I must admit that it was my inner reality TV addict that tempted me to check out a tweet from this morning promoting a Kim Kardashian case study based off of her tweets and Twitter profile. But, after reading the article, I do think the author makes an interesting point about the quantity of Twitter followers compared to the quality of Twitter followers that an individual has. The article, which can be read at length here: http://mashable.com/2010/10/01/twitter-kim-kardashian/, examines the relationship between Kim Kardashian and her loyal tweeps by how many hits her official website receives via her Twitter account. According to Mashable.com, her site is ranked 54th out of all websites that are clicked from Twitter users, and that takes into account sites like TwitPic, Flickr, and dozens of sports and news sites. And, while Kardashian is a popular celeb on Twitter with just under 5 million followers, she’s still not as favored as Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Ashton Kutcher, or even Justin Beiber. She just knows how to tweet a fine balance between her thoughts and comments and her business ventures to keep her followers interested.

The article provoked me to think about how truly loyal Twitter followers, Facebook fans, Flickr contacts, YouTube friends etc. can be. Leaders of online communities can become quite influential by paying attention to their sources and connections – whether they are customers of a local garden center or green industry professionals or adoring celebrity fans. Then, use that knowledge to supply followers with what they want and need and it seems (in Kardashian’s case) that that they will become even more loyal. A great small business example of this scenario that is more geared towards our work / industries is Sickles Market, an independent garden center retailer. I’ve never seen a Facebook page buzzing as much as theirs does- every post has multiple comments, every photo or video is liked and shared. It’s amazing the steady, cult-like mass of fans they have, which is more than 2,000 in the town of Little Silvers, NJ where there are only about 6,000 residents. Here’s their page: http://www.facebook.com/SicklesMarket for more inspiration on quality vs. quantity of social media followers.

In our realm of all things related to home, garden, and design products and people, social media is an important means for companies and brands to interact with customers, the media and other important groups. It provides an opportunity to participate in online communities and conversations in ways not otherwise possible. The lessons learned from celebs, such as Kim Kardashian, are certainly notable as they were the ones who fanned the social networking flame to make it what it has become today. And, leaders in our industry, like Sickles Market or even the bigger names of Kathy Ireland, Paula Deen, or Donald Trump, who know how to network themselves in ways to create devoted followers of their home furnishing lines or other design-based products for homeowners, are clearly setting examples for all of us who want to better our social sites.

Let us know what you think about this issue by leaving a comment below.

~ Sarah Kate

Click over to our Facebook Fanpage to check out our newest post regarding Englishman’s Kitchens & Fine Custom Cabinetry. You’ll be able to learn about a new venture on the part of Englishman’s Fine Furnishings. The company’s leadership team has again addressed the home trend of customized design for lasting value and comfort. With a background in fine cabinetry and furniture-making, Englishman’s introduces its custom kitchen line and design / build options housed in a newly expanded furniture and accessories showroom at AmericasMart in Atlanta. Read about this on our Fanpage and log onto www.englishmansfurniture.com for further details about the company and its beautiful home furnishing capabilities. Note: Designers and media members, tours with the company’s owner are available upon request.

The Sol Maya woven pattern is highly weather resistant and is currently available in six different colors: ivory, wash, honey (pictured), java, graphite, and onyx. Sol Maya’s cushions are made of quick-drying foam and are Hand-crafted.

Sokul’s entire collection is 100% recyclable and so is its production and packaging. Even Sokul’s website is powered off of energy produced from windmills. What an extraordinary effort they make to be environmentally and socially responsible and aware. We are proud of the “green” efforts being made in the casual furniture industry and proud to feature so many of these companies on our blog.

~ Jeff

Our first “Sneak Peek” of a rug company features The Rug Market’s trend-setting designs. Company representatives will be displaying creative, durable and easy-to-care-for rugs at booth 8-3018 at Casual Market. For more than 20 years now, The Rug Market has been producing high quality rugs with the philosophy dedicated to design, creativity, service, and quality. This philosophy is evident to us in two of their rugs pictured below.

This rug, named Florin Blue, combines the best of modern and vintage Italy in its design and can be used indoors as well as outdoors.

With geometrical brown and cream mid-century squares, this Lloyd Brown rug would be a nice addition to an office or dining room. Or, it can be used outdoors to make a patio feel homier in a contemporary way.

We’re looking forward to Casual Market, beginning Tuesday, September 21! Are you? Keep up with our “Sneak Peek” series for some more great previews.

