2005 INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES MARKET™ FACT SHEET
(Current August 4, 2005)
Official Show Name: |
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ |
Show Location, Dates and Times: |
The Merchandise Mart Chicago, Ill. 60654 Sept. 14-17, 2005 Wednesday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily |
Show Producer and Manager: |
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) |
What: |
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is the only show in the United States that is recognized and formally endorsed by the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SFMA) and Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR), and exclusively devoted to the indoor/outdoor casual furnishings industry. |
Net Show Space: |
The Market boasts approximately 300,000 square feet of overall exhibit space, with more than 183,000 square feet on floors 16 and 17 and more than 120,000 square feet of Market Suites exhibit space. |
Product Represented: |
Wrought iron/aluminum, cast metal/cast combination, rattan/wicker/woven materials, resin/fiberglass, wood casual furniture, dining tables and umbrellas, hammocks, outdoor lighting, outdoor accessories/statues/fountains, outdoor bars, barbecues, pool & spa accessories, tubular materials and much more. |
Expected Number of Exhibits: |
Approximately 300 exhibiting manufacturers in the casual furniture and casual accessories industries, including more than 30 permanent showrooms on the 16th and 17th floors and 300 temporary exhibits located in the 7th- and 8th-floor Market Suites. |
Expected Attendance and Attendee Profile: |
Approximately 5,000 specialty casual furniture retailers, home furnishings retailers, department stores, pool and spa retailers, garden center retailers, hearth and fireplace retailers, cataloguers, hardware stores, discount/mass merchandisers, gift, holiday and decorative accessory retailers. |
Industry Presentations: |
Three complimentary, informative industry events led by prominent experts in the field will be available on Thursday, Sept. 15, and Friday, Sept. 16. Thursday, Sept. 15 Sponsors: Hearth & Home magazine, Lloyd/Flanders and MMPI Topic: The Outdoors is the ‘New’ Indoors: The Nine Things Every Casual Furniture Marketer Needs to Know about the Luxury Market Presenter: Pam Danziger, Unity Marketing Location: Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 2nd floor 8:45-9:45 a.m.-Seminar Sponsor: Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) Topic: Motivating Consumers to Buy Outdoor Furnishings: Exclusive Research from SCFMA Presenter: Dr. Michael Cohen, The Michael Cohen Group Location: 7th floor Conference Room 7-A/B Noon-Complimentary lunch will be served 12:30-1:30 p.m.-Seminar Friday, Sept. 16 Sponsor: Garden Design Magazine Topic: Garden Design Culture: Hot Tips & Trends Presenter: Garden Design magazine representative Location: 7th floor Conference Room 7-A/B Noon-Complimentary lunch will be served 12:30-1:30 p.m.-Seminar |
Special Events: |
Merchandising Excellence Awards Wednesday, Sept. 14 Judging will take place on the show floors in the morning; award banners will be presented in the afternoon. Official recognition of winners will be at the Casual Furniture Retailers Association Membership Breakfast. Design Excellence Awards Breakfast Thursday, Sept. 15 8-8:30 a.m. LuxeHome™-American International Tile, Merchandise Mart, Suite 134 46th Apollo Awards Thursday, Sept. 15 6:30 p.m Navy Pier Grand Ballroom By invitation only Casual Furniture Retailers Association Membership Breakfast – Manufacturer Leadership Awards and Official Presentation of the First Ever Merchandising Excellence Awards Friday, Sept. 16 7:30-9 a.m. Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, 15th floor Annual Market Party Friday, Sept. 16 6-8 p.m. East Bank Club Rooftop Deck |
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ is a trademark of MMPI.
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show, leasing and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, 350 W. Mart Center and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Natalie Campbell
Public Relations Associate
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Phone: 312.527.7790
E-mail: ncampbell@mmart.com
Jackie Paulsen
Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Phone: 312.527.5777
E-mail: jpaulsen@mmart.com