Casual Living back issues from September 2008:
Searching for gold.(casual furniture industry )(Editorial)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cinde W. Ingram It's Showtime! As the weather cools and autumn makes its seasonal entrance, the casual furniture industry will gather again Sept. 15-18 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Residents of our host city like outdoor activities and are ...
ICFA board roundtable.(International Casual Furnishings Association)(Discussion)
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Cinde W. Ingram Working to unite the casual industry How is the casual furniture industry faring in a difficult economic climate marked by a credit crunch, high numbers of foreclosures and unemployment along with dramatic cost increases for materials, fuel, ...
Retailers group merging into ICFA.(International Casual Furnishings Association)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff The Casual Furniture Retailers Association's board of directors voted unanimously to integrate with the International Casual Furnishings Association. As the industry groups merge, retailers see it a positive step toward unity. 'Perhaps only once in a lifetime ...
Joe Logan: Executive Director, International Casual Furniture Association.
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Kristine Ellis Building unity After nearly a decade of service to the outdoor furniture industry, Joe Logan doesn't even pause when asked to name peak milestones in his career. The launch of the International Casual Furniture Association (ICFA) earlier this year ...
Putting the brakes on high transportation costs.
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Cynthia Kincaid Fuel prices, competition, transportation and manufacturing costs have steadily risen over the past few years, so many furniture vendors and retailers are now feeling the pinch. 'We are seeing the shakeout of the players in the industry, and that ...
Lyons joins Shade Trends.(Norbert Lyons)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Norbert Lyons has joined Shade Trends, Inc., as vice president of sales and marketing. He is a veteran of the causal furniture, lawn and garden industries. During his career he has worked with several U.S. and European companies in different channels of retail ...
Gloster honors top sales reps.(Gloster Furniture Inc.)(Gary Moretti)(Mathew Monserez)(representatives )(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Gary Moretti was recognized as Gloster Furniture's 2008 Retail Sales Representative of the Year during its annual sales meeting, held June 19-21 in South Boston, Va. The award honored Moretti for outstanding dedication to his customers and Gloster. His territories are ...
Meadowcraft adds visual creative designer.(Ashley Tucker)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Ashley Tucker joined Meadowcraft Aug. 25, in the new position of visual creative designer. Tucker will be responsible for the visual presentation of the company's direction in the Chicago showroom, the National Hardware Show and contract shows. She will also be ...
Woodard names sales rep of year.(Chuck Kent)(representative)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Woodard named Chuck Kent as its sales representative of the year during its annual sales meeting. Kent joined the Woodard team with 31 years of experience and knowledge in the industry, an expertise that was evident in the outcome of his outstanding ...
Altra Design wins honors.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff The Chicago Athenaeum Museum's Good Design Award went to the little-partner side table from Altra Design, making it the second in Altra Design's product range to be acknowledged by the international design community. The little-partner also was nominated for ...
Pinnacle Design finalists named.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff The American Society of Furniture Designers and its judging panel selected finalists for the 2008 Pinnacle Design Achievement Award. An unprecedented number of applications were submitted this year, signaling an ever-increasing commitment to the designers' role in the home ...
Woodard returns showroom to Merchandise Mart.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Woodard will return to the Merchandise Mart in time for this month's Casual Market, according to announcements by the outdoor furniture manufacturer and Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. The new 11,000-sq.-ft. Woodard showroom is part of Market Square, the new ...
New to Chicago Casual Market.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff In addition to Woodard's return, a few casual furniture manufacturers will debut this month at the Chicago Casual Market. As part of its grand opening, South Sea Rattan will give away a set of its outdoor furniture to a lucky retailer who visits its permanent ...
Beka Casting launches Coco Casual division.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Beka Casting will introduce its Coco Casual division at the September Casual Market in Chicago. Beka's 900-sq.-ft. booth will display the full mid- to high-end cast aluminum furniture collections the Ontario, Canada-based manufacturer has supplied for more than ...
Sealaska Natural Living debuts eco-friendly fashion.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Sealaska Natural Living will launch its tropical and plantation hardwood product collections at the Chicago Casual Market in booth 7-7054. SNL, an outdoor furnishings manufacturer/importer that supplies high-quality sustainable products internationally, will ...
Summer Classics unveils direct import program.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Summer Classics has created Summer Classics Direct Import, a new direct import program for 2009 available for specialty retailers. The program allows specialty retailers to offer Summer Classics products not listed in the company's 2009 catalog. The program ...
Second generation shines through Three Coins.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Three Coins Cast Aluminum Furniture Company has been transformed following an exchange of hands to its second generation. 'The painstaking effort to transform the old Three Coins Import into the new TC Castings LLC has been a rewarding journey,' said Susanna ...
