THE 2007 INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES MARKET™ SEPTEMBER 17-21, 2007 BOASTS A FULL HOUSE AND A FULL SCHEDULE
CHICAGO (August 7, 2007) — The 29th annual International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™, September 17-21, 2007 at The Merchandise Mart, offers attendees an exciting week of new products and special events.
Aside from shopping the incredible collection of the finest indoor and outdoor casual furniture and accessories from more than 350 exhibitors, attendees have an opportunity to hear industry presentations from influential names in the business, attend social events, network with colleagues, and see exciting product displays.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Welcome Party
Monday, Sept. 17; 4-6 p.m.; 7th Floor Market Suites
Attendees are invited to kick-off Market with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the 7th floor of the Market Suites.
Industry Excellence Breakfast
Tuesday, Sept. 18; 7:30 – 9 a.m.; Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 2nd Floor
The 2007 award winners will be honored after the presentation of the Design Excellence Awards, Merchandising Excellence Awards and Manufacturer Leadership Awards.
Annual Market Party
Tuesday, Sept. 18; 6–8 p.m.; East Bank Club Rooftop Deck
This annual must-attend social event is fun and relaxing with stunning city views. All Market attendees with a badge are welcome. Co-sponsored by Casual Living magazine, Sunbrella and MMPI.
48th Annual Apollo Awards
Thursday, Sept. 20; 6:30 p.m.; Navy Pier Grand Ballroom
The grandest event of Market, the Apollo Awards, will celebrate the influential contributions made by industry icons and leading retailers in single-and multi-store categories. The Design Excellence “Best of Show” Award and the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Awards, recognizing excellence and leadership in the casual industry, will be distributed. This event is by invitation only and tickets are required. Hosted by the SCFMA and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI)
INDUSTRY PRESENTATIONS
The educational and complimentary Industry Presentations held Monday through Thursday are for exhibitors and attendees alike. This year’s presentations will help retailers take their visual merchandising to the next level, educate them on what their consumers really want and showcase the latest trends. Each presentation begins with lunch at noon; followed by the speaker or panel at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is first-come, first-served.
Monday, Sept. 17
Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 2nd Floor
Hearth & Home magazine presents “Selling with Fabric: Retail Displays & Outdoor Rooms.” A panel discussion moderated by Richard Wright, publisher of Hearth and Home magazine, on the many uses of today’s wonderful outdoor fabrics, and how, with a bit of imagination, these fabrics can help transform a showroom into an exciting, romantic representation of what customers can accomplish in their own backyards. Panelists include: Margaret Donaldson, ASID, Margaret Donaldson Interiors; Richard Frinier, principal, Richard Frinier Collection; Bew White, owner and CEO, Summer Classics; and Patti Frye, fabric merchandise manager, Laneventure. Presenting by Hearth and Home magazine and MMPI.
Tuesday, Sept. 18
7th Floor Market Suites
Casual Living magazine presents “Textile Trends: An Al-Fresco Fashion Show,” headlined by Sunbrella and featuring the top manufacturers of outdoor fabrics and trim like Outdura by Shuford Mills, DuraCord Textiles, Twitchell, Mohawk Home & Garden and Altizer. This premier runway event previews the latest fabric collections in a tailor-made fashion show, presenting unique, original designs. Presented by Casual Living, Sunbrealla and MMPI.
Wednesday, Sept. 19
Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 2nd Floor
Cinde W. Ingram, managing editor of Casual Living magazine, moderates “Getting to Know Your Customer,” a consumer panel discussion. Because of its popularity at last year’s Casual Market, Casual Living will present an enlightening consumer panel discussion, featuring mid- to high-end homeowners who have bought or are actively shopping for outdoor home furnishings. Hear what today’s consumers have to say about what they want, what draws them into various types of furniture stores and what makes them commit to a purchase. A question-and-answer period will allow retailers the opportunity to receive honest answers to their individual questions. Presented by Casual Living and MMPI.
Thursday, Sept. 20
Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 2nd Floor
“Add Profit to Your Bottom Line & Pizzazz to Your Store Merchandising with Outdoor Rugs,” sponsored by Casual Living, MMPI and Capel Rugs. Attendees will learn how to use outdoor rugs as an additional profit center for their business. Outdoor rugs are both functional and fashionable and help create unique in-store displays that generate traffic and sales.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Exterior Design Showcase
The Exterior Design Showcase on the 7th floor, presented by Garden Design magazine, features an incredible display of outdoor vignettes designed by leading manufacturers, designers and landscape architects. These beautiful garden designs will inspire retailers to take their outdoor living merchandising to the next level. Additionally, Garden Design magazine and MMPI will host a VIP Designer Party in the Exterior Design Showcase during the Welcome Party on September 17 from 4 – 5 p.m. The VIP Designer Party is by invitation only.
New Product Gallery
The New Product Gallery returns to the first floor lobby of The Merchandise Mart with a comprehensive preview of the new casual furniture and outdoor accessories for next year. See the latest in furniture design, color, fabric trends, and innovative accessories.
SHOW INFORMATION
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ encompasses 300,000 square feet of exhibit space filled with more than 350 exhibitors. The Merchandise Mart is the year-round home to the most comprehensive selection of casual furniture and accessories in the country from the industry's leading manufacturers. During Market, the Mart opens two additional state-of-the-art temporary exhibit floors. The 7th floor Market Suites houses over 34,000 square-feet of outdoor furniture and accessories and the 8th floor Market Suites has over 96,000 square-feet of casual furniture and accessories.
The Merchandise Mart
7th and 8th-floor Market Suites and 16th and 17th Floors
Monday-Thursday, Sept. 17-20 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 21 8:30 a.m. – Noon
For more information, visit www.merchandisemart.com/casualmarket or call 800.677.6278 (MART).
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ is a trademark of MMPI.
Maura Bruton
Public Relations Director
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Phone: 312.527.7555
E-mail: mbruton@mmart.com
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each yet.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West mar Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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