Cinde W. Ingram
\nHitting the highlights of Casual Furniture preview
\nCasual Living Market survey
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\nWhat will you shop for at the Casual Market in September?
\nWhat concerns you most as you approach the show?<\/p>\n
If you attended the recent premarket, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like you to share your views.
\nIf your focus stays on the upcoming Casual Market, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like to hear from you, too.<\/p>\n
Please take a few minutes from your busy day to answer our short survey to tell us about the Market and about the state of the casual industry in general.<\/p>\n
Results will be published in the September issue of Casual Living. Your responses are very important to us, so please click on a link below:<\/p>\n
Thank you – we really appreciate your help.
\nThe casual furniture buying season got a jumpstart during the July 10-13 premarket in Chicago\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Merchandise Mart.<\/p>\n
It was difficult to tell whether attendance was up or down, but permanent showrooms were at times as busy as during the September market and the temporary floor was busier than last year, which was the first premarket sanctioned by the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association. Dealers generally followed the days and hours set by SCFMA. The traditional pattern of manufacturers paying to bring key dealers into their plants or showrooms early has been largely replaced by the more official premarket, which allows dealers to visit as many vendors as they can.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is no longer a premarket; it is a July market,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Tropitone CEO Mike Echolds. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153To the extent the focus on the outdoor room is expanding — even in the northern market with sets around the firepits and outdoor fireplaces — we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re trying to give them product that works in these large outdoor spaces.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
As a whole, participating manufacturers said dealers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 attitudes reflected their good selling seasons. Buyers were serious about shopping and could take time to ask questions.<\/p>\n
Both manufacturers and retailers noted better communication, and as a result, product offerings to more closely meet dealers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 needs.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You can tell the manufacturers are listening and taking cues from the best designers,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Brent Severson, Patio & Hearth, general sales manager. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The looks are clean, youthful, more modern and up-to-date. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a good reflection of how we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re living today.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The designs are more inspired and less cautious than ever,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jed Stillman, president, Seasonal Concepts. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The vendors are much more in the minds of specialty retailers than I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen in this industry.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Seasonal Concepts\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 buyer Marvin Burstein said the premarket \u00e2\u20ac\u0153continues to inspire and to get more exciting. There are so many new things and design elements. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing more and more of our planning earlier.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Gary Ecoff, president of Carls Patio, said the premarket has become such an established event, he cannot understand why some retailers do not take the time to attend. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a must do, at least it is for us,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a lot of good quality product here and it seems like some companies are pushing the price point issue.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Cautious attitudes driven by high costs of materials, fuel and worries about rising interest rates were present but not predominant. More common were expressions of excitement about the new styles, which ranged from retro-chic to modern while including transitional, soft contemporary and not forgetting traditional.<\/p>\n
Alternative tabletops, deep seating and modular groups were widespread, continuing the trend of moving indoor looks to the outdoors. Laneventure\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Spinnaker Collection took the modular concept to a new extreme, allowing the multiple pieces to fit in a variety of configurations.<\/p>\n
Cast aluminum and outdoor wicker choices abounded while wood also made appearances in new styles, including the Charleston Outdoor Kitchen by New River Furniture combining Brazilian cherry with granite and R.H. Peterson gas grill. Good designs and other innovative products, such as the outdoor shower from Alfresco Home, drew attention.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luxurious fabric choices included linen looks in Gloster\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s teak Anassa Collection, the feel of cashmere in Cast Classic\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Magnum Collection and faux leather in a number of collections. Colors also upped the excitement level. Neutrals were evident along with fun shades of light green and brown that follow runway fashions more closely than ever. The sunset palette with orange and deep reds couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be ignored nor could the purple velvet, featured on a Landgrave group in the Woodard showroom.<\/p>\n
Because fabric plays a leading role in the changing casual furniture market, some manufacturers made the choices easier for dealers. For example, Lloyd\/Flanders arranged times for dealers to meet with and ask questions of fabric suppliers. Homecrest held seminars to explain its bright color story.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Size also mattered, with many chat groups including chair- and-a-half sizes and wide buckets.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eighteen new collections inside the huge Cast Classics showroom, which occupied the largest temporary space on the 8th floor, stirred reactions from retailers like Dean Luckino, president\/CEO of Georgia Backyard and American Backyard. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Those looks are absolutely the way the industry needs to go,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Change is happening and you have to adapt to be successful.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Salt Lake City retailer Marc McDonald said the July premarket allows him more time to prepare for the next season while finishing out the current season. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If I come here and see a homerun, it gives me time to get aggressive about what I need to clear out to make room for it,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d McDonald said.<\/p>\n
During the premarket, McDonald said he saw three winners. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153When I come here, it helps me to identify some weaknesses and to see where the strengths are,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The more work you put into it, the better results you have.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Anna Papp of outdoor Living Center in Covington, La., said this was her first time attending premarket so she hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t known exactly what to expect. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nice to not have to rush with the crowd,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in the hurricane area and have had people moving from New Orleans so this is one reason why we needed to get orders in early to service new residents.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
A couple of manufacturers who had not attended the premarket before said they were disappointed more retailers did not attend, but most exhibitors spoke of high quality traffic and busy showrooms.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The buyers who come to the show don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem so rushed,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Ward Usmer, TUCCI. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They have a little more time to ask questions. Some of the larger multistore retailers have done that. And we like to find out what they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing with quality shade equipment.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a wonderful way to get a preview and to set your mind for the next season,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Bill Kennedy, president of Casa Casual, a division of Hanamint. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been extremely busy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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