Designer takes new retail direction.(Dale Campbell)(Teresa Campbell)(Urban Diversions)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Furniture designer Dale Campbell and his wife Teresa will apply their combined 45 years of experience in casual furniture to Urban Diversions, their new home furnishings store, design studio and Web site. The business is based in a renovated train station in Traverse ...
Excitement, traffic peak early in Las Vegas.(opening of market center)
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Chris Gigley The World Market Center brought in Rod Stewart to kickstart the July 2008 Las Vegas Market and the opening of its third building, the 2.1 million-sq.-ft. Building C. For a little while, his opening night concert on July 28 appeared to be the boost exhibitors ...
Jewels of Java celebrates 10 years in Java.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Jewels of Java President Karel Simeon and his family recently traveled to Java, Indonesia, to celebrate 10 years of manufacturing outdoor furnishings there. After founding Jewels of Java in 1994, Simeon had returned to his home village in Java to open an ...
Maine Cottage opens Florida store.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Maine Cottage opened a West Palm Beach location, joining its stores in Charleston, S.C., and Yarmouth, Me. With an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 17, Maine Cottage opened a 5,000-sq.-ft. store in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla. The store is located in ...
Kettal opens first U.K. store.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Kettal, an international outdoor furniture manufacturer, extended its global presence in August by opening its first United Kingdom store. Kettal also will display products in The London Design Festival Sept. 12-23. Its London store, dedicated to outdoor ...
Greenwood's outdoor boiler wins EPA qualification.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Demonstrates significantly lower emissions than traditional wood boilers Greenwood Technologies' Aspen Series outdoor wood-fired furnace was officially designated as a low-emission wood boiler by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 'Clean ...
Glen Raven plant earns S.C. award for environmental excellence.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Anderson, S.C., plant joins the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program Glen Raven Custom Fabrics was recognized as one of the newest members of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program, a voluntary initiative that recognizes facilities ...
2009 New Product.(Acacia Home and Garden)(Agio International)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff The swooning U.S. economy has prompted many casual furniture manufacturers to be aggressive with their product design and development in an attempt to capture consumers' attention. Their efforts will be on display Sept. 15-18 at the International Casual Furniture & ...
Multistore Category: The Greenhouse Mall, Austin, Texas.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley Karen Galindo is a contrarian, and finds that approach works well for The Greenhouse Mall, a chain of three stores in south central Texas. As other businesses pull back on marketing and advertising, for instance, she has pushed ahead. If anything, you ...
Multistore Category: Paddy O'Furniture, Phoenix.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley Tony Schindler, president of Paddy O'Furniture, could see the storm brewing a couple of years ago. The housing market was booming in Phoenix then, but home values were reaching astronomical heights. 'I was concerned because I knew it would end,' Schindler ...
Multistore Category: Patios Plus, Rancho Mirage, Calif.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley By sharpening their focus over the past year, Jim Schultz and Kristine Schultz Hutchinson, owners of Patios Plus in Southern California, have their two stores going in the right direction despite a downturn in the local economy. Shultz said he learned ...
Multistore Category: Robb & Stucky Patio, Fort Myers, Fla.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley After several years of aggressive expansion, Robb & Stucky now finds itself in a good position to weather the economic doldrums the nation is enduring. The retailer currently has 10 patio showrooms in Florida, Nevada and Arizona, and is focusing on maximizing the ...
Multistore Category: Yard Art Patio & Fireplace, Irving, Tex.(Company overview)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley With four stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Yard Art Patio & Fireplace is in a pocket of the U.S. where the economy isn't so bad. But while co-owners Butch Wallace and Deborah Scott say the local economy is relatively stable, they have still been forced to make ...
2008 Apollo Awards feature familiar faces.(Patios Plus won the award)(Robb & Stucky Patio also won the award)(Dodds & Eder won the award)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley Many of this year's Apollo Award nominees are no strangers to the honor. Two of them won the award last year. Rancho Mirage, Calif.-based Patios Plus won the multistore category at the 48th annual Apollo Awards gala, which was held at Navy Pier in ...
2008 Apollo Award.(Casual Furniture retailers)(International Casual Furniture & Accessories )(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Chris Gigley Nominees survive economy with service Casual Furniture retailers across the country are dealing with the fallout of a housing crunch, rising gasoline prices and increasing wholesale costs. What's saving a few of them is their exceptional customer ...
Single Store Category: Dodds & Eder, Oyster Bay, N.Y.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley After more than 110 years in business, Long Island's Dodds & Eder has proven it can handle an economic downturn. This time, it's relying on strong customer service and a new revenue channel to buck market conditions. The retailer is starting to build its ...
