The July edition of the Casual Market has traditionally been the big market for new product launches, and exhibitors did not disappoint this year.
In fact, many said it was their best Casual Market in some time as retailers have worked through their inventory and are ready to buy again.
“We are thrilled by the industry’s embrace of its new home at AmericasMart Atlanta,” Andmore President Dorothy Belshaw tells Casual News Now. “In just one year, we have expanded resources for buyers with nearly 15% growth in showrooms and temporary exhibits. Our thesis of the value of the cross-over traffic between casual and our gift and home market has delivered not only the market’s core base of specialty outdoor retailers but also buyers from complementary channels like mass merchants, general retailers, and interior designers. The commerce and connections happening this July signalled a strong fall market ahead in September.”
At C.R. Plastics, the company unveiled a collection of new chairs that come in at lower price points but still have the strength and integrity of the company’s higher-end products.
C.R. Plastics’ Crystal Harbour collection
The pieces are made with a slate material formed from recycled scraps. The pieces are also able to be built faster — in under 40 minutes, according to the company — and are foldable. They are available in a variety of colors from red to blue, white and slate
Dubbed the Crystal Harbor collection, the company plans to expand this line to become its own brand within the brand, offering a different logo and noticeably different style than C.R. Plastics other pieces.
Vanguard brought its indoor-styled lines to market in a brand-new permanent showroom this year and displayed several innovative collections, like Nested and Bliss.
Vanguard Nested
Nested featured moveable pillows that act as backrests and allow the entire sectional to be modified to fit a person’s needs. This was expanded into chairs that act as umbrella bases and have a rotating three-prong cushion to separate seating. Bliss has a unique arm blanket that sits over the arm rest and allows a more comfortable spot to relax.
The company’s Drift synthetic teak collection is an example of another trend we saw everywhere. Teak is expensive and a tough material to maintain, so many companies are introducing wood-grain aluminum looks that look just like real wood.
Lloyd Flanders was also at the forefront of this trend this market, as it released its first aluminum set with a wood-grain-look, Pursuit. With a beefy frame, the slope arms add an architectural element and also slope naturally with the way and arm lays on an arm rest.
Peter Homestead, designer of the Pursuit collection, says visual interest is in, and boxy looks are out, which is what the collection exemplifies.
That’s a trend we found all across the market — modern, straight lines are increasingly being replaced by fluid curves that offer less perfection and more natural beauty.
This trend could be seen at Tropitone as well, where lines like the Glendale and Mirage collections, which featured distinct design elements like a fluted table base and sling behind cushions on the seating.
The company also released a new fire pit this market that comes in 3 sizes and colors and had a storage area inside the table for a gas tank.
Mode, a company that has been selling in Europe for years, has entered the U.S. market with a showroom in Atlanta, and the company had several innovative, patented mechanisms scattered throughout its pieces.
One of which is an extendable dining table that pulls out, expanding the slats to give them space. When the table is closed, the slats are closed tightly, offering two different looks for the table depending on its length.
The company also had a patented mechanism for its chaise lounge chairs that make reclining and declining as easy as a flick of the finger. The company is making a big push into the U.S. with its sleek products.
Woodard expanded its Alex Hampton collection with umbrellas and planters that help bring an outdoor room together. The company also touted its Reed collection, a retro-styled collection made from iron, which calls back to the origins of Woodard.
The company also released the giant Gather modular sectional. With a faux teak polymer, the line stands as a statement pieces. Company officials say they were not sure how the industry oudl react to this collection because its much different than anything Woodard usually does, but they have been pleasantly surprised.
Another trend we saw all around market was the use of dark colors on frames and cushions. Many exhibitors, from OW Lee to Sunset West to Ratana displayed these colors on collections. Officials say that the colors are coming in because they look sleek and high-end, and people want simplicity outside.
Ratanta’s Gemelli collection has elegant rope and a bucket-chair design. It was shown in a black frame with gray cushions with a stone table top to give them whole set an organic feel.
OW Lee’s new Arc collection was shown with a black frame and gray cushions and was paired with a fresh firetable featuring a Dekton stone alternative material. Available in two colorways the company says it already plans to expand the fire table to include different styles and colors.
At Sunset West, Malibu was the dark-colored star of the show, with a unique design on the back that ties the fabric to the frame, as well as sleek curvy lines that play into the trend of slopes instead of straight lines.
Overall, the market had more than enough new and innovative product for retailers to explore. The September market is shaping up to be a show comparative in popularity to July, so many will be able to see these products in person again — or for the first time — at the end of the year.
