Casual Living back issues from November 2007:
Nuturing our Universe.(Editorial)
Nov 01, 2007; ... Cinde W. Ingram If there's only one idea you keep after reading Casual Living 's exclusive Universe Study, let it be that consumers are buying. Sales of grills, outdoor dining sets, conversation groups and other outdoor furniture continue on their gradual growth track ...
Lowe's identifies consumer trends.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Cinde W. Ingram Casual living spaces that are functional as well as beautiful reflect the overall consumer lifestyle Lowe's identified through tracking trends for the last seven years. Melissa Birdsong, Lowe's vice president of trend, design and brand described ...
Patio.com takes specialty retail national.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Cinde W. Ingram Patio.com , in association with Citigroup, has committed to a first round of financing of up to $47 million for the nationwide expansion of specialty patio retail stores integrated with online sales. This is the largest infusion of cash ever into the ...
SCFMA sets 2008 premarket dates.(Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association )(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff The Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association has established the dates for the official 2008 premarket at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The event will be Wednesday, July 9, through ...
Tropitone Furniture gets new owner.(Tropitone Furniture Company Inc.)(Pfingsten Partners L.P.)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Deerfield, Ill.-based Pfingsten Partners became majority owner of Tropitone Furniture, effective Oct. 24. The expanded financial resources and operational expertise Pfingsten will provide are key to Tropitone's continued growth, said Michael Echolds, who ...
Homecrest closes.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Homecrest closed its operations the first week in October after its efforts to refinance or find a buyer failed. President and CEO John Sundet said the Wadena, Minn.-based outdoor furniture manufacturer did not intend to file for bankruptcy protection. 'We'll ...
Seasonal Concepts files Chapter 11.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Minneapolis-based specialty retailer Seasonal Concepts filed for Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, district of Minnesota. The retailer, which incorporated in 1962 as Flowertown, changed its name to Seasonal Concepts in the mid-1990s. It sold casual furniture ...
Old Hickory Furniture returns to outdoor.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff After 108 years of handcrafting upscale hickory-sapling furniture, Old Hickory Furniture Company returned to its outdoor furniture roots by introducing its Lawn & Garden Collection at the High Point Market. Customer requests and recent trends in outdoor living ...
Woolrich outdoor furnishings gain attention.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Woolrich debuted its first outdoor home furnishings line, Chatham Run, at the recent High Point and Chicago markets. Included was a fully upholstered furniture collection in performance fabrics produced by Whitecraft, lighting from Shady Lady, outdoor machine-made rugs ...
Rock Wood president Jennifer Mulholland ready to play in the big leagues.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Kristine Ellis Fifteen years ago, when Rock Wood Casual Furniture first displayed at the International Casual Furniture Market, not a single piece of its outdoor furniture sold. And no wonder. 'We had some of the worst teak garden furniture you've ever seen in ...
Pool and spa shows will combine.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff The International Pool & Spa Expo | Backyard Living Expo will merge with the AQUA Show in 2008 for a mega combination show that will generate tremendous growth opportunities for the pool, spa and backyard marketplace, Hanley Wood Exhibitions announced. By ...
Laneventure moves, expands Chicago space.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Laneventure is expanding its Chicago showroom from The Merchandise Mart's 17th floor to the 15th floor, home of Market Square Chicago. 'This move helps us showcase a larger portion of our product assortment,' said Art Thompson, president, Laneventure. 'By ...
Forecasts mixed for wrought iron category.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Courtney M. Paschal Harold Hudson Vice President of sales and marketing Summer Classics Our wrought iron business in the last few years has declined as a percentage of our business due to the growth of cast aluminum and our N-dura Wicker. We still have ...
Big ticket items buoy playset sales.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Chris Gigley Playsets aren't selling as briskly as they did when the real estate market was hot, but a trend toward high-end product is keeping the category viable. Just outside of Baltimore, Steve Watson, manager of Watson's Fireplace & Patio, had plenty of ...
An innovator for many niche markets.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Cinde W. Ingram Mark Carter brings Bungalow by E-Z Up to casual market When Bungalow by E-Z Up won the top Design Excellence Award last year, many people in the industry wondered where this newcomer had come from. This year, dealers were seeking out its ...
Green and growing in Wisconsin Madison-Middleton Metropolitan.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Kay Anderson Wisconsin's capital city is also home to the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin with its more than 28,000 undergraduates. Earlier this year Madison was rated as one of the nation's top 10 metros for income growth by Bizjournals, the online ...
Benson's Patio, Spas, Games and Pools offers outdoor recreation, fun and comfort.
Nov 01, 2007; ... Stories by Cinde W. Ingram Benson's, an upscale casual furniture store in Middleton, Wis., sets itself apart from its competitors by offering Sundance spas, pool tables and game room products. The corporation behind Benson's dove into the pool industry more than 50 years ago ...
The Bruce Company marries landscape, gardening and outdoor living.
