Photo Credit: Mashable

According to a recent article published on the Washington Post’s website, NBC proclaims the 2012 London Olympic Games was the most-watched television event in history. This means added marketing exposure for sponsors and donors, including companies in the home furniture and accessory industry as well as outdoor product manufacturers.

Contemporary and transitional upholstery specialist, Lazar, recently provided its Lodi chair to Bob Costas’ NBC Olympic coverage set. The chair is manufactured from kiln-dried hardwoods with hardwood plywood, and the fabric is designed from 100% recycled materials such as linen, cotton, hemp, and bamboo. This is the second time one of Lazar’s products has been used on set during the Olympics, the first being the winter games in Vancouver. To learn more about Lazar’s participation in the Olympic Games, click here to read the article on Furniture Today’s website.

Another company that was featured at the Olympic Games was Telescope Casual, a leading manufacturer of outdoor and wood furniture. The company’s director chairs were used on the set of the Today Show, providing comfortable seating for host Savannah Guthrie and Olympic athletes. Telescope Casual uses local supplies and grows / maintains its own 8,000-acre forest in New York, allowing it to control the quality of its handmade products. For information about Telescope International’s contribution to the Olympic Games, click here to read the article on Casual Living’s website.

Competitor Swim Products, a division of Richey Industries, Inc.’s Competitor Racing Lanes, were used during the London games. The company, a manufacturer of outdoor furniture as well as racing lanes for competitive swimming, has been supplying the lane lines for the last nine Olympics. Learn more about Richey Industries, Inc.’s involvement in the Olympic Games by clicking here.

A big thanks to all those who participated in the 2012 Olympic Games. We look forward to seeing what Rio 2016 has in store for us, and the furniture industry!

The 2012 Southern Living Idea House is a place where visitors can be inspired by eye-catching style, design and décor. Simply put, ideas for the home abound in every corner. One look at the house from afar is a quick tell-tale that many experts had a hand in renovating the former farmhouse to what is now a breath-taking home that exudes a true sense of southern living.

From its very framework and well-designed architecture to the lush landscape and grounds to an elegant yet comfortable interior, the Idea House seems to have been a labor of love. A talented design team, generous sponsors, Southern Living and Time, Inc. staff members, and many others have created an absolute must-see experience not to be missed.

Through the end of the year when the house closes its doors to visitors, our team at ECPR will be featuring many of the participating companies in a blog article series that will be linked to various home, garden, design, and mainstream media outlets. It is our hope that our readers, followers, and the media members for whom we write, will come to know the house and appreciate the many obvious contributions as much as we do.

We begin our Southern Living Idea House blog series with Robert Martin, Vice President and Head Residential Designer, at Get More Curb Appeal, LLC. He was kind enough to spend some time telling us about his company and what this year’s Idea House involvement has meant to him and his colleagues.

Photo Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Robert’s company created the breath-taking beds, borders and other planted areas surrounding this year’s house. Their design and installation allows regional and native plants to greet visitors to the house with a welcoming combination of green foliage and blooming flowers. Read on, and see what Robert has to say…

ECPR: What is your role at Get More Curb Appeal?

Robert Martin: I design the exterior renovation portion of our services, per our client’s responses to our questionnaire (their likes, dislikes, and desired results of their home makeover). I also make product and paint color recommendations based upon what’s appropriate to the style of each client’s home.

ECPR: What is your company’s specialization?

Robert Martin: Get More Curb Appeal is the only online design service that offers both exterior home makeovers and landscape plans. For a fraction of the cost, we can create customized plans for our clients that any builder, remodeler, or landscape installer can follow.

ECPR: Why and how did your company become involved with the Southern Living Idea House 2012?

Robert Martin: Another unique distinction about Get More Curb Appeal is that my three partners and I collectively share 41 years of experience by previously working at Southern Living magazine. I served as Architecture Editor at Southern Living from 2000 to 2010. My partners, all Southern Living alumni and former colleagues at the magazine, are: Jason Somerville, a horticulturalist from Clemson University; builder / New Homes Specialist Ada Love, also a graduate from Auburn; and expert gardener Julie Thaxton.

