The International Casual Furniture & Accessories (ICFA) Market is held during fall in Chicago each year, and it provides valuable insights to industry professionals regarding the latest casual (outdoor) furniture lines, trends and styles.

Part of the panel’s goal was to help audience members (designers, retailers, manufacturers, etc.) uncover trend information – both past and forthcoming. Since that time, it has been inspiring to see casual furniture and accessory manufacturers continue to develop their lines based upon trends. In essence, we are seeing the forecasted trends taking shape in the field. Many of our clients and industry friends are telling us the overall marketplace is rebounding for spring 2010, with sales exponentially increasing over last year. Indicators are pointing to a prosperous year, and we are already gearing up for the fall 2010 ICFA market. So, designers, retailers and manufactures alike, keep up the good work and send us your trend findings via emails or posts, and your product releases and images through email. If they are used, we will surely feature the product and credit the company. We’ll also track any magazine articles for everyone that stem from our trend research / writing.

I also wanted to share a great current article with our blog readers including helpful information from Jaclyn Kotzum, MMPI’s marketing director for the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market. In the article, About.com’s furniture editor Abe Abbas asks Jaclyn for her take on the last market / show and this year’s trends and development in casual furniture.

The show, by the way, is fully dedicated to the casual furnishings industry and is recognized and formally endorsed by the International Casual Furnishings Association and Casual Furniture Retailers Association. It is managed by MMPI, and that is where Jaclyn comes into play. – And, as a side note, both Jaclyn and Abe are incredible industry enthusiasts. You can read Abe’s article here…

The article in mention (linked above) provides solid exposure to ICFA and all of us in the industry, because it supplies us with exposure and endorsement to the consumer audience on one of the most viewed Web sites online. Alexa, a top site ranking tool, places About.com as the 25th most viewed site in the U.S. and specifies that it spans 10 different countries with over 31 million global site viewers daily.

Register for Abe’s newsletter at this link: http://furniture.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm

Last, take a look at two of our “Best of Show” picks for 2010. Yes, we selected a few “Best ofs…” though in varied categories.

Mondecasa’s Porcelain Bowl (dining set) was selected as our “Best of Creative Design.”

Jardin de Ville’s Terrace Concept pavilions were chosen as “Best of Combined Form and Function.”

Members of the media, touch base with us if you’d like to interview any of our casual furniture or designer clients and / or industry acquaintances. You can also learn more on our site, www.eberlycollardpr.com.

~ Don

As spring quickly approaches, gardeners around the country are eagerly anticipating the first visit to their local garden centers. With so many wonderful companies and unique varieties available, how do gardeners decide where to start?

Better Homes and Gardens’ March 4, e-newsletter Garden Notes, has simplified the selection process with a stellar collection of must-grow perennials for 2010. From succulents to grasses and a few heuchera varieties in between, there are plenty of beauties to get consumers growing.

Terra Nova Nurseries, among other great companies, was well represented with several impressive new plants. In particular, the dramatic foliage leaves of Heuchera ‘Midnight Bayou’ and Heucherella ‘Golden Zebra’ are rather vivid, and will certainly be a colorful addition to containers, beds, and borders. Another stand-out in the collection is the Echinacea ‘Firebird’, a great coneflower for gardeners looking to beat the summer heat, drought, rabbits, and deer.

All in all, this is a great showcase of new plants available to gardeners across the country. Keep checking Garden Notes for the latest and greatest plant insights.

What are some of your favorites? And, as industry professionals or members of the media, how else can we / you help make plant selection easier for consumers? Ideas are welcome.

~ Adam

Implementing an effective public relations plan can be a comprehensive task. With so many guidelines and procedures, it can be overwhelming. However, those who follow correct protocol will be highly rewarded. Public relations campaigns can yield incredible results and publicity, bringing attention in print, on air, and online to products, manufactures and designers. Take a look at a section of our Web site that briefly explains our public relations services: https://eberlycollardpr.com/public-media-relations.asp

Then, take a few minutes to read about public relations from Jen Polanz. She recently wrote an insightful piece regarding public relations, from the editor’s perspective. We agree with her points of interest and wanted to share the information with the readers of our blog. Even if you are not the owner of a garden center, the essential information still applies.

To read Jen’s full article, Effective PR, visit, http://www.todaysgardencenter.com/viewpoints/jenniferpolanz/?storyid=3031

From a business standpoint, what type of public relations works best for you? For members of the media, what are your top points of advice to businesses pitching you story ideas, product information, etc.?