~ ECPR team

Harbour Outdoor is an eco-friendly manufacturer of contemporary outdoor furniture based in Australia, and it’s the company’s Balmoral product that we are including in our “Sneak Peek” series. Balmoral is a convertible seating piece that can be assembled into more than 15 configurations. Pictured below is the Balmoral arranged as a sectional sofa and as a chaise.

Situated on a solid High Pressure Laminate surface and supported by aluminum legs, the Balmoral is sturdy in design. The interchangeable back and arm cushions have removable covers for easy maintenance and are covered in Sunbrella fabric that can be customized with an array of color choices. We like the sleek, modern look of Balmoral and the fact that it is suited to be used indoors as well as in any outdoor landscape or climate. Harbour Outdoor also makes the choice to use only recycled materials, even materials that will not emit toxic or biologically harmful substances when broken down or burned. We think Harbour Outdoors as a company and design leader would be a great feature in any trade or consumer magazine, and we look forward to more great furniture from them in the future!

For those attending Casual Market, Harbour Outdoor will be at booth 8-8038. And, visit Harbour Outdoor’s Facebook page to connect with them and find out more information.

~ Don

The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; the Gulf Shores; the Great Lakes; and the Mississippi River and bayou territory are but a tip of the great coastlines / waterfronts located right here in the United States. Coastal Living magazine has celebrated this fact in its issues for many years. Woven wicker furniture masters, Lloyd / Flanders has teamed with Coastal Living to create a Coastal Living Collection of casual furniture that embodies stylish, well-made pieces for coastal lifestyles across the country. These four new product lines will be introduced at Casual Market next week.

The Savannah collection is reminiscent of the Deep South. It is characterized by the woven patterns of decorative wicker combined with sturdy aluminum framing for light, yet comforting furniture…yielding functional use with easy comfort. And, given our own seat in the South, we like that the furniture is made using materials from the region like southern cypress wood for the occasional and dining tables. We definitely think designers and homeowners will be attracted to this collection for its quaint charm.

Stemming from South Carolina’s cultured heritage, the Low Country collection reminds us that fundamental craftsmanship is still beautiful. What an addition these pieces would be to any porch, deck or backyard! The seats and backs of the seating pieces are crafted with hand-woven vinyl wicker similar to woven grass baskets that were popular years ago and still can be found for sale along Charleston’s streets and alleys.

The Great Lakes collection is a line of simple, classic, placid furniture that reminds us of the isolated nature surrounding the five Great Lakes. Even the color palette for the line reflects the blues, greens and woodsy hues that people associate with a calm lakeshore.

Last, but not least, is the Carmel collection. The pieces in this collection take us out west to the California coast. Full of artistic flair and whimsical character, the Carmel furniture is built on open weaves and flared legs, which is why we think it would look great in a sunroom or porch area, or even in a well-planned exterior space by the sea.

Stop by Lloyd / Flanders showroom, booth 1650, at Casual market to see these amazing collections and find out more about Lloyd / Flanders. Editors seeking regional design trends and themes for outdoor space articles, these lines might be of good interest to you.

~ Sarah Kate

With less than one week until Casual Market, we have this week to wrap up our “Sneak Peek” series with some more amazing companies. For all the posts regarding Casual Market “Sneak Peeks,” simply scroll down and read previous entries all the way back to our introductory post about Casual Market and the series on Sept. 2. But, moving on…This special “Sneak Peek” is about Highwood USA’s Adirondack Collection, that will displayed at booth 8-1063 at Casual Market.

Highwood is a manufacturing leader in synthetic wood structures and furniture, which can be more beneficial for homeowners due to its long-lasting attributes. Synthetic wood is less likely to loose its color and more resistant to water and stains all while being extremely easy to maintain. We think it’s fantastic that Highwood has taken its knowledge of synthetic wood and applied it to a classic style chair like the Adirondack. The Adirondack Collection features pieces handcrafted here in the United States available in a natural toffee color or crisp white finish. The product as a whole is fully recyclable and weather resistant. And, we like that all the items in the collection – the adult chair, ottoman, table and the child chair – completely fold for convenient storage when not in use.

For those attending Casual Market, Highwood’s booth is surely one to visit. And, feel free to leave any comments now or post-Casual Market regarding the Adirondack Collection.

~ Jeff

Part of our “Sneak Peek” series is previewing new, exciting companies or pieces that will be featured at Casual Market. Another part of our Casual Market work is previewing the trends forecasted for 2011, with the goal of assisting our media contacts to acquire glimpses into the casual and outdoor furniture companies’ latest introductions and insights. Pride Family Brands, showing at booth 1747-48, will be exhibiting several collections that follow in the Pride Family Brands’ tradition of durable casual furniture. We want to highlight some of these products that clearly represent trends we’ve been gathering during our “Sneak Peek” series process.

