Latest News

  • Casual Market Atlanta exhibitors report slow traffic, quality buyers, product innovation
    At the fall edition of Casual Market Atlanta, foot traffic was noticeably slower, but many exhibitors still reported a strong show thanks to the quality of buyer appointments. “I know traffic feels lighter than July, but my calendar is really robust,” said Mark Osborne, vice president of sales at MamaGreen. “Because if they’re here, they’re…
  • How can the US home furnishings industry manage new tariffs on Canadian goods?
    On Aug. 22, new U.S. Section 338 tariffs of up to 50% took effect on a wide range of Canadian goods. Three days later, Canada announced it would match those tariffs dollar for dollar on U.S.-origin goods, effective Sept. 8. For home furnishings brands shipping into Canada, that translates directly into higher landed costs —…
  • Diversity Advocacy Alliance Award honorees announced
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point Market Authority’s Diversity Advocacy Alliance has announced its annual award honorees, who will be celebrated at a ceremony during fall market at 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at Congdon Yards. The event will be emceed by interior designer and HGTV personality Michel Smith Boyd. Beginning at 5:45 p.m., three…
  • WithIt appoints director of advancement and marketing
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — WithIt has appointed Cheryl Dobbins Hege to the role of director of advancement and marketing, tasked with strengthening industry partnerships and sponsorships, growing membership and engagement, and expanding the organization’s visibility and reach. Dobbins Hege brings more than 15 years of home furnishings industry experience spanning partnership development, sponsorships, marketing, public…
  • ITA announces new executive committee and board of directors
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The International Textile Alliance has announced its executive committee and board of directors for the 2026-27 term.  Leading the executive committee as president is Elise Gabrielson, vice president of marketing for Crypton. Joining her are Anderson Gibbons, chief revenue officer for STI as vice president, and Andy Pacuk, sales consultant for…
  • Edge34 to host neurodesign seminar during High Point Market
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Outdoor furnishings maker Edge34 will host Nicole Baxter, an international neuroaesthetics authority and NeuroDesign Academy faculty member, to its High Point Market showroom at 4 p.m. Oct. 17 for a talk on “Mapping the Nervous System of a Project.” The interactive workshop is designed to help designers better understand how they,…
  • NKBA Design Hub to feature outdoor kitchen brands
    BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The National Kitchen & Bath Association, the trade association for the kitchen and bath industry, in partnership with Cosentino Group, has announced a redesigned Design Hub at Broad Hall, debuting at the fall High Point Market.  NKBA has partnered with High Point, North Carolina-based interior design firm Barbour Spangle to introduce a…
  • Vacation Rental Design Summit to make Atlanta debut during July Casual Market
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The Vacation Rental Design Summit will make its Atlanta debut next year during the July edition of Casual Market Atlanta. The team behind the summit has partnered with Andmore to bring the event to Atlanta after a successful collaboration with Las Vegas Market earlier this year. The summit originated in High…
  • Andmore president bullish on Casual Market Atlanta
    ATLANTA — During this week’s Casual Market Atlanta, Casual News Now sat down with Andmore President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Avitabile to talk business, growth and why the outdoor industry is such an important facet of its overall market strategy. CNN: Where does Casual Market Atlanta stand today? GA: It has really grown year…
  • FabricaKraft focuses on affordable custom orders, sustainability
    As outdoor living becomes a more permanent part of how people design homes, hotels and gathering spaces, the “right fit” may matter as much as the right look. That’s one reason that special orders have been a huge part of the casual industry for the past couple of decades.  Made-to-order furnishings can reduce the compromises…
  • Hooker sets High Point Market event lineup
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Sunset West parent company Hooker Furnishings announced a full schedule of High Point Market events created for interior design professionals. From practical tools and expert insights to fresh perspectives and meaningful conversations, the series of educational events will take place during fall High Point Market, Oct. 17-21, in the Designers Theater,…
  • High Point Market Authority announces The Point programming
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point Market Authority has announced the programming lineup for The Point at fall market, slated for Oct. 17-20. Oct. 17 9:30-11 a.m. Hot Spot ToursLed by seasoned market veterans and 2026 Style Spotters, each curated tour features two to three preselected showroom stops. Ideal for new buyers and seasoned market…
  • ICFA honors industry luminaries at awards gala
    ATLANTA — The International Casual Furnishings Association celebrated some of the industry’s best and brightest at the ICFA Awards Gala, held this week at Casual Market Atlanta. This year’s ICFA Lifetime Achievement Award honorees were Terri Lee Rogers of OW Lee and Cathy Buzbee of Absco Fireplace & Patio. Rogers has been president of OW…
  • On the Scene: ICFA Awards Gala
    The casual industry celebrated some of its best and brightest at the ICFA Awards Gala. But before the awards, attendees enjoyed mixing and mingling at the chairman’s reception. We have your ticket.
  • Casual Market Atlanta social scene
    There’s no better way to celebrate the first day of Casual Market Atlanta than with cocktails and camaraderie at showroom soirees.
  • Casual Market trend: Black
    The little black dress is a classic for a reason. And at Casual Market Atlanta, black finishes, materials and fabrics gave furnishings and accessories a dose of sophistication and timeless style.
