Casual Living Conference is launched

The Sky's the Limit: Maximizing Opportunities in the Casual Market

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 12/8/2011 9:39:01 AM

HIGH POINT, N.C. — Casual Living magazine has announced the dates, theme, location and agenda for its inaugural Casual Living Conference. This groundbreaking event will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, Fla. 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 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 Jansen 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 Tiffany Vasilchik, VP of business development, 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 and 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 Association's (IFDA) 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."