Bacon's Outdoor Living Store shares its sizzle

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 2/29/2012 8:51:00 AM

Furniture/Today Editor-in-Chief Ray Allegrezza listens as Bill Bacon, president of Bacon’s Furniture, describes his Outdoor Living Store. To the right of Bacon are Jim Schultz, owner of Patios Plus; Terri Lee Rogers, VP sales/marketing, OW Lee and Leisa Rogers McCollister, marketing manager, OW Lee.

Retailers and manufacturers pay attention as a Winston sales rep describes a dining group.

SARASOTA, Fla. — Bill Bacon, who has operated Bacon's Furniture for more than 30 years, led an industry group tour through his new 14,500-sq.-ft. Outdoor Living Store at the start of last week's 25 Casual Living Conference in Sarasota, Fla.
"We're not interested in just selling outdoor furniture; we're interested in the lifestyle," Bacon said.
More than 25 conference attendees, both manufacturers and fellow retailers, participated in the tour of the former Thomasville Furniture gallery store.
Among the manufacturers available to answer questions about their products on display at the Outdoor Living Store were Tropitone President and CEO Cap Hendrix, Ebel National Sales Manager Mark Bottemiller and Summer Classics VP of Sales Harold Hudson. Sales representatives of other lines carried by the store also were on hand to provide greater detail about furniture displays including Lane Venture, Suncoast, Winston and Windward Design Group.
The tour continued across the street at the 67,000-sq.-ft. Bacon's Furniture store, a former Robb & Stucky location.
When asked about two color-coordinated displays of home accents, Bacon said those Color Posts were for indoor use but added designer Connie Post has assured him she will compile one using outdoor products. "I'm convinced accessories are a big ticket - or can be," Bacon said.