  • Sunbrella launches new collections
    ATLANTA — Sunbrella has introduced a group of new performance fabric collections, including designer collaborations and extensions of its stock upholstery program. At Casual Market Atlanta, Sunbrella launched 25 new stock additions, including solids, stripes and jacquards designed to mix and match with the full stock upholstery collection. The new SKUs will be available on…
  • Berlin Gardens and Windward Design Group name director of furniture sales
    MILLERSBURG, Ohio — Casual furnishings veteran Micke Friedrichsen has been named director of furniture sales by Berlin Gardens for its flagship brand and its subsidiary, Windward Design Group/Windward Outdoor. In this role, Friedrichsen will oversee the strategic growth, dealer relations and sales team development across both product lines, focusing on expanding retail partnerships and streamlining…
  • Pamlico Sound by Soundstage wins ICFA Design Excellence Award
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Pamlico Sound by Soundstage’s Laguna all-weather collection with concert-quality sound engineered directly into the seating earned an ICFA Design Excellence Award for the Lounge Seating Cushion category. “Soundstage has been dedicated to solution-oriented products since its inception,” said Joseph Savovic, president and CEO of Soundstage U.S.A., LLC. “As our lifestyles have…
  • Fresh finds at Casual Market Atlanta
    At this week’s Casual Market Atlanta, exhibitors will offer a spate of new product for buyers to peruse. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in AmericasMart showrooms. Ultraleather by Ultrafabrics’ Summit collection recently expanded with new colors such as Raw Cashew, Winter Mint, Charcoal Slate, Cadet Blue, Deep Maroon and more. Showroom: B1 7-1210…
  • Casual News Now partners with ICFA for Casual Market trend talk and tour
    Which trends are defining outdoor design, and what is influencing those shifts? Those questions and more will be answered by Casual News Now Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Bringle during the Trend Talk & Tour at Casual Market Atlanta.  Hosted in partnership with the International Casual Furnishings Association, the event will outline major trends in outdoor design and…
  • Zoffany partners with Michael S. Smith for outdoor fabric line
    Upholstery maker Zoffany has partnered with designer Michael S. Smith for a new indoor-outdoor fabric collection designed to create seamless transitions between interior and exterior spaces. Smith selected original documents from Zoffany’s archive as blueprints, introducing new palettes, patterns and textures inspired by sources ranging from French chintz to Japanese silk. The collection also includes…
  • High Point Market Hot Spot Tour lineup announced
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point Market Authority has released the schedule for Hot Spot Tours for fall market. The guided showroom tours are led by the 2026 High Point Market Style Spotters Oct. 17-19.  The lineup is as follows: Oct. 179:30 a.m.Style Spotter Juliana Ewer leads a tour of John-Richard, Highland House, Gabby. Style Spotter Isabel Ladd…
  • The Porch Swing Co. to unveil 1st designer collab at High Point Market
    CINCINNATI — The Porch Swing Co. will debut its first designer collaboration with Indiana furnishings manufacturer Old Hickory and designer Max Humphrey at High Point Market. The new Lodge Swing is handcrafted in Indiana by the team at Old Hickory, featuring a selection of Sunbrella fabrics from the Max Humphrey collection. The swing comes in…
  • Casual Market Atlanta announces program lineup, showroom updates and more
    ATLANTA — The fall edition of Casual Market Atlanta, slated for Sept. 15-18 at AmericasMart, will feature showroom updates, fresh product and a slate of events, including the International Casual Furnishings Association Gala and a trend seminar led by Casual News Now Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Bringle. This market, Couture Jardin will relocate to a larger showroom…
  • Jensen Outdoor seeks applicants for marketing director role
    Jensen Outdoor is accepting applications for the marketing director role, which reports to company President Bryan Echols. Jensen Outdoor is a fast-growing brand of premium outdoor luxury furniture recognized for sustainable forestry, classic modern styling and exceptional comfort. The company seeks a design-savvy, highly collaborative and data-driven marketing director to take ownership of its brand…
  • Outdoor exhibitors ready innovative introductions for Casual Market
    From versatile seating sets to effortless umbrellas, there will be no shortage of innovative outdoor products at the upcoming Casual Market Atlanta. The second show of the year allows exhibitors to show products to buyers who didn’t go in July. Here are just a few of the highlights: Oblique Studio will debut its new Ship…
  • Adriana Hoyos to host market seminar focused on the role of fashion in the home
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Whole home source Adriana Hoyos Furnishings will host an educational panel during fall High Point Market titled “Living in Fashion: Where Couture Meets Curated Interiors.” The session will be held 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 17 in the Adriana Hoyos showroom. The panel features design professionals Adriana Hoyos, Stephanie Larsen, Isabel Ladd, Don…
  • WithIt Scholarship Foundation awards more than $31,500 in student funding
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The WithIt Scholarship Foundation has awarded 17 students with a total of $31,500 in academic funding. The winners were honored at the recent WithIt Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, and also received student WithIt memberships. Scholarship honorees, their majors and institutions include: Olga Abadi Nakach, furniture design, Savannah College of Art…
  • High Point Market announces Design Influencers Tour leaders
    HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point Market Authority and Esteem Media have selected the participants for the fall market Design Influencers Tour. Six design professionals and enthusiasts from across the nation will scour market showrooms for furniture, decor, and kitchen and bath products. The Design Influencers Tour team includes Cyndy Cantley of Cantley and…