Nov 01, 2007; ... Stories by Cinde W. Ingram A tractor surrounded by flowers and a pergola area complete with outdoor furniture, fire pit and a Weber grill are among the first impressions customers have as they visit The Bruce Company in Middleton, Wis. Its attached greenhouse, garden center and ...
Chalet Ski & Patio caters to modern-minded customers in capital city, college town.
Nov 01, 2007; ... Stories by Cinde W. Ingram When Tony Millonig opened Chalet Ski & Patio in Madison in 1983, ski was the store's dominant focus although summer sports and patio furniture were part of the mix. 'We determined pretty quickly that outdoor furniture and things related to ...
Green is no longer just a color, today it's a state of mind.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Donna Myers Americans are increasingly aware that 'being green' is beneficial for the future of the planet, their health and their wallets. Although there are conflicting opinions about specific eco-sustainable issues and products, everyone - from corporate executives to ...
Industry focusing on GREEN.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Cinde W. Ingram It all begins with asking questions. Where does this wood come from? Are these eco-friendly finishes? What about the fabrics or the cushions? Are reuse and recycling involved? Does the manufacturer operate its facilities with a green mindset? ...
Embrace the eco-chic trend.(Benjamin Moore and Co.)(Personal account)
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Mark Abrams, Mark Abrams Designs I hope you like the color green. I am not just talking about the newest color from Benjamin Moore Paints. If you have not noticed over the last year or so, the global use of green has become more apparent in how we live, shop, drive ...
Editorial Sources.(Editorial)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff <Pre> ...
FYI.(Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff BRIEFLY ..... According to a recent survey conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 76% of consumers say fall is the prime time for grilling because the cooler weather is more conducive to outdoor eating. With the holiday season ...
Fall weather returns.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Last year, November trended colder than the prior year for 64% of the nation, but still averaged as the 14th warmest in 112 years of records. The month started off with very cold conditions nationwide along with a few early snowstorms in the Midwest, Rocky ...
Q: What are your best-selling products? Why?(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007; ... Staff Dean Luckino Georgia Backyard, American Backyard Suwanee, Ga . We didn't see any drastic change from last year. The majority is still extruded aluminum, but we've seen a slight increase in wicker, which has pretty well leveled off. We've ...
Leisure industry grows steadily as buying patterns shift.
Nov 01, 2007; ... By Cinde W. Ingram Consumers are still buying outdoor furniture and grills, despite ongoing economic pressures on consumers' wallets and shifts in where they buy, according to Casual Living 's exclusive Universe Study. Sales of products for outdoor, porch and patio ...
Grills.(The Home Depot Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Comprising more than half of the outdoor market, retail sales for grills are projected to increase 5.8% this year to $3.2 billion. Home improvement centers, including Home Depot and Lowe's, accounted for 45% of the market. Sales through this channel are ...
Outdoor dining sets.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Outdoor dining sets continue to be the mainstay within outdoor furniture. Accounting for more than two-thirds of the outdoor furniture market, dining sets are projected to grow 3% between 2006 and 2007, generating $1.7 billion in retail sales. Home improvement ...
Conversation groups.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Retail sales for deep-seating groups are projected to increase 3.2% this year, hitting $376 million. Discount department stores, with a 31% market share, are projected to grow 3.5% in 2007 to $115 million. Minneapolis-based Target is the standout player within ...
Other seating.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Includes lounge chairs, hammocks, benches, rockers, gliders and other miscellaneous outdoor chairs Other seating, including lounge chairs, hammocks, benches, rockers, gliders and other miscellaneous chairs, pulled in $195 million in retail sales in 2006 and is ...
Other furniture.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Includes other tables, fire pits, serving carts, bars and other miscellaneous furniture, not including seating Warehouse membership clubs and the direct-to-consumer channel are estimated to have the fastest growth this year in the catch-all other outdoor ...
Umbrellas.(department stores)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Between 2006 and 2007, retail sales of umbrellas are projected to remain basically flat, growing only 0.6%. Discount department stores, with 2006 sales of $34 million, have the largest market share at 40% and home improvement centers are in second place, with a ...
Methodology.
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Casual Living's exclusive Universe Study of the outdoor home furnishings industry provides 2006 estimated retail sales totals for outdoor furniture and grills, as well as the percentage and dollar breakdowns by specific products through all distribution channels. It also ...
Products.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Grills: Includes gas, electric, charcoal, smokers, built-in and/or island grills. Outdoor dining sets: Includes both 5-piece and 7-piece sets. May be made of various combinations of aluminum/cast aluminum, all-weather wicker, wood, wrought iron, resin or ...
Distribution channels.(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Staff Department stores: Includes Sears, as well as full-line department stores, such as JCPenney, Macy's, Burdines, Richs' and Bloomingdale's. Discount department stores: Includes discount department stores and supercenters such as Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Meijer, ...