Casual Living - April 1, 2009

It’s no secret challenging times are upon us all. One secret to rising above the challenges lies in the ability to reemphasize the marketing basic known as visual merchandising or more simply, presentation. Inclusive of product mix to personnel training, quality presentation today can deliver a powerful punch for the specialty retailer.

• Departments
• Marketing 101
• Business Outlook
• FYI
• Casually Speaking
• Changing for the season
• Editorial Sources
• Editorial Sources
• Grill Column
• Keep the customer service culture under control
• R.H. Peterson awards top distributors at HPB Expo
• Introductions
• Design debuts
• News
• Making connections for business growth
• ICFA sets Casual Market show dates, new hours
• Innovative products heat up HPBExpo
• Management changes for Spoga and spoga+gafa
• Working to win market share
• Dorough returns to Treasure Garden
• Casual niche holds, gains ground in traditional furniture stores
• Reps on the Road
• Demand Accountability  Revisited
• Store Events
• Create in-store traffic with special events
• Weather Trends
• April to bring seasonal flavor

• Features
• Dramatic scenes
• Meadowcraft reorganizing under pressure
• Kingsley-Bate invests for growth
• Cap Hendrix: President and CEO, Tropitone
• South Sea Rattan marks 25th year
• Outdoor dining set sales expected to grow
• Hot Products
• High Point Highlights
• Retail Profile
• Biddle Outdoor Center’s diverse mix draws customers back for more