ATLANTA — Heading into the July edition of Casual Market Atlanta, many in the industry weren’t sure what to expect. The show shifted a week later because of the FIFA World Cup games held in Atlanta, setting it apart from the summer Atlanta Market, which was held in June. But throughout AmericasMart showrooms, manufacturers reported solid buying from attendees.
“It was good, actually — we were pleasantly surprised because I didn’t know what would happen because of FIFA and maybe people would think there’s too much going on, plus the gala is in September,” said Benjamin Ma, CEO, Treasure Garden. “But we were really packed on Tuesday and we were also quite busy on Wednesday, so that’s a good thing.”
Several exhibitors reported slower showroom traffic, but more quality visitors who were ready to buy.
“We’ve been busy,” said Lisa Dominy, Polywood. “Not as many new people, but it’s been a really good show.”
Regan Wilcox, director of marketing at Berlin Gardens, reported similar traffic in their showroom during market.
“We were pleasantly surprised,” she said. “Mornings were a little slower and then it picked up around noon. We’re really happy with market.”
Innovative intros
Buyers at Casual Market Atlanta had plenty to see in the showrooms, as manufacturers brought a range of distinctive new product launches to the show.
Polywood entered a new material category this market with the launch of its woven seating line.
“This is our biggest launch for the show, so we now have mixed materials,” Dominy said. “It comes in several different collections, high-back, low-back.”
Tropitone also celebrated a big launch this market, rolling out a new table program that includes 10 new finishes ranging from various stone looks to even a burlwood design created through a sublimation process.
“There are different ways to do sublimation, but we’re using the European standard,” said Frank Verna, president, Tropitone. “Essentially we take a sheet of aluminum, coat it with a proprietary powder coat and put it into a tray with a dye film that is heated, sublimating the dye into the powder coat.”
Verna said this ensures durability while also streamlining the process so that additional cost-adding steps aren’t needed. The line is available in five different top styles and five different base options.
OW Lee introduced its new EverLee poly lumber material for furniture details such as the arms of the Harbour collection, tabletops and firepits. EverLee offers the look of wood without rotting, splintering or upkeep. The material is available in three finishes — Birchwood, Coastal Grey and Brazilian Walnut.
Castelle launched several collections this market, including the standout Nosara, named for a city in Costa Rica. The collection features soft, curved lines created with rounded extrusions and a low profile that give it a sleek, contemporary look.
“On a chaise, a lot of times it just cuts off at the bottom and doesn’t look finished, but because of these soft, grounded angles, it just seamlessly rolls into the grounded extrusion on the bottom,” said Stephanie Pereira, vice president of sales, Castelle. “It gives the chaise a very finished look that Castelle is known for.”
Mallin gave buyers a new option this market with its first-ever ready-to-assemble collections. Perry Solomon, senior vice president of residential sales for Mallin and sister company Woodard, said the lines are in response to the growing cost of freight coupled with tariff pressure.
“We took the right approach by not reducing the quality — you’re not going to get this look from anyone else and it’s still a value,” he said. “You cannot tell they’re ready-to-assemble, and the freight factor is amazing.”
New spaces and faces
Along with bringing its largest product introduction in years to market, Sunset West also opened a new showroom dedicated to its Margaritaville licensed line. The space featured a range of coastal-inspired looks from the collection launched with parent company Hooker in October.
In addition to Margaritaville, Sunset West’s introductions included everything from the contemporary Encinitas with rounded frames and sintered stone tabletops at an accessible price point to the handwoven Vento with warm teak frames and all-weather rope detailing.
Skyline Design marked its first Casual Market since being acquired by Voolcan Group. The company brought new designs from Voolcan’s high-end SKLD division, including woven seating featuring a distinctive design approach.
“This is all handwoven, and what’s amazing is you’ll never see an end or beginning of the weave — it goes up inside the metal frame and is then hooked over and brought back down,” said Perry Catanese, Skyline Design sales. “It’s two really long reeds meticulously handwoven.”
Catanese said this has been a great year business-wise for Skyline, with the infusion of capital from the acquisition and strong demand from the high-end and hospitality markets, which Voolcan specializes in.
“They do resorts and hotels everywhere,” Catanese said. “Hospitality is huge for them.”
While American Eco-Living has had a space at Casual Market for a couple of years, the buzz in the showroom this market was unmistakable, thanks to new president and casual industry veteran Andy Sokol. Sokol took the reins of the company’s North American operation earlier this year, and he’s spent the past few months assembling a sales team and preparing the company to make a splash at market with new products.
“We took everything out of the showroom and brought in 30 new collections,” he said. “We had so much new stuff that we took a second showroom upstairs. We really had a makeover in merchandise and cut a couple of reps because I didn’t want anybody repping multiple lines.”
Photo by TKTK
Sokol said he tapped sales reps working in the indoor market, with the strategy of expanding American Eco-Living’s reach into full-line furniture retail.
“Until I came in, most of the customers were patio specialty stores. We love patio specialty stores and want to help them be successful,” he said. “But we’d never sold furniture stores, so I think we’ll be a major player in that channel. And we’re also talking to mass market because we can make the most expensive, beautiful patio furniture you’ve ever seen, but we also can make a lower-priced Adirondack chair.”
Sokol credited American Eco-Living’s factory in China for having the capability to produce furnishings that can hit a range of price points. And he said the company is dedicated to protecting its brick-and-mortar retailers while also having a presence online.
“We’re going to have select distribution so people can make money without worrying about what they’re going to see on the internet,” he said. “That’s the advantage of doing business with us. We’re very selective, and if we put something out at the mass level, it’s going to be totally different.”
