Casually Speaking
Cinde W. Ingram: Casually Speaking
Hi, this is Cinde W. Ingram and I'm the Editor in Chief of Casual Living and Garden Decor. Each week I hope to use this blog space to stay in touch with our readers. I want to know what you think about new products, markets, the retail climate and, most of all, Casual Living. Let me know what's going on. Check out my latest below.
Consumers count
Signs of economic recovery started appearing about the same time we began hearing casual furniture retail inventories were clearing out long before the selling season ended.Meanwhile the April 20 Gulf Coast oil spill kept everyone fretting about its impact on the environment. One retailer told me he thought that disaster actually helped his business because the media had turned its attention from... Read More
Comments (3)Smaller homes fit casual niche
The "incredible shrinking home," with average square footage of American homes at the lowest level since 2004, can be interpreted as a positive for the casual industry.The Census Bureau recently reported the average size of single-family homes in the fourth quarter of 2009 was 2,327 square feet, compared with the 2,561-sq.-ft. average at the beginning of 2009.A new National Association o... Read More
Comments (2)Hope for tomorrow
As I watched our new neighbor start a backyard garden, I was reminded of a saying you also may have heard: Gardening shows you believe in tomorrow. Why else would gardeners make the effort to till the soil, plant seeds, tend sprouts, add water and clear out weeds?The same forward thinking was true as my husband and son uncovered our pool to get the water clean and ready for the swimming season. In... Read More
Comments (2)Will you be ready?
Ready or not, spring has arrived and the economic rebound has begun. While economists debate the strength and speed of recovery, our niche is showing signs of rejuvenation. Early indications from specialty retailers in the nation’s warmest areas showed the casual furnishings season starting with strong consumer demand. Traditional furniture stores, in both warm and cold climates, are expanding t... Read More
Comments (0)Grilling grows
With record snow storms and related power outages across much of the nation last month, grilling became a necessity at some homes. Almost half of American grill owners said winter weather conditions, including deep snow and below-freezing temperatures, don’t stop them from enjoying the taste of grilled meats or seasonal vegetables and fruits, the latest Weber GrillWatch Survey reported. The best b... Read More
Comments (2)Seasons of change
The temperature hovered in the 30s as I drove to work, but sunshine and a clear Carolina blue sky pulled my thoughts ahead toward spring. That’s despite seeing snow still covering patches of ground and knowing this month’s Weather Trend forecast calls for more rain and snow, especially compared with last February which ranked as the nation’s third warmest in a decade. If you stock and sell fire pi... Read More
Comments (2)Help for Haiti
An effort to reach out to those hurt by the recent Haiti earthquake grew from the seed of a hot dog and chili lunch at Reed Business Information’s Greensboro office to something much more fulfilling. When Kathy Humble, our office assistant, was buying the hot dogs, buns and other food for Wednesday’s lunch, she struck up a conversation with a clerk who said he was from Haiti. She asked how his fam... Read More
Comments (1)Starting Points
Innovations and new products are the lifeblood of the leisure industry. Both industry players and consumers expect fresh and innovative designs in every segment from home furnishings and fabrics to grills, spas, pools, holiday and any other product sold within our niche. But knowledge of where and how we started can only help us set our direction ahead. While our industry keeps its focus forward,... Read More
Comments (1)What’s your outlook for 2010?
Casual Living’s 2009 Universe Study mirrors the overall sales declines that have shown up across the nation since our last industry report in 2007. It’s no surprise to see that U.S. retail sales of outdoor furniture, grills and shade products dropped from an overall $5.68 billion in 2007 to an estimated $5.52 billion last year. Sales for the outdoor industry are projected to dip another 5.3% to $... Read More
Comments (3)Powerhouse players
Important changes are underway in the casual industry as we embark on our big show in Chicago. As you can see, The Chair King bought controlling interest in Furniture Concepts to reopen six Fortunoff Backyard Stores in the Tri-State area. Big competitors Macy’s and Harrow’s also will be shopping for outdoor furnishings in Merchandise Mart showrooms. Southern Sales and Marketing also has bought t... Read More
Comments (1)Women at the Grill
With the outdoor entertaining and grilling season still going strong, I want to share these comments I received from Bruce Bjorkman, Traeger Pellet Grills’ marketing director, in response to Donna Myers’ latest grill column. He makes a strong case for pellet grills and why women grill customers would want them. In Bjorkman’s words: I read with interest Donna Myers’ column concerning women an... Read More
Comments (6)The summer of staycations
We hope customers are spending some of their money in your stores as they spend more time at home in summer. Here’s what our Research Director Dana French has to say about how the trend may improve your business: “This summer, ‘Staycations’ are the hot new rage,” according to Susie Coelho, host of HGTV’s Outer Spaces. www.casualliving.com/article/CA6666252.html Coelho goes on to say, “Many consum... Read More
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