The 2007 Convention in Chicago was a hit! ASPs from all around theUS and Canada gathered at Chicago’s historical Navy Pier to further educatethemselves and network with some of the top Home Stagers in the industry; staying true to the convention theme for 2007, "ASPs Lead Real Estate and The Home Staging Industry into the Future."

Barb Schwarz personally invited and honored IAHSP Chapter Presidents, convention speakers, committee members, select sponsors, and SHC staff with a cruise on Lake Michigan on the Odyssey ship for a special lunch in their honor. Everyone was introduced and acknowledged for their support and dedication to the event. As a pianist played for entertainment, those in attendance by special invitation were served a top-notch lunch. The ship was filled with excitement for all the great things that would take place at the convention in the next few days. Every year Barb hosts a special private luncheon as she honors those who contribute and help make the convention the special convention that it is.

It was a full house at the Exhibitor Faire as ASPs arrived to register and sign up for their Meet the Pro sessions. The exhibit floor was filled with chatter, great giveaways, handouts, and door prizes. Exhibitors took the opportunity to learn how to serve our members and are eager to partner with our ASPs, IAHSP Chapters, and SHC. Our ASPs did a wonderful job communicating their needs to the exhibitors and the day was very productive for all. Watch for some exciting opportunities for ASPs with our exhibitors in the near future!

Wednesday Evening a special leadership IAHSP meeting was held. Many great new things are happening that all need to know about and carry back to the IAHSP Chapters about. And in this meeting Barb introduced all local leaders in attendance. IAHSP current events were shared and reviewed and leaders were encouraged to build momentum and share all the knowledge and information they gain from the event with their local IAHSP chapter members. The enthusiasm in the room was contagious!

Barb Schwarz. The Creator of Home Staging, CEO Stagedhomes.com, President and Founder of IAHSP and the IAHSP Foundation opened the 2007 convention with a highly educational session about Home Staging Ideas of Today, Stagedhomse.com latest and greatest new services and accomplishments for ASP’s. Barb also introduced a brand new Power Point for all ASP Stagers to have and use as they market their ASP Businesses. For the next three days education was paramount for all with sessions of speakers who shared information about the changing Real Estate and Home Staging industry, marketing techniques pertinent to the Home Staging business, website and internet technology, business growth, a top 10 list of must-do’s, business coaching, insurance and teaming with Ronald McDonald House Charities for the World Wide Staging Service Week. Each session was educational with turn-key information structured to assist and encourage attendees to grow their Home Staging businesses.

Wednesday evening all ASP’s in attendance were entertained by "The Chicago Town Dixie Stompers," a four piece band while ASPs learned to swing the Charleston with "Big City Swing." The dance floor was packed and the evening was fun for all! Barb also hosted a very special ASPM reception in her own home after the main networking event that evening as well.

Friday, the Meet the Pros sessions was packed with really great information shared by ASPs and ASPMs to help all ASPs grow their business and further their education. These sessions are a favorite of our ASP attendees and are packed full of information!

Friday evening all attendees had the option to attend a field trip hosted by Personal Preference, entitled IAHSP- Stage It With Art. Chartered busses transported ASP members to Personal Preference’s facilities to shop with discounts of 40-70% off! Guests were greeted with great food, door prizes, a wonderful team of staff and great art at great prices. It was a very special event for all that attended.

Money was raised for the IAHSP Foundation with some really wonderful silent and live auction items. A grand total of over $20,000 was raised for the IAHSP Foundation to be given back to the local communities our IAHSP Chapters serve through our ASP World Wide Staging Service Week!! Thank you to all who donated generously to this worthwhile cause by contributing an item for each auction and to those that bid on and bought an item to raise the dollars that will help us all serve others. Our new IAHSP Green bracelets that carry Barb’s mission statement of "Think Globally, Act Locally" are on each bracelet and as Barb auctioned them off they all were sold. This was a great way to raise money for our great cause of our Staging Service Week in September. Thank you to each of our IAHSP Chapters and to all ASP/ASPMs who spontaneously contributed to the bracelet auction on Saturday and to our live and silent auctions throughout the convention!
The convention closed with a valuable Q&A with Barb Schwarz and her closing standing ovation speech to lead ASP’s into the future. Saturday evening our ASP/IAHSP Roaring 20’s Dinner Cruise aboard the Mystic Blue on Lake Michigan was fabulous and enjoyed by all in attendance. Mary DeBella, ASPM, was awarded the 'Barb Schwarz Staging Excellence Award’ for her talent and contribution to the Home Staging Industry and Edith Bookstein, ASPM, was awarded the IAHSP Spirit Award for her spirit and willingness to help all ASPs through volunteering and kindness. ASP’s were treated to great food, music, dancing and the evening ended with a fabulous firework show under the stars!