Archive for December 2011
Talkin' About Trends .. Want to know where 2012 is headed?...
In the most recent issue of Garden Center Magazine, Yale Youngblood, publisher/editor and Sarah Martinez, managing editor share thoughts on trends for 2012 in an article "Talkin' About Trends".
It is a super article for garden centers and folks supplying to the garden center marketplace; but, the article also has a great deal of insight for all in the outdoor industry.
From commentary on the continuing challenges in outdoor to suggestions for selling to GenX vs. Boomers.
One trend of note and interest for the outdoor living segment points to the "Garden Center-PLUS" concept and creating reasons for shoppers to visit more than only for semi annual planting seasons.
"The "plus" is limited only to the retailer's imagination. This added-value element makes the business especially compelling to a new breed of consumers. And the "plus" factor almost always includes merchandise that compels customers to keep coming back." SM (i.e., outdoor living products. LR)
Check it out!
http://www.gardencentermagazine.com/garden1211-gardening-trends-2012.aspx
Very Happy and prosperous 2012 to all!
It is a super article for garden centers and folks supplying to the garden center marketplace; but, the article also has a great deal of insight for all in the outdoor industry.
From commentary on the continuing challenges in outdoor to suggestions for selling to GenX vs. Boomers.
One trend of note and interest for the outdoor living segment points to the "Garden Center-PLUS" concept and creating reasons for shoppers to visit more than only for semi annual planting seasons.
"The "plus" is limited only to the retailer's imagination. This added-value element makes the business especially compelling to a new breed of consumers. And the "plus" factor almost always includes merchandise that compels customers to keep coming back." SM (i.e., outdoor living products. LR)
Check it out!
http://www.gardencentermagazine.com/garden1211-gardening-trends-2012.aspx
Very Happy and prosperous 2012 to all!
Casual Living seeking photography for Heat and Fire Feature.
| Coming in February: Heat and Fire Feature |
| Casual Living is seeking photography of new products that display the ambience of fire and/or the function of heat for outdoor living areas to consider for an Outdoor Style feature in our February issue. The deadline to submit images is Jan. 13. Along with each high-resolution image (300 dpi or higher being at least 3x4 inches in size and saved in .jpg or .tiff format), please include a 20-30 word description of the product along with your company contact information. Email submissions to cledit@casualliving.com or visit the following link to submit online: |
Inaugural Casual Living Industry Conference Sponsored In Part by Pride Family Brands Slated for February 22nd-24th in Sarasota, FL
Pride Family Brands, designer and manufacturer of luxury cast aluminum outdoor furnishings, announces its participation as a sponsor of the inaugural Casual Living industry conference. Designed to educate and motivate the outdoor living segment, the conference will take place in Sarasota, Florida from February 22nd through the 24th.
Entitled ”The Sky’s The Limit: Maximizing Opportunities in the Casual Market,” the conference will include social and educational functions designed specifically for retailers, designers, representatives and manufacturers within the outdoor industry.
“We are proud to be a part of making this ground-breaking conference possible,” said Steve Lowsky, president, Pride Family Brands. “With the growth and changes happening in the outdoor category, this conference will provide the perfect format for all levels of the industry to connect and learn from speakers and each other as we all look to energize for the upcoming outdoor season.”
The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) also is a sponsor of the event along with additional manufacturers. “The benefits of any organization is the networking and educational opportunities,” said Rory Rehmert, vice president, sales and marketing for Pride Family Brands and chairman for the ICFA. “With this conference, all of these functions will be addressed making it a must-attend event for anyone, whether a veteran of the outdoor category or someone branching into outdoor.”
Seminars topics have been selected to target key opportunities in the outdoor category. “While the camaraderie is great, there is the extra added value of the professional speakers that are brought in,” said Bruce Aronson, owner, The Pool and Patio Center and ICFA member, Metairie, La. “I don’t know how they do it; but the organizers always seem to find speakers that talk about areas of immediate concern.”
The event’s agenda includes keynote speaker and performance coach Bob Davies. Davies, the author of The Sky is Not the Limit – You Are, is a former college football coach and is the author of three books and several audio albums and DVDs. Sphere Trending founder and CEO Maxine Lauer will tackle the topics of life stages and the changing consumer. Jim Jensen of Pew Research will be on hand to break down web statistics and Gallery Furniture’s own Robert Williams will discuss taking technology to the next level. Financial analyst Jerry Epperson of Mann, Armistead & Epperson, Ltd. will give his take on the casual category and Dr. Andrew Dent, vice president of library and materials research, Material ConneXion, will present the latest in materials germane to outdoor.
