Chris Beard, Vice President of Building Products Research, John Burns Research & Consulting — Beard will translate the latest housing market data into store-level intelligence, identifying which consumer segments are entering the market, what they'll need to furnish, and how retailers can capture their spending as the housing recovery gains momentum.

Peter Keith and Jake Oubina — This duo will deliver a comprehensive economic outlook for the furniture industry, unpacking current trends, competitive dynamics, and a forward view into 2027 and beyond.

Blair Ryan, Director of Financial Services, The Dove Agency for Tips — Ryan's session, "Safeguarding Your Business," will provide actionable steps for protecting retail and design operations in a digital-first environment, from accounting controls to AI governance.



AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to featured keynote and general sessions, Leadership 2026 will include:

•An AI Retail Implementation Panel featuring confirmed participants from Grand Furniture, Slumberland, Simon's Furniture, and DOVR Media — sharing real-world case studies of AI deployed at the store level to drive revenue and close rates.
•A Design-Driven Retail Panel ("Bottom Line Boost") with panelists from Exceptional Capital Group, JDuce Designs, Star Furniture, and Threads Republic exploring how interior design expertise lifts average ticket and customer satisfaction.
•Exclusive Consumer Research Reveal: "The Tipping Point: Where Furniture Shoppers Commit — and What Flips Them," based on a national survey of 1,000 furniture shoppers, unpacking the exact moment consumers choose online versus in-store — and the specific, fixable reasons retailers lose winnable shoppers.
•Industry Roundtables and Workshops providing peer-to-peer problem solving across key business and merchandising topics.
•Signature Networking Events including a retail tour, sponsored cocktail receptions, an Awards Dinner, and Koalafi's Havana Nights nightcap.

ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP 2026 CONFERENCE:
The Furniture Today Leadership Conference is the home furnishings industry's premier annual gathering for C-suite strategy, candid peer exchange, and forward-looking programming. The 2026 conference takes place December 1–3 at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort in Aventura, Fla.. For registration, sponsorship, and full agenda details, visit www.leadershipcon.com.



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