THURSDAY
September 21, 2023 
3pm Eastern Time 
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"My Biggest Success with Tom James"

Speakers: David Pyle, Pyle Creative Studios and Tom James, President/CEO of Opus and President of NAMTA

Guess who’s coming to NAMTA Connect? This regular series features conversations with key figures within the industry - this month with Tom James, CEO and President of Opus Art Supply. Tom is also the President of NAMTA! Tom has a long history and proven success in experiential retail and leadership development. We’ll open the door to discuss memorable and pivotal moments: what’s been learned over the years in the creative industry? What opportunities does he see ahead for the community? What are Tom’s most memorable experiences (names changed to protect the innocent!)? You’ll walk away with deeper insights about the creative products landscape. We can’t wait to see what he brings to this discussion!

About Tom James
Tom's journey into the captivating realm of experiential retail began when he was just 20 years old, fueled by a deep passion for creating immersive shopping experiences. Together with his wife Karinna, they transformed a chain of retail stores into the leading volume producers within a vast licensed retail group boasting 2500 stores.

Tom's knack for introducing innovative retail concepts is matched only by his expertise in leadership development.  As a leadership consultant, he's been a guiding force for numerous organizations, helping them weave the fabric of effective leadership. Among his cherished clients is the 25-year journey with Opus Art Supplies, a relationship that has left a lasting mark.

In the year 2018, Tom undertook the role of CEO at Opus Art Supplies, approaching this transition with a strong commitment rooted in his aspiration to foster a meaningful influence within the world of art and creativity. Tom also has the privilege of serving as the President of NAMTA for the term 2023/24.

TUESDAY
September 26, 2023 
3pm Eastern Time 
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"What’s Your Reality?"
"Using Augmented Reality (AR) to Compliment Creative Products"

Speakers: David Pyle, Pyle Creative Studios with Sam Gherman of DaVinci Eye, others TBD

What is augmented reality (AR)? And, how can we utilize the technology in the creative products space? Nearly half of all consumers that use AR are likely to spend more on a product via AR-based shopping. However, only 1% of retailers say they are using AR in their customer buying experience. Is this tech at odds with traditional art material products like paints, brushes, papers, stamps and more? Or, can we find a happy intersection for virtual and physical art and craft materials? Hosted by David Pyle, join DaVinci Eye creator Sam Gherman and artist Christina Lewis Vizcarrondo as they discuss AR technology in the creative products community. They’ll unpack the technical jargon for you so you can strategize on how to make the most of the tech. You’ll learn how it can be used in conjunction with traditional materials to educate about your products and boost your sales. You’ll walk away with tips to create engaging AR experiences in-store to encourage creativity with new users. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to change your reality!

About Sam Gherman
Sam Gherman is a successful entrepreneur and self taught software engineer who founded Da Vinci Eye LLC. Alongside his fiancé and co-founder Charissa Castillo, they started the company with a shared vision of creating cutting-edge AR apps for non-digital artists. Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector is one of their most popular apps, and has become a favorite among artists who work on physical surfaces. Gherman's expertise in app development and coding, combined with Castillo's background in marketing and project management, have enabled the company to become a leader in the art tech industry. Gherman was immersed in art from a young age, thanks to his artist parents who painted passionately during their spare time. His father, a trained artist, employed an old-fashioned projector to cast outlines on wooden canvases before painting them. This exposure kindled Gherman's inspiration to develop software tools such as Da Vinci Eye. This innovation fuses age-old techniques championed by legendary artists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Vermeer, but re-imagined with the advancements of Augmented Reality. In addition to his work with the app company by day, by night Gherman is known as “The Manhattan Mentalist” and  runs a successful entertainment company that specializes in magic and mentalism performances for private and corporate events. Based in the vibrant city of New York, Gherman spends his free time snowboarding, painting, and performing mind reading feats for celebrities and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

About Christina Lewis Vizcarrondo
Christina Lewis Vizcarrondo, is a Puerto Rican interdisciplinary artist based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Melding mysticism, nature, and the cutting edge, her creations beckon audiences to traverse uncharted territories where traditional art intertwines with emerging technologies. Lewis navigates realms such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and blockchain technology. Drawing inspiration from luminaries like Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Arnaldo Roche, she defies convention, harmoniously merging the rebellious spirit of these artists with the pulse of modern innovation. Her prowess in the realm of NFT art and the use of blockchain as a marker of authenticity have earned her acclaim. A speaker at NFT. NYC in June 2022, she delved into the intricate fusion of art and technology. An August 2022 appearance at the Porsche NEXT: Innovation Forum cemented her role in shaping the trajectory of NFTs in Puerto Rico. Her journey was spotlighted in Elle Magazine's print edition, underscoring her influence as a woman shaping the web3 landscape. The documentary "What the Media Gets Wrong about Crypto in Puerto Rico,"helmed by Carly Reilly, further showcased her insights. While she's all about AR, VR, and AI, Lewis’s heart remains true to traditional oil paint. Her artistry embodies a profound symbiosis of past and future, woven together with an unwavering dedication to pushing the envelope of artistic expression.

 
More Session Detail Info Coming Soon

Thursday, October 12, 2023   
3:00 PM   
Digital Marketing Tips and Tricks for the Fourth Quarter   
Kizer & Bender   

Register for this Session

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales during November and December 2022 grew 5.3% over 2021 to $936.3 billion. That’s a lot of money and we want to make sure you get your share of the 2023 holiday pie. It’s time to start creating digital campaigns and testing and tweaking! Join KIZER & BENDER and learn holiday digital marketing – think email, mobile, coupons, holiday-specific copy, social media – smart techniques to impact your holiday business and beyond

NAMTA Essential Manager's Toolkit Video Series
The Essential Manager’s Toolkit Video Series:
What do YOU wish that you'd known when first starting as a manager?!?!

How do you create a dynamic, creative culture across your organization?  How can you cultivate deep community engagement that drives sales? 

NAMTA is proud to offer this video education series, The Essential Manager's Toolkit; Management Skills for the Creative Products Community, as a benefit for our members.  Created in partnership with long-time industry leader, David Pyle and his team, this 4-part series was created based upon consultation with dozens of managers in the creative products community.  We asked, "What do you wish you'd known when first starting as a manager?" This is the result...and it's all specifically tailored to the creative products community. 

Check it out - and more- in THE STUDIO