Five Fresh Takeaways from RESACON — Real Insights for Stagers, by Stagers

Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall at the biggest home staging event of the year? This month on the Stager Savvy podcast, hosts Stephanie and Kandice bring you just that, fresh from RESACON in Las Vegas. Packed with practical tips, new connections, and major lightbulb moments, their recap episode delivered a haul of insights you’ll want to implement right away—whether you’re just launching your staging side hustle or looking to scale a thriving business. Let’s break down the top lessons you can't miss from this energetic episode.

Confidence Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait
It's easy to feel intimidated stepping into the world of home staging, especially as a newer pro. Kim Stubbs, attending her very first RESACON, brought up how much attending sessions like “Stage Force” and Luann’s confidence workshop boosted her self-assurance. The big takeaway? Confidence builds with every bit of learning. If you’re on your first year, just know—you belong in rooms with veterans (and them with you!). As Kim said, “Every little detail helps grow my confidence.” Never underestimate how much community and education can squash that self-doubt.

Connections, Not Just Content, Are the Real Game-Changer
For seasoned stager Bobbie McGrath, who has attended over a decade’s worth of RESACONs, the best part isn’t just the sessions, but “the connections, really.” Sometimes, sitting next to a stranger can change your business—or your life! Bobbie shared that one such encounter led her to teaching and speaking around the world. So next event you attend, strike up a conversation. Don’t just look for knowledge—look for new friends.

Numbers Don’t Lie: Get Friendly With Your KPIs
Even the most design-minded stagers can get tripped up by the money talk. Both Fiorenza Bylac and Jan Houston highlighted Grant’s session on business numbers. The key here? Make sure you truly understand your business’s metrics—aka KPIs (key performance indicators). Jan confessed, “I wasn’t marking up our payroll—I’m going to have to start doing that.” Whether it’s calculating true profitability or tracking your ROI, spend as much love on your spreadsheets as you do your sofa vignettes!

There’s No Graduation from Learning—Ever!
Whether you’re a newbie or an OG, there’s always something new to learn in staging. Bobbie McGrath models lifelong learning: “I keep my mind open. It could be a brand new person says something off the cuff I’ve never thought about.” Take a page from Bobbie’s book: drop old assumptions and stay curious. Sometimes, the freshest ideas come from the greenest stagers in the room.

It’s Time to Scale Up—But Get Intentional
After a few years in business, it’s easy to plateau. Leslie Eicher, in business for seven years, loved Alisa Sparks’s session on scaling. If you feel the itch to grow, seek out education focused on the how—systems, team structures, and new service models. Your next big leap could be a session, a podcast, or a single conversation away.

Whether you’ve walked the bright halls of RESACON or simply follow along from home, the message from this episode is clear: there’s always more to learn and another level to reach. Keep engaging, connecting, and sharpening your skills—next year, you might just be one of those voices sharing life-changing tips! Until then, keep staging—and keep listening to Stager Savvy for more inspiration, every month.

Photo credit: Katie Hickenbottom for the Real Estate Staging Association®