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Inaugural Conference Set

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, December 12, 2011

The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla., will be the site of the first Casual Living Conference, Feb. 22-24.HIGH POINT - Casual Living magazine will host its inaugural Casual Living Conference Feb. 22-24 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla.
     This groundbreaking event - with the theme "The Sky's the Limit" - will examine key opportunities in the outdoor industry, discuss the changing consumer, detail technological trends and zero in on casual's ascendancy in the marketplace.
     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 other motivational books and several audio albumns 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, VP 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 their success stories.
     Golf, spa services, a neighboring retail store tour and an awards dinner honoring supplier and retailer of the year round out the event.
     "If 69% of International Furnishings and Design Assn.'s surveyed members expect outdoor living spaces to expand by 2020, then we as an industry have to be prepared to respond," said Nicole Crews, executive editor of Casual Living. "This conference gives us the forum to come together and address how we go about responding to that growth."
     To register for the Casual Living Conference, go to http://www.casualliving.com/con2012 (ICFA member retailers enter "ICFA2012" to apply for a $45 discount).
     For more information, contact Crews at ncrews@casualliving.com or Casual Living Publisher Norman Hamilton at nhamilton@casualliving.com.
     The event is sponsored by Glen Raven, Agio, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., AmericasMart, Treasure Garden, the International Casual Furnishings Assn., Telescope Casual Furniture, Pride Family Brands, Gensun Casual, OW Lee, Alfresco Home, Gloster, Hanamint, Lloyd/Flanders, Lane Venture and TUUCI.
     Sponsorships are still available.

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Registration still open for Casual Living Conference, Feb. 22-24

Jan 17, 2012

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