Industry professionals found a great antidote to the woes of the economy by gathering at the annual Accessories Resource Team's ART Conference held May 28–31 at the Naples Grande Resort in Naples, Fla. Sun, fun, and an all around positive attitude from participants made this conference one to remember, and created a renewed sense of energy for vendors, retailers and manufacturers alike.

John Clements, BJ's Home Accents, and Doug Self of J. Douglas, co-chairman of the conference.

Conference co-chairman Mindy Lowack, Dallas Market Center, with Bill Fortson, BJ's Home Accents, and Tammy Nagem, High Point Market Authority.

"The ART Conference is an event that is a must attend on my calendar each year" said Lynni Megginson, a Gaithersburg, Md., based retailer. "The investment in the time it takes to attend the Conference is returned a thousand times over through just interacting with these amazing people in our industry. I can't imagine not attending."

The theme of this year's conference was based on the three new R's: Rejuvenate, Reinvent and Recreate. To foster better relationships, and to break the ice, the attendees broke into teams during a cocktail party on Thursday evening by locating an island name on the back of their name tags and migrating to their group. The Green, Blue and Yellow teams were formed, and the competition was off and running. Teams and individuals were judged on a secret "points" system throughout the weekend, and points were awarded for everything from Team Names to Good Sportsmanship (and everything in between).

"We knew the competition was off and running when we came down to breakfast and all of the water at our tables had been dyed blue by the Blue Team," said Mindy Lowack of the Dallas Market Center, one of the co-chairs of the event along with Doug Self of J. Douglas. "The sense of camaraderie and competition is what really sets this group apart. It just wouldn't be the ART Conference without that sense of fun thrown into the mix."

Thompson Lange, left, Homescapes Carmel, Colleen Visage, Progress Lighting and Shawn Johnson-Burns, Arteriors Home.

Darlene and Tom Caldwell, Currey & Company, with winner of the MVP award Shelley Dozier-McKee of The Scarlett Tassel.

The final night of the conference is traditionally a dinner dance, and this year's conference was no exception. Attendees came dressed in their "island casual" attire and brought along an arsenal of tricks to the party as well: before the night was over the dance floor was filled with green glow sticks, blue hula hoops and yellow beach balls all in the Team Spirit of the weekend!

The Green Team was named the winning team of the weekend during breakfast on Sunday, and Shelley Dozier-McKee of The Scarlet Tassel in Atlanta was named as the member who had gained the most points over the weekend, allowing her to attend next year's conference at no charge. For more on the conference, look for the July edition of Home Accents Today and homeaccentstoday.com. For more information about ART, contact Sharon Davis at accessoriesresourceteam.org

Julie Phillips, left, and Mark Phillips, right, both of The Phillips Collection, Lynni Megginson, L&M Designs.	Team Yellow performs during the Friday night song challenge.