A portable and completely customizable line of spas, Elemental is a fantastic amalgamation of design and functionality. Constructed from water-based, eco-friendly materials, the spas are available in a plethora of colors including Snow, Moss and Canyon, as well as a “design-your-own” white Canvas model. The two-seat tubs were created with materials and textures to fit virtually any outdoor space. With a width of 32 inches and a dry weight of only 350 pounds, Elemental fits through a standard doorway, plugs into a 120 V outlet, and is as much at home on apartment patios and balconies as it is in expansive outdoor rooms.

Each spa also comes with an easy-to-use matching cover, aluminum bases and accent pieces and is equipped with high-efficiency LED exterior lights. To learn more about Elemental, as well as the company’s other innovative product lines, visit www.d1spas.com.

The design allows the chair to complement any of Kingsley-Bate’s teak dining tables. It also coordinates beautifully with several other pieces offered in the Westport line, including a sectional sofa, chaise, coffee table, and a deep seating lounge chair with an ottoman. A required cushion (not shown) is sold separately and made with durable Sunbrella® or Outdura® fabric.

The Westport dining chair is stocked in sea salt wicker, but available by special order in natural brown, textured charcoal and black. To learn more about Kingsley-Bate, one of America’s leading manufacturers of outdoor teak furniture and accessories, be sure to visit www.kingsleybate.com.

Padma’s Plantation, founded in 1997, is known for its use of natural materials such as rattan, wicker, seagrass, and rattan peel. Headquartered in a 42,000 square foot warehouse in Batavia, Ill., the firm consistently offers cutting-edge designs that call to mind a relaxed island vacation, the sophisticated yet earthy décor of a plantation in British Colonial West Indies, and the casual ambience of Latin America.

This September, the company will introduce a new outdoor line at Casual Market that follows a growing trend of durable, stone-like materials used in outdoor furniture. The Outdoor Concave Collection is crafted of sturdy glass-fiber reinforced concrete that will outlast traditional cast concrete at nearly half the weight. The collection pairs an old world feel with simple, architecturally-inspired shapes.

Family owned and operated, Padma’s Plantation focuses on quality and affordability. The company’s designs can be found in giftware, home décor, furniture and garden stores, and major retailers such as R.C. Wiley, Robb & Stucky and Jordan’s. For more information about the company and the new Outdoor Concave Collection, be sure to visit www.padmasplantation.com. And, for designers and retailers headed to Casual Market, be sure to see Padma’s Plantation in showroom 15-117 and ask the staff there more about their lines.

Ratana Home and Floral is bringing a new flare to this year’s Casual Market, the Casablanca Collection. The company, founded in 1980, offers customers an impressive array of unique and timeless outdoor furniture designs. Ratana Home and Floral’s casual furniture collections range from traditional, transitional and contemporary designs to match individual homeowners’ outdoor design styles. In addition, Ratana Home and Floral strives to design and create environmentally friendly products in order to conserve the global ecosystem. All resins and aluminum frames are 100% recyclable and non-toxic chemicals are used during the powder-coating process.

The Casablanca Collection is a design of simplicity and clarity. Crafted from all-weather graphite with black color “Sunloom” resin and hand woven over an aluminum frame, this outdoor furniture set is a must see at this year’s Casual Market. To learn more about the Ratana Home and Floral’s sustainability efforts or the Casablanca Collection, visit the company’s website at www.ratana.com.

In 2010, Gensun Casual Living, a family owned company, earned the Manufacturer Leadership Award for cast aluminum products. The company produces high-quality, highly-detailed affordable outdoor furniture for residential and commercial outdoor spaces. Most of the collections from Gensun Casual Living are crafted from cast aluminum or cast and extruded aluminum available in cushion, sling or outdoor wicker. Each product comes with a 15-year residential and 5-year commercial warranty.

This year, Gensun Casual Living will be exhibiting at Casual Market. The company will debut a new and exciting product, the Lotus Café Chair. The design features a contemporary rendition of traditional floral detailed furnishings. The stackable Lotus Café chair was designed to reflect modern style floral patterns and jewelry designs.

Designers and retailers, if you’re attending Casual Market stop by Gensun Casual Living’s showroom (16 – 116) to view the company’s new Lotus Café Chair as well as other outdoor furniture designs. For additional information about Gensun Casual Living, visit www.gensuncasual.com.

OW Lee was established in Pasadena, California, by Oddist W. Lee in 1947 as a wrought-iron gate manufacturer for luxurious estates in Southern California. Due to an increase of requests for outdoor, high-end patio furniture, Oddist shifted focus solely to designing and selling outdoor furniture. Since Oddist’s retirement, his son Bob and Bob’s wife Beverly have established OW Lee as a reputable casual furniture manufacturer. In 2008, Bob and Beverly Lee received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Casual Furnishings Association. Now, the third generation of Oddist’s has continued the tradition. This year, OW Lee will be showcasing the company’s new Tamarack Collection of outdoor furniture at Casual Market.