One of Pride Family Brands’ new collections is the Veranda Collection with its old world detailing and deep cushion seating. Decorative arches with rivets support the baluster-style arm and legs of each seating piece. Given our research and the many articles on outdoor rooms we have written, our team expects the deep seating pieces like the ones in the Veranda Collection are going to be popular among attendees at this year’s Casual Market. As more and more people are embracing the backyard as an additional room of the house, outdoor furniture is reflecting extra comfort and durability for everyday use and special occasions entertaining guests. The trend of staying in homes longer and working to redecorate or enhance existing décors is paramount to this kind of livable setting, and to the growing success of the Casual Market for 2011.

Another trend we’ve been noticing is the increase in details and carvings for table pieces. Small intricacies like these encourage more elegance in casual furniture. As an evolving trend, elegance and detailing are being showcased unlike in the past few years. Pride Family Brands will be introducing its Pedestal Table and Romanesque Tabletop at Casual Market. The Pedestal Table base features urn-like, scrolled feet and has been finished by a hand-applied antiquing process for an old world look and feel. The Romanesque Tabletop is a stunning carved design available in multiple sizes including Pride Family’s extension-sized table. With a deep, hand-tooled motif, we love this tabletop’s balance of flourish and linear elements.

Editors and producers, keep these pieces and us in mind for features on which you are working about how to add touches of elegance with durability for outdoor rooms. Stay tuned to our blog until the market’s opening day for more Casual Market “Sneak Peeks,” and look for our updates and byline articles about new products and exciting trends post-market.

~ Don

Stylish, comfortable outdoor furniture from Ebel Inc. will be introduced at Casual Market next week, including its four new collections, two of which fall into the aluminum category, a new venture for Ebel. What you’ll expect to see is classic design throughout each collection that is sure to please any homeowner’s style taste.

The Veronne Collection features Ebel’s first swivel recliner as well as a variety of dining and modular pieces that can be used to create the ideal seating arrangement. We are working on an outdoor room design article for Dallas Homes, and you can imagine this type of lifestyle setting would be a good example for consumer readers.

The Porte Collection is available in both Walnut and Black weave colors and is comprised of seating pieces that are almost all stackable, making the collection as much resourceful as it is enjoyable and beautiful.

The Messina Collection is one of the two new aluminum categorized sets from Ebel. With a sleek, woven aluminum detail in the backrest, Messina pieces translate Ebel’s signature look into a new medium. This example of woven aluminum will set trends in 2011, and we hope to feature it in one of our Good Housekeeping magazine photo-sharing online content posts.

Finally, the Salerno Collection is the other introductory collection into the aluminum category. With an aim to address the trend of livable elegance in outdoor spaces, Ebel created pieces in this collection with details like a twisted-metal base and hand-applied Antique Copper finish.

We are swooning over the simple, elegance that radiates from each of these four new collections and are looking forward to seeing them at Casual Market. Ebel Inc.’s booth number is 15-121 for those attending Casual Market. But, what we like most about Ebel is the eco-friendly responsibility the company maintains for each collection. All Ebel’s aluminum and wicker is 100% recyclable, and the teak that is used comes from sustainable plantations. Beyond the materials used to create the furniture, Ebel conducts environmental practices in other ways, like its partnership with Trees for the Future and its move in 2009 to print all marketing materials in a factory certified method by the Forest Stewardship Council.

~ Sarah Kate

We continue our IFCA “Sneak Peek” series with a company that manufactures outdoor furniture made of aluminum frame, teak wood and rattan synthetic fiber weaving. The Bohdeline brand distributed by the company PT Sumroes Karya Utama will be showing outdoor furniture at Casual Market, booth 8-7030, under the name Bohdeline. We wanted to feature one of its furniture sets, the Alaska Living Set.

This Alaska Living Set encompasses the latest trends in outdoor furniture as well as the design characteristics of comfort and durability. The Alaska set features details like the oversized arm rests on all the pieces, the use of high quality, long-lasting synthetic material, and the stylish choice of twisted-cord detailing. We love how appropriate this Alaska set and other Bohdeline pieces are for hotel or building’s with casual lobby settings as well as for backyard homes. The company offers a rare combination of elegance and durability in this outdoor furniture line.

~ ECPR team