Top Stories

• Dallas Market Center launches mobile app
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 23, 2012
  Dallas Market Center has released its comprehensive mobile application now available for download from the iTunes and Android App Stores.
  
• Sanrio partners with Exhart for Hello Kitty garden décor
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 20, 2012
  Sanrio has partnered with garden décor manufacturer Exhart, to develop a line of garden décor and accessories featuring the iconic Hello Kitty. The agreement is effective immediately.
  
• Three Coins Cast relocates High Point showroom
  
  Jesse Burkhart, January 20, 2012
  Three Coins Cast, manufacturer of cast aluminum outdoor furniture, has relocated its High Point showroom from Showplace to the Suites at Market Square, space G-3033.
  
• ICFA announces 2012 retail council members
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 19, 2012
    The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) announced the 2012 leadership of its retail council.
  
• Former Meadowcraft CFO convicted of wire fraud
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 16, 2012
  A federal judge sentenced former Meadowcraft CFO Larry Gene Maynor to 2 ½ years in prison for fraud totaling more than $5 million, according to a report by The Birmingham News last Wednesday.
  
• Koelnmesse trade show manager leaving post
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 17, 2012
  Metin Ergül, head of division in Koelnmesse's trade fair management unit, will be leaving the company on March 31 to pursue a new position as managing director of a company in the health sector.
  
• Robb & Stucky buys land for second Florida store in Naples
  
  Clint Engel (Furniture/Today), January 16, 2012
  Robb & Stucky International, which opened its first store in nearby Fort Myers, Fla., this month, has purchased 2.3 acres here for a second 60,000-sq.-ft. showroom.
  
• Casual Living introduces industry's only online directory
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 18, 2012
  A resource of distributors, importers, manufacturers and suppliers, Casual Living's online directory allows industry vendors a way to connect to a larger audience and increase exposure.
  
• Former Ty exec named president at Midwest-CBK
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 18, 2012
  MVP Group International, parent company to garden accents supplier Midwest-CBK, announced today that it has hired Scott Wehrs as president of MW-CBK division.
  
• Dallas Market Center increases free Wi-Fi access, announces market events
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 18, 2012
  Prior to the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Jan. 18-24, Dallas Market Center announced an increase in free Wi-Fi access throughout the common areas of its 5 million-sq.-ft. campus with a more than 65% increase in bandwidth, allowing faster download speeds. In addition, AT&T has boosted its wireless network throughout the buildings to enhance wireless coverage and capacity.
  
• Summer Classics announces Ohio-based Fortin Ironworks as fourth licensee store
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 16, 2012
    Summer Classics has announced that Columbus, Ohio-based retailer Fortin Ironworks will become the fourth Summer Classics licensee store.
  
• CMC Gift & Home Market, Jan. 17-23, doubles resources
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 17, 2012
  The California Market Center (CMC) will be hosting the CMC Gift & Home Market, Jan. 17-23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20.
  
• NRF forecasts 3.4% sales growth in 2012
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 17, 2012
  The National Retail Federation projects total retail sales to grow this year by 3.4% to $2.53 trillion. Last year, sales grew 4.7%.
  
• ICFA seeks Lifetime Achievement Award nominees
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 16, 2012
    The International Casual Furnishings Association is now accepting nominations to be considered for the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award.
  
• Foreside, Surya and IMAX announced as Atlanta ART Card participants
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 13, 2012
  Accessories Resource Team, the association for the decorative accessory segment of the home furnishings industry, announced 14 vendors will be participating in the organization's ART Card program during the 2012 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.
  
• Ikea to add solar panels at five more U.S. locations
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 13, 2012
  Ikea plans to install solar energy panels on five more of its U.S. stores.
  
• WithIt announces 2012 board, including new social media VP
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 13, 2012
  WithIt, the women's leadership network serving the home and furnishings industries, is kicking off an anniversary year by naming its 2012 Board of Directors.
  
• LMS expands 2012 Home Resort Collection
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 10, 2012
    LMS, the corporate parent of Cal Spas, OC Hot Tubs, Cal Flame, Cal Heat, Cal Designs, Coleman Spas, American Spas and Geo Spas, has announced it will launch the Genesis Rotomold Spa Series and the Hercules Synthetic Cabinet option in 2012.
  
• Bullfrog Spas wins IPG Supplier of the Year Award
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 10, 2012
  Bullfrog International was awarded the 2011 Independent Pool Group's Supplier of the Year Award, voted on by members of the association of pool and spa retailers.
  
• Weber's 2012 accessories launch marks largest in company history
  
  Casual Living Staff, January 9, 2012
    Weber-Stephen Products, a manufacturer of outdoor gas and charcoal grills and grilling accessories, is introducing more than 25 accessories for 2012 - the largest accessories launch in the company's 60-year history.