ECPR: What design and / or products did you provide to the Idea House this year?

Robert Martin: Our Jason Somerville designed the landscape plan for this year’s Idea House.

ECPR: What was the inspiration behind your design work or the installation you provided for the Idea House?

Robert Martin: Because the house at Senoia is a remodeled / renovated farmhouse, we were instructed to keep the landscape design and selection of plants as indigenous and “informal” as possible. Thus, Jason designed a plan that both complimented the house and contained a variety of regional, hardy plant material – with an emphasis on low maintenance.

ECPR: Is there a home, garden or design trend specific to your area of specialization you have noticed this year?

Robert Martin: One trend we’ve noticed – which is basically why we started Get More Curb Appeal in the first place – is that despite the lagging economy, people still want their homes to look their best, within a set budget, of course. So, when shown a creative and doable way to achieve this, homeowners are willing to allocate a little more time and money to improve their home’s and yard’s appearances.

Learn more about Get More Curb Appeal online here.

Get inspired by visiting the Southern Living Idea House’s website and plan your trip to see it in person.

Stay tuned to our blog and other social media channels from now through December to learn more about the designers and others who have contributed their expertise to the Idea House.

~ The ECPR Team

A new addition to this year’s International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is a Consumer Media Panel Session. Editors from top national, consumer publications will participate in a panel discussion to share their professional expertise on a variety of topics. As our company is the official public relations firm for the show, our very own Don Eberly and Jeff Collard conceptualized and planned the event and will moderate the panel to include outdoor room design, outdoor furniture and accessory trends, and relatable insights from the panelists’ editorial research and writing.

In addition, the panelists will also provide a brief overview of themes they tend to cover in their magazines, what they look for when sourcing content, and pertinent editorial topics they may be planning in the coming year.

The panel consists of five major consumer magazine editors, including Kit Selzer, senior home editor at Better Homes & Gardens; Jodi Bech, publisher at Garden Design; Amy Elbert, senior architecture editor at Traditional Home; Amy Mitchell, managing editor at Coastal Living; and Eugenia Santiesteban Soto, style director at Veranda. The session, “Inspired Exteriors: Consumer Media Panel,” will take place on Friday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. in room 8A, 8th floor of the Chicago Merchandise Mart. We look forward to seeing our industry peers there!

Designers, are you considering fall color palettes? Pantone has released the top fall colors for 2012. French Roast, Olympian Blue, Honey Gold, Tangerine Tango, Ultramarine Green, Titanium, and Bright Chartreuse will be in stores come September. And, the combination of these colors will transform any room in the house into a trendy, stylish living area.

Photo Credit: Bella Patina

Photo Credit: The Suite Life Designs

Photo Credit: Serenity in Design

Photo Credit: Romanoff Elements

Photo Credit: The Suite Life Designs

Photo Credit: Dec0r.com

Photo Credit: The Style Handler

Photo Credit: Richard Leo Johnson

Nationally acclaimed painters from across the United States began gathering in the village of Cashiers, NC on Sunday, July 15, and will be there until Saturday, July 21. With the opportunity to set up easels on top of Whiteside Mountain, each painter will set out to capture the landscape and lifestyle of the quaint, rustic town. The Plein Air committee has planned a number of exciting events throughout the week to attract visitors from across the states including, Artist in Action, Wet Room Exhibit Sales, Art Flag Silent Auction, a lecture by Julyan Davis, luncheon with Susan Sully, The Patron Party, and a book signing by our client Jim Strickland and Terry Pylant of Historical Concepts, a firm that specializes in traditional architecture, planning and place-making services for homeowners, developers and civic clients.

Historical Concepts will be participating in two events during the Plein Air Festival.

The first event will take place Friday, July 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Village Green Conservancy Committee’s Plein Air Patrons Party.

The Village Green Conservancy Committee will be hosting its Patron Party to display top art pieces from the Plein Air Art Festival. Tickets for this event are $85 per person. Attendees will be able to mingle with the artists and purchase various works of art from the Plein Air Festival. Historical Concepts’ Jim Strickland and Terry Pylant will be introduced by leading conservancy committee member and well-known landscape architect, Mary Palmer Dargan, as special guests during the event in regard to the firm’s new book, Coming Home: The Southern Vernacular House. Jim and Terry will be signing purchased books throughout the Patron Party. 