Single Store Category: Fruehauf's Patio & Garden, Boulder, Colo.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley In a tight economy, it helps to stand out. With 2 acres of floor space for displaying gifts, accessories and outdoor furniture, Fruehauf's Patio & Garden is hard to miss. 'We like to think of ourselves as the Disneyland of casual furniture stores,' said ...
Single Store Category: Kolo Collection, Atlanta.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley After several years of robust growth, Kolo Collection has been affected by the sputtering economy like everyone else. It isn't getting new business quite as easily as it used to. However, the retailer spent those high growth years positioning itself to ...
Single Store Category: Leisure Living, Salt Lake City.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley Mark McDonald, president of Leisure Living in Salt Lake City, is following the advice of many business gurus, life coaches and psychologists. He's not worrying about what he can't control, which in his case is the economy. 'We continue to do the things ...
Single Store Category: Sunnyland Furniture, Dallas.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley For Sunnyland Furniture, business couldn't be better. David Schweig, who opened the store in 1977 with his wife, Debbie, said they are well on their way to another record year. What's their secret? 'Taking care of customers, having good inventory and ...
Single Store Category: Williams Patio Furniture, Highland Park, Ill.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley Williams Patio Furniture is experiencing the same thing exhibitors at the wholesale markets have over the last year or two. Traffic is slower, but the customers they do have are serious. 'People aren't just wandering around and looking anymore,' said ...
Multistore Category: Carls Patio, Coconut Creek, Fla.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Chris Gigley Despite earning multiple Apollo Award nominations over the years, Gary Ecoff, president of Carls Patio, admits customer service is one of the toughest areas of retail. 'Our salespeople are compensated by commissions, so you're walking both sides of the ...
2008 Casual Living 100 Powerhouse Specialists.(List)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff Casual Living 's exclusive report, 100 Powerhouse Specialists, lists 100 casual furniture specialists that are significant players within their respective markets. This list is by no means comprehensive. Many more than the 100 specialists listed here are strong ...
Outdoor lifestyle suits Chicago.(furniture stores)
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Daphne Garland-McLean Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metro Area Commonly referred to by residents as Chicagoland, the Chicago Metro area consists of the the third largest city in the United States and the surrounding counties in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. It also ...
Classic Casual focuses on outdoor furniture.
Sep 01, 2008; ... by Annemarie Mannion When John Adolf purchased Classic Casual Furniture in Clarendon Hills, Ill., he had an idea of building a funeral home on a site next to the store. His plan was eventually replaced by outdoor living. For various reasons, the funeral home never ...
Destination store draws affluent consumers.(Company overview)
Sep 01, 2008; ... by Annemarie Mannion When family-owned Williams Ski and Patio was founded in Chicago in 1881, it sold canopies for carriages. Later, it got into awnings and tents. By the early 1960s, Williams began selling outdoor furniture. It added ski equipment in the late 1960s. ...
Growing beyond the garden.(Alsip Home & Nursery )(Company overview)
Sep 01, 2008; ... by Cheryl Cullen Alsip Home & Nursery was founded in 1969 as a premier garden center in Frankfort, Ill., a suburb south of Chicago. Nearly 40 years later, Alsip competes as a complete garden center also offering outdoor furnishings, holiday and pet supplies. Each ...
Big solutions for small spaces.(outdoor furniture)
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Laurie Rudd Deep seating, oversized dining, double lounging - the descriptions and dimensions of outdoor furniture and accessories continue to grow with every season's introductions. Bigger, however, may not always be better when dressing condominium terraces or balcony ...
Gloster makes investments to control & sustain growth.
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Cinde W. Ingram Gloster Furniture is responding to ongoing growth in a sustainable and controlled manner, reflecting its company culture. The high-end outdoor furniture manufacturer recently made two major investments to serve its North American customers better while staying ...
Grill innovator never gives up.
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Sarah Sue Ingram A genius was once defined as someone who makes a mental connection between things that other people could not see. The word accurately describes Bill Best, chairman and CEO of Thermal Engineering Corporation in Columbia, S.C. A grilling innovator, ...
FYI.(Casual Living and HGTV survey)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff BRIEFLY ..... Opportunities abound for retailers to heat up their sales while providing their customers warmth and cozy comfort in conversation groups and fire pits for the upcoming seasons. As fall approaches, consumers are beginning to think about ...
Accessorizing nature.(home decoration)
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Cindy Cragg Thoughts on increasing profits with outdoor accessories Like many people this summer, I took a 'staycation.' As predicted, spending more time at home invariably led to a strong desire to redecorate. My space needed attention, it needed ...
Expect normal September.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff September 2007 was the eighth warmest in 113 years and made a wholesale change from the year prior. Temperatures climbed from September 2006, which was recorded as the 31st coldest in more than 100 years. Last September brought only one brief taste of autumn around ...
Editorial Sources.(Editorial)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Staff <Pre> ...