Founded in 2003, Highwood USA is one of the leaders in producing premium synthetic products. The company strives to create high-quality products that mimic nature’s finest materials but require very little maintenance. Highwood USA’s synthetic wood is weather-resistant, long-lasting and durable, yet gives off the appearance of real wood. This year, Highwood USA will be showcasing the company’s synthetic wood outdoor furniture including the Adirondack Collection as well as a brand new product, the laptop tray at Casual Market.

Adirondack chairs were first designed in 1903 by Thomas Lee. While vacationing in the Adirondack Mountains in Westport, NY, Lee created the outdoor chairs for his summer vacation home to enjoy the breathtaking mountain views. The original design had a straight back and seat, which were set at a slant to sit better on steep mountain inclines. The chair also featured wide armrests, which became a trademark of the Adirondack chair. Today’s Adirondack chairs feature round backs and contoured seats, such as the collection from Highwood USA. The Adirondack Collection features pieces handcrafted here in the United States available in a natural toffee color or crisp white finish.

In May, we challenged our blog readers to vote for their picks of the “best” products from the 2011 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. Many rallied behind their favorites, all stemming from the many companies we interviewed and featured this year as part of ECPR’s National Hardware Show “Best of Show” Series. From a durable self-propelled mower to unique home cleaning products – and everything in between – each of the “Best of Show” contenders was a stand-out in Las Vegas this year. With the votes tallied, there was room for just one top placement winner in the series, The Solar Attic Fan. The fan is a revolutionary product designed to reduce heat build-up in attics during the hot summer months and remove moisture during winter. Also notable is the Solar Controller, an accessory to the Solar Attic Fan, which allows users to take easy control of the unit.

The entire ECPR team would like to thank all companies who submitted their products to be considered for our “Best of Show” series. We were honored to be a part of the National Hardware Show and look forward to working with the show’s management team and exhibitors again next year. In case you missed the show, be sure to read our show recap, “National Hardware Show Yields Attention-Grabbing New Products and Revealing Industry Trends”.

Sore, tired feet? Who cares! This year’s OFA Short Course was one for the ages. Retailers, growers and media members swarmed the Columbus Convention Center, all in hot pursuit of the next greatest product.

This year’s show, “The Business of Color,” featured a colorful array of plants, containers, industry products, and services. Nearly 600 companies exhibited at the show, while over 130 educational sessions, workshops, interactive activities, and networking events took place throughout the duration of the show.

One of the highlights of the show was having the opportunity to interact with our client Terra Nova Nurseries and several high-profile editors in the horticulture industry. Editors from GIE Media, Scranton Gillette Communications, Meister Media, and Better Homes & Gardens stopped by the booth to see Terra Nova Nurseries’ brand new plants. Additionally, stemming from a trade show press campaign by our team, well-known publisher GIE Media, produced a video about Terra Nova Nurseries at the show. Sales representative Larry Finley was interviewed on camera by Kelli Rodda, editor of Nursery Management magazine, about the company’s one-of-a-kind trailing Heucherellas as well as other new plant varieties. A big thanks to all our friends in the media for taking the time to schedule booth visits with us and Terra Nova Nurseries!

Another highlight of the show was mixing and mingling with show attendees. It was exciting to see familiar faces and catch up with long time friends in the industry. From the Happy Hour party to the Meister Media Evening of Excellence, where family and friends honored the late Jack Williams, made this year’s show one of the of most memorable experiences. The horticultural industry is truly a close knit community and we’re looking forward to next year’s show!

Outdoor furniture will be taken to a new level this September during Chicago’s International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market. The four-day Casual Market provides retailers with an outlet to find all things related to outdoor and casual living. It’s also a chance to see the newest, most innovative products from leading manufacturers around the world and discover the latest trends in color, product design, fabric patterns, and more all under one roof. The show begins Sept. 12, but we will be writing “Sneak Peek” articles in the days and weeks leading up to the show.

Our first “Sneak Peek” looks at a fire table that isn’t tethered to a bulky propane tank or fixed gas line. Black and Stone Inc.’s newest products, the VioFlame fire tables are fueled by clean-burning bio-ethanol and are completely portable. During the last five years, the hearth industry has seen a rapid growth in appliances fueled by denatured bio-ethanol. The clear liquid used with this product doesn’t emit harmful or smelly gases that need to be vented. The fire table also features a broken marble table top available in round or square shapes, while the legs are made from hardy powder-coated steel. The active yellow flame lasts for hours with a single fueling, and reflects and dances in the glass to provide a spectacular focal point for an outdoor room. When the burner is removed, the stainless bowl can double as an ice bucket for beverages. Curious to learn more? Visit www.blackandstone.com for more information.

Don’t forget to check back to read more about the great products being featured at Casual Market this year. Also, take a look at our Casual Market overview, “Defining the Trends in Outdoor Living.”