Casual Living Conference approaches

Registration still open

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 1/3/2012 10:13:57 AM

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The groundbreaking and rapidly approaching Casual Living Conference will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, Fla. and registration is still open.

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 Bob Davies of High Performance Training, Inc. Davies is the author of The Sky is Not the Limit - You Are and is a former college football coach and sought after motivational speaker. 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 numbers and Gallery Furniture's own Robert Williams will discuss taking technology to the next level. Financial analyst Jerry Epperson of Mann, Armistead & Epperson will give his take on the casual category and Tiffany Vasilchik of Material ConneXion, will present the latest in materials germane to outdoor.

Retail and supplier panels will examine critical issues facing the outdoor industry today, zero in on 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."

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 Casual Living Executive Editor Nicole Crews at ncrews@casualliving.com or Publisher Norman Hamilton at nhamilton@casualliving.com.

The event is sponsored by Sunbrella, Agio, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., Treasure Garden, AmericasMart, , TUUCI, Pride Family Brands, the International Casual Furnishings Association, , Telescope Casual Furniture, Gensun Casual, International Market Centers, , Dallas Market Center, Hanamint, Alu-Mont, Casual Cushion, Windward Design Group, Alfresco Home, Gloster, , Lane Venture, Lloyd/Flanders, OW Lee, and sponsorships are still available.