Pelican Reef to make AmericasMart debut this week

Alexa Boschini -- Casual Living, 1/7/2013 9:27:19 AM

MIAMI - Pelican Reef, a manufacturer of indoor wicker and rattan furniture and Panama Jack brand outdoor furniture, will show at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market for the first time this week. The market runs Jan. 9-16 at AmericasMart.

Pelican Reef will show in Building 2 West Wing, Floor 7, suite 798, a showroom occupied by gift and décor company Fancy That.

"They do accessories for Panama Jack, and we're the Panama Jack outdoor licensee," said Allen Calzadilla, president of Pelican Reef.

The Panama Jack brand of beach lifestyle products debuted in the 1970s and has grown to include clothing, swimwear, shoes, hats, jewelry, beach chairs, umbrellas, luggage, bicycles and now indoor and outdoor furniture and accessories.

Pelican Reef has a permanent showroom in Chicago and also exhibits in High Point and Las Vegas, but this week marks the company's Atlanta debut. Calzadilla said the showroom across the hall from Fancy That opened at the last minute, and the company offered it to Panama Jack's other licensees.

"We haven't really done the Atlanta show, and we're really excited because we're able to tap into the designer market and more casual furniture retailers on the East Coast," Calzadilla said.

Pelican Reef will showcase its 2013 line of Panama Jack outdoor furniture in Atlanta, which includes seating and dining collections, chaise lounges, Adirondack chairs, fire pits and umbrellas.

"Last year when we became the licensee for outdoor, we introduced low price point collections out of aluminum and wicker, and what shocked the industry was the quality and the price point along with the brand name associated with it," Calzadilla said.