Photo Credit: Emily Jenkins Followill.

The second event will take place Saturday, July 21, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Village Green Conservancy Committee’s Plein Air Pavilion Art Festival.

A family-oriented free festival will be hosted by the Village Green Conservancy Committee, featuring 24 artists as well as games and food / refreshments. The artists will paint a collective “masterpiece” between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Throughout the duration of the festival, Historical Concepts’ Jim Strickland and Terry Pylant will be signing purchased copies of Coming Home: The Southern Vernacular House at a special book signing table under the pavilion. Those in attendance will have the chance to meet Jim and Terry, and learn about their passion for designing southern vernacular homes with historic precedent in the Cashiers / Highlands region, and beyond.

If you are in the Cashiers or Highlands area this weekend, and are a fan of Historical Concepts we encourage you to stop by Plein Air. It will be an event you will not want to miss out on! To learn more visit its website at: www.pleinairnc.com

Our team at Eberly & Collard Public Relations is counting down the days until this year’s OFA Short Course. The show will be taking place Saturday, July 14 through Tuesday, July, 17, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. Two of our team members, Don and Jeff, will be attending this year’s OFA along with our client Terra Nova Nurseries.

Each year, exhibitors from around the world showcase the latest and most innovative products that will soon be available to consumers through garden and home store retailers from coast to coast. In addition, show goers will have the opportunity to connect with fellow industry peers, establish business relationships as well as attend inspiring educational seminars and talks. This year there will be nearly 500 companies represented at the show, 120 speakers from across the world, and 140 sessions for all segments of the industry.

In the New Varieties displays, show-goers will get a first-hand look at the new introductions from the exhibitors at OFA. These new plants will have the latest genetic characteristics for improved crop performance including growth under low temperatures, light conditions, and insect and disease resistance. Be sure to stop by Terra Nova Nurseries New Varieties displays (NV 92 and NV 93) to see several of the company’s new plants as well as their booth (#2013).

Don and Jeff will be available at Terra Nova Nurseries’ booth for media visits and they look forward to seeing everyone at the show. If you plan on attending OFA, feel free to leave comments before or during the show.

To learn more about OFA follow the link below:
http://bit.ly/Oq7800

We recently wrote an article featuring our client, Big River Industries, that was featured in Storm Water Solutions’ May / June issue. Our team worked with the magazine editors to secure and write the article for our client.

The article is about how Big River Industries’ expanded clay lightweight aggregate (LWA) was used to solve a roadway-widening dilemma in a Minneapolis suburb. The city faced a problem with a 3-mile stretch of swampy land with unstable soils that ran along side the road. City officials and the department of transportation were looking for a cost-effective solution to widen the road that was sustainable, environmentally responsible and safe. Then, they were introduced to Big River Industries and found just the solution they needed.

Below is the actual article from the magazine and a link to the online article. Find out more about this fascinating story.

http://www.estormwater.com/filling-gaps

Visit Big River Industries website to learn more about the company: http://bigriverindustries.com/

Photo Credit: Emily Jenkins Followill

Planning a trip to Seaside, FL and its surrounding beach towns? Don’t miss out on this great book signing event at Sundog Books in July. Andrew Cogar of Historical Concepts, a Georgia-based architecture firm famous for southern vernacular architecture with historic precedent, will sign purchased copies of the firm’s new book entitled, Coming Home: The Southern Vernacular House at Sundog Books in Seaside, FL, July 10, 2012, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT. The event will include an opportunity to meet Cogar, obtain copies of the new book, and learn how Florida architecture is being influenced by the popular vernacular style and historic precedent.

The homes featured in Coming Home capture the spirit and essence of southern-style. Beautifully photographed, the book offers readers a wide range of southern design inspiration and a look at the highly desirable lifestyle that is all things coastal.