– Adam

Dan Heims, president and co-founder of Terra Nova Nurseries, has over 33 years of horticulture experience and has helped introduce more than 600 new plant varieties to gardeners all across the United States. As an educator, Heims is known as a knowledgeable enthusiast in all things horticulture and has spent years lecturing all over the world.

This March, he’ll be speaking at the following two events…

Idaho Horticulture Symposium:

Heims will be conducting two keynote sessions about “Flash and Splash – Building: the Color Story” and “How Dry I Am – Dryscaping for the Consumer” at the Idaho Horticulture Symposium in Boise. The annual Idaho Horticulture Symposium, hosted by the Idaho Horticultural Society, will be held on March 6, 2010, and open to landscape designers, home gardeners, writers, and more. During “Flash and Splash – Building: the Color Story,” Heims will discuss variegated and color-leaved plants, how these unique varieties are discovered, and the use of these plants in garden design. During “How Dry I Am,” Heims will address plants for “water-wise” landscaping, water shortages and distribution. For more information about the Idaho Horticultural Society and registration, please visit www.gardencentral.org.
All-Iowa Horticultural Expo:

Heims will be a keynote speaker at the All-Iowa Horticultural Expo, lecturing on “Right Plant, Right Place.” This event will take place on Saturday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m., at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, IA. Whether a garden space is dry, wet or shady, Heims will advise attendees on how to make good plant selections for problematic areas and how to keep these areas healthy. For more information about attending the All-Iowa Horticultural Expo, please visit www.iowahort.org.

If you are a member of the media and would like additional information on how to attend these talks for free, please feel free to contact me at lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com.

~Leslie

Due to a great number of comments recently from interior and outdoor room designers, and requests for more information on color design, we are re-posting this brief article on decorating tips. This post was originally written back in August, but still conveys important color design concepts applicable to everyday décor.

Original Post:

The use of color in interior and exterior design and decorating should demonstrate order and harmony. When the elements are unbalanced they radiate chaos, leaving an unfavorable impression.

Red – Whether positive or negative, the color red is an attention grabber. The use of red should be used sparingly in the home, it is a vibrant, powerful color. Accents are an essential aspect of interior design, the color red possesses the illusion of depth as it seems to spring these items forward.

Brown – Often paired with red for a warm, rustic texture, the color brown is frequently associated with the age or richness of the space. However, lighter shades of brown such as tan, beige, and sand offer a clean earthy feel. When used in an interior setting, brown helps other colors appear fuller and brighter, conveying a sense of wholesomeness.

White – White is one of the most widely used colors in interior design and decorating. The use of a white background offers a sharp contrast to other colors, like red curtains amongst white furniture and walls. However, white should be used carefully as it can be seen as cold.
What are some of your design techniques and / or tips regarding the use of color?

~ Adam

We’ve already heard from some great furniture manufacturers and other interior design professionals, and we look forward to receiving additional feedback as we gather color trends for 2010!

Moss Acres, a leading supplier of live moss since 2001, released news at this year’s IGC and ASLA shows about a new product for shady garden areas – the Moss Milkshake. This dry mix is a unique blend of fragmented moss plants, powdered buttermilk, acidifying agents, and a special water retention gel powder. By simply adding water to the mixture, gardeners, landscapers, and moss enthusiasts can create a gel-like “slurry” that is ideal for spreading over most any firm, bare surface. A lot of folks with whom we talked at both of these shows said they thought the product name and milk carton-shaped (for consumer / retail sales) packaging were ingenious. We agree.

Mosses thrive in shady landscapes. Most any shaded or partially shaded area can be ideal for utilizing the Moss Milkshake technique. For shaded lawns where grass is limited, moss is an ideal alternative. Instead of fighting nature by attempting to grow grass in shade, many homeowners and professional landscapers are turning to moss.

Once established, moss is low maintenance. After installation and cell nodes have a chance to activate, moss plants do not require frequent watering to survive. However, watering does help maintain lush and green moss over time. For a look at various moss products from the company, take a look at www.mossacres.com.

~ Jeff

At the IGC show this year, Novelty Manufacturing displayed a mix of gorgeous, affordable new products for 2010. Checking the Web site is a good and easy way to become familiar with the company, its best practices (which are pretty impressive), and the latest products and lines.