Retailer and supplier panels will examine critical issues facing the outdoor industry today, discuss category growth and share success stories. Golf, spa services and a neighboring retail store tour and an awards dinner honoring supplier and retailer of the year round out the event.
For more information about “The Sky’s the Limit” Casual Living Conference, visit http://tinyurl.com/7dend55 or Pride Family Brands and their distinguished lines of casual furniture visit www.pridefamilybrands.com or contact 954-735-9800.
Expansion Announced by POLY-WOOD, Inc. For Lumber Division To Include Green Initiatives
Poly-Wood, Inc., leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance, eco-friendly casual outdoor furniture, announces the expansion of its Lumber Division. Founded in 1990 for the recycling of plastics into lumber, marketed under the brand name, POLYWOODTM, the division has undergone an expansion of its Indiana-based extrusion facilities and overall production capacity including heightened sustainability efforts.
“Our goal in the expansion of Poly-Wood’s Lumber Division is to better serve our current markets as well as increase our ability to explore additional segments and opportunities for plastic lumber,” said Tim Pletcher, Sales for Poly-Wood, Inc. – Lumber Division. “However, throughout the construction expansion of our facilities as well as with the added production capacity, Poly-Wood continues to be committed to responsible manufacturing and positively impacting the environment.”
Poly-Wood’s Lumber Division currently is the leading provider of recycled plastic lumber for the outdoor furnishings and accessories industry. Other applications and sales avenues include manufacturers of durable and sustainable products for farming, marine, golf, landscaping, industrial and general construction. The expanded capacity of the production facilities is in response to the ongoing growth of the industry as additional product categories create demand for plastic lumber and related extruded products.
POLYWOODTM lumber is created from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with UV-inhibited pigment systems and offers infinite recyclability. “POLYWOODTM can be reground and melted into new products infinitely when the current product reaches the end of its usable life,” said Pletcher. The HDPE primary raw material is derived from post-consumer bottle waste, such as milk and detergent bottles or other HDPE post-industrial materials.
“Within our manufacturing process, we have incorporated practices that are unique to our operation,” said Pletcher. “One aspect is in our water usage during manufacturing as we have created a continuous loop of cooling water that eliminates the need for continuously pulling fresh ground water that ends up in drains.” Additional green aspects of the extrusion plant include no-waste trail across the entire production flow including regrinding and reuse of plastic scrap.
For more information about POLYWOODTM or Poly-Wood, Inc and its plastic lumber outdoor furnishings and accessories, visit www.polywoodlumber.com
Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics Expands Island Way Accessory Line to Generate
Quality wicker and rattan manufacturer, Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics announces the expansion of its indoor/outdoor decorative accessory line being marketed under the brand, Island Way Living®. The expansion includes the addition of dozens of new product items and categories for the Largo, Fla. based company.
Lighting, table top, wall art, and decorative and embroidered pillows are among the items being added to the expanded Island Way Living® line. Within the lighting category, expanded SKUs include table top and floor models in traditional and tropical motifs in response to retailer demand nationwide. Also, many outdoor styles of lighting will be added in the next 12 months. Merchandising options including a pillow tower that holds up to 24 decorative pillows are also available to retailers from Palm Springs Rattan for the Island Way line.
"The expansion of the Island Way line of decorative accessories is in response to the tremendous demand we experienced during the recent High Point market,” said Tami Newton, Sales Manager of Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics. “Retailers today see accessories as a way to add to the bottom line without dedicating major showroom space. In fact, with an analogous accessory line, retailers can realize greater furnishings sales due to the coordinated and overall finished looks that can be created.” Newton also relates how retailers are utilizing accessories for promotional events and branding opportunities. ”Something as simple as embroidered pillows for a locale or a development can be a big draw and nice add-on,” said Newton. “Any retail entity not taking advantage of the sales and promotional potential of accessories is truly missing the boat.”
Lighting, table top, wall art, and decorative and embroidered pillows are among the items being added to the expanded Island Way Living® line. Within the lighting category, expanded SKUs include table top and floor models in traditional and tropical motifs in response to retailer demand nationwide. Also, many outdoor styles of lighting will be added in the next 12 months. Merchandising options including a pillow tower that holds up to 24 decorative pillows are also available to retailers from Palm Springs Rattan for the Island Way line. For more information about Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics and the Island Way line of resort accessories, visit www.palmspringsrattan.com or contact Tami Newton at sales@palmspringsrattan.com.
