Casual Living

Courtney M. Paschal

Silver Linings
March 3, 2008

As news broke earlier this year that Fortunoff, another well-known, established specialty retailer in our industry was again facing challenges, this time filing Chapter 11 and subsequently being bought by Lord & Taylor parent company NRDC Equity, a hearty, collective sigh could be heard in the furnishings industry. 

It’s times like this the reality of the marketplace is again at the forefront of our minds. In the days that followed the news, I was putting together the Spring issue of Garden Decor and contacted many manufacturers who had exhibited at the winter trade shows. I wanted to know how they thought traffic was – was business good? Were orders being written? 

The overwhelmingly positive outlook, even when some expressed frustration at a slow start to 2008, was telling. It feels comforting to know that even in tough times, many of us keep a good attitude. We believe that perhaps there really is a silver lining to every dark cloud. What the silver lining may prove itself to be has yet to be revealed, but according to those I spoke with, it definitely exists. 

How is your outlook?

Posted by Courtney M. Paschal on March 3, 2008 | Comments (0)