The new Ella planters, with their square contour, stand out to us as having some incredible wide appeal. These chic containers bring a modish new twist to the ArtStone Line. They are trendy in color and durable in strength. Tall Ella containers can bring endless beauty to doorways and patios with their striking form. The Ella rectangle containers are the perfect choice for adorning a table top or accessorizing a windowsill.

Here’s the best part… Novelty believes in sustaining the environment. Most of the company’s products are made of recyclable polymers and alloys. They use pre- and post-consumer recycled materials in some of their best-selling items. This unique selling proposition can then be passed along to retailers, which we all know, is important to end-consumers.

To learn more about Ella planters or other product offerings from Novelty, visit, www.noveltymfg.com. – Also, post your comments / questions about these and other trend containers.

~ Adam

Start to think about planting fall plants in the garden and packing up the beach towels because summer’s end is right around the corner. But, outdoor living can continue to be enjoyed through fall and winter, from the warmth of outdoor fireplaces or fire pits.

Learn about the design and installation of outdoor fire features stemming from an interview of David Gatti, co-owner / CEO of P.O.P.S. Landscaping, conducted by David Beaulieu, landscape editor for the popular information-based Web site About.com.

In the interview, expert David Gatti offers helpful information and recommendations about adding outdoor fireplaces and fire pits to existing exterior spaces.

Select this link…and begin warming up to the idea of outdoor fire features for your homeowner-clients or readers… http://landscaping.about.com/b/2009/06/06/outdoor-fireplace-or-outdoor-fire-pit.htm

To learn more about outdoor design and living, visit www.popslandscaping.com and http://landscaping.about.com/

– Adam

The hardscape and landscape industries offer many innovative forms of natural stone products. However, a deeper look reveals many subsidiary and supportive products such as these.

Paver Kare products for cleaning, protecting and maintaining concrete, clay and natural stone pavers include Deep Sheen, a high-gloss protective treatment. Non-yellowing and slip-resistant, Deep Sheen’s lustrous finish guards pavers against destructive water penetration and other contaminants.

To learn more about these great products visit: http://www.prosoco.com

~ Adam

https://eberlycollardpr.com/2009/08/711/

A decade ago, a professional grower decided that creeping perennials needed a face (and “feet”), as they were particularly well-suited for problem areas in the landscape and areas that need to tolerate foot traffic. Thus, Fran Hopkins created the STEPABLES® brand. Now, as part of its ten year anniversary, Under A Foot Plant Company has decided to enlighten the market again with the launch of a one-of-a-kind merchandising campaign called Grab n’ Go Paks, to be sold in conjunction with the brand’s well-known 3-inch STEPABLES pot line.

I was privileged to see the new packaging first hand during the grand unveiling at this week’s IGC Show in Chicago, and, wow…I’m just floored! There are three new unique programs from which growers and IGCs can select, including:

· Tough Ten – Top 10 most robust plants in the entire STEPABLES line
· Sole Mates – Top 45 best plants for direct foot traffic usages
· Garden SOLEutions – The most diverse 40 solution plants for common landscape applications

The paks serve to reduce retailer’s 2010 signage and POP costs, as the new packaging targets consumers with clear and concise brand messaging printed directly on the pak. When I spoke with Fran about it, the concept was made even clearer by her simple statement, “Think of it like this; instead of point-of-purchase, it is point-of-contact.” Customers don’t have to search for signs to provide essential purchasing information, and retailers no longer have pressure to search for ample signage space. Customers will have all the plant information readily available the moment they pick up the package. Not only that, retailers are now able to sell a value-added product to consumers, offering a quick solution to buying STEPABLES in bulk.

Because this is such an innovative concept, I really enjoyed standing in the STEPABLES booth today and yesterday, listening to what passers-by had to say. I was really excited to find most people were thrilled by the idea. Several retailers commented that their customers will love the colorful, handled paks. One IGC owner said, “My customers are going to like these since they are drawn to plants with innovative information. The packaging is creative and just makes gardening look like a lot of fun.”

Research has shown that consumers, especially Gen Xers and Yers, want information immediately and opt not to take extensive time to research a product or even ask questions of an employee at times. Therefore STEPABLES Grab n’ Go Paks market directly to consumers who are used to being able to look at a cereal box or shampoo bottle and find all the information regarding that product readily available at-a-glance.

Thank you everyone for stopping by the booth and for your positive feedback.

~ Leslie