Plan to arrive one day early to the Casual Market

The International Casual Furnishings Association will host its third annual Industry Roundtable from noon to 6pm on Tuesday, September 15, the day prior to the opening of the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market in Chicago.

The event will include discussions of topics including:

• Targeting the Younger Customer
• Cutting Costs and Increasing the Bottom Line
• Best Practices in Marketing
• Transitioning Online Sales from Your Website
• Managing Store Growth/Opening Multiple Locations
• Handling Transportation and Logistics.

Of special interest to dealers, Mike Becher, senior Projects director of Industry Insights, will share understanding of the results of the 2015 ICFA Retail Benchmarking Survey. Retailers are invited to bring their company’s report for individualized analysis of store operations.

Each attendee will participate in three one-hour sessions. The Industry Roundtable will be held at the Merchandise Mart. Box lunches will be available at noon, and the program will begin at 1pm.

Following the afternoon program, Klaussner Outdoor will host a reception from 6 to 7pm in their showroom, Suite 16-100.

Registration for the event is $25 for ICFA members and $50 for non-members. Registration is available online. Participants will be eligible to win a variety of door prizes, including merchandise and gift certificates.

In addition to Klaussner Outdoor, lead sponsors include Glen Raven/Sunbrella and Treasure Garden.

The International Casual Furnishings Association, based in High Point, North Carolina, represents manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives and designers of outdoor furnishings plus suppliers to the industry.

Visit the website.