A bevy of events still to come at Casual Market

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/21/2012 10:17:30 AM

CHICAGO — The first day of the 2012 International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market has come and gone, but attendees still have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of special events and presentations:

Friday

10 a.m. | Room 8A, 8th Floor

Today's top consumer media publications present an informative panel discussion. Panelists include esteemed editors or publishers of home/shelter, design and garden magazines, including Kit Selzer, senior home editor at Better Homes & Gardens; Jodi Bech, publisher at Garden Design; Amy Elbert, senior architecture editor at Traditional Home; Amy Mitchell, managing editor at Coastal Living; and Eugenia Santiesteban Soto, style director at Veranda.

Panelists will share their professional expertise on a variety of topics including outdoor room design, outdoor furniture and accessory trends, and relatable insights from their editorial research and writing. The panelists will also provide a brief overview of themes they tend to cover, what they look for when sourcing content, and pertinent topics they may be planning in the coming year.

ICFA Awards Reception
6:30-8 p.m. | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Ballroom

A special ICFA awards event to highlight the presentation of the Design Excellence Category Award winners and the announcement of the Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show" Award. The ICFA Sales Representative of the Year Award will also be presented along with the coveted Manufacturer of the Year Award. ICFA Members and invited guests. Cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres. Hosted by the ICFA.

Saturday

Five Budget-Friendly Ways to Refresh, Revitalize & Renovate Your Patio Store NOW!
9:30 a.m. | Room 8A, 8th Floor

Customers today want it all - an appealing store, excellent customer service, great prices and a memorable shopping experience. Customers also want to shop in an attractive, inspiring environment. Linda Cahan, an internationally recognized expert in visual merchandising with more than 25 years of experience in the retail industry, will tell you what you can do now to make your store a positive, memorable and successful shopping experience for both old and new customers.

In this session you'll discover how emotional and sensory merchandising helps your customer remember your store and come back for more. Simple visual merchandising techniques and tips will be discussed with plenty of visuals to help you make it a reality in your own store. Every idea will be geared to a limited budget along with some ways to make things happen at little to no cost. Presented by Hearth & Home magazine and sponsored by Agio, Lloyd Flanders and Sunbrella.

Proven Social Media Success for Home Furnishings Businesses
1:30 p.m. | Room 8A, 8th Floor

Trying to keep up on changes in social and mobile media and where it fits in your business plan? Casual Living magazine will host a panel of retailers and online marketers from the home furnishings industry who have achieved real success with social media. Learn their best tips, strategies and secrets for building a social community of brand loyalists and leveraging those fans to build your business.

The panel of experts, including Chad Harris, owner, The Garden Gate, Metairie, La..; Rick Septoski, marketing manager, American Sales, Tinley Park, Ill.; and Candace Corlett, president, WSL Strategic Retail, New York; will share their thoughts on where to focus your efforts in the rapidly evolving world of social media. This fast-paced session includes plenty of time for you to question our panel of experts about how to implement their tactics into your marketing strategy. Presented by Casual Living magazine and sponsored by Telescope Casual Furniture.

Apollo Awards Banquet
6:30 p.m. | Field Museum, Stanley Field Hall

The Apollo Awards celebrate the influential contributions made by industry leaders. Top retailers in single- and multi-store categories will be honored and the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees will be recognized.
By invitation only and tickets required. Hosted by the ICFA and MMPI.