The partners of Historical Concepts seamlessly teamed to write Coming Home, which was published by Rizzoli in March 2012. Every home pictured and described in the book showcases meticulously designed exteriors and interiors with unified elements, resulting in a display of facades that are pleasing from all vantage points and floor plans that reflect the various homeowners’ unique lifestyles. Additionally, the book’s published residences, buildings and neighborhoods were designed indicative of the South’s thematic style.

Photo Credit: Richard Leo Johnson

In fact, one of the homes predominantly pictured in the book, “Cottage Revisited,” located in the serene coastal area of Palmetto Bluff, S.C., was modeled after Historical Concepts’ founder’s beach cottage in Watercolor, Fla. The home’s design echoes the relaxed environment of traditional coastal living, which is a beloved trait among many southern-style homes.

For nearly thirty years, our client Historical Concepts has designed country houses, mountain retreats, and coastal cottages that pay homage to the South’s deep sense of place. Whether drawing from the refined residences of Charleston and Savannah, the rural farmhouses and rustic cabins in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or the quintessential coastal spirit along the 30A corridor, the firm specializes in award-winning, regional architecture and design.


Event details:

What: Coming Home: The Southern Vernacular House book signing with Historical Concepts’ co-author Andrew Cogar.

Where: Sundog Books, 89 Central Square, Seaside, FL 32459.

Facebook allows users to post content in a variety of different ways, including photos and albums, videos, link-sharings, notes, status updates and questions. But, the key is to post content that will have an impact on your company’s target audience and encourage interaction. In this blog article, our team explores a small selection of the many types of Facebook posts which can potentially help grow a wider, social fan base.

• Photos: Studies show, photos and albums posted on Facebook generate the most interaction among friends and fans. By nature, we are visual beings, and photos have the ability to capture the attention of target audiences. Posting images of new products and services enables fans to learn more about what your company has to offer. In addition, photos of company gatherings and events humanize a brand, which helps build trust among Facebook fans and customers. When sharing photos on Facebook, be sure to include insightful, concise captions for all images; this way the meaning of the photo isn’t lost. 

• Questions: Like photos, posting questions can help increase interaction among Facebook friends and fans. A relevant, industry-related question opens a dialogue between companies and target audiences, creating two-way communication. Additionally, posting questions on Facebook presents a great opportunity for businesses to conduct market research. There are two ways to post questions on Facebook, using the “Questions” function, which allows users to add “Poll Options,” or the “Status” feature. 

• Status Update: Simple status updates produce a high level of engagement amongst Facebook fans. In a recent study, social media expert, Jeff Bullas, stated the majority of Facebook users prefer to read short posts as opposed to long status updates. More and more Americans are checking personal Facebook accounts on mobile devices, thus, shorter posts are easier to scroll through and respond to. 

These are just a few methods for increasing interaction through social networking. Bookmark our blog and watch for more tips from our team for maximizing your social proof and presence.

Friends and fans, have you found certain post types bring in more “Likes” and comments than others? Feel free to share any comments, ideas or stories in the designated section below.

Our client, Terra Nova Nurseries, was recently featured on Greenhouse Grower’s website, a trade publication for the horticultural industry. The article showcased one of the company’s newest heuchera varieties, ‘Gotham’. Our team worked with the magazine’s editors to help secure this media coverage for Terra Nova Nurseries, and it’s just one example of many.

At ECPR, one of our goals is to actively communicate, establish and secure media relations for our clients. This includes byline articles, feature stories, press releases, brand / product mentions, photo shoots, radio and television interviews, media tours and much more. Our company thrives on gaining brand recognition for our clients, through regional, national and international media outlets and channels. With our specialty being the home, garden and design industries, ECPR has, over the years, established strong relationships with media members in these specific fields. Thus, our knowledge, in combination with our large database of editors, writers, publishers, bloggers, social media contacts, etc, ensures our clients we are supremely qualified to effectively help market products and brands to their customers or clients.

To view the article on Greenhouse Grower’s website, see below, or click here to read the article online. Also, please feel free to visit our website at www.eberlycollardpr.com to learn more about our traditional public relations services as well as our social media services.