Friday, September 02, 2016: Casual Market Chicago is scheduled to take place from September 20 to 23, at The Merchandise Mart. This year’s show is going to feature three compelling keynote presenters to address a variety of topics including technology, styling trends and the latest outdoor trends.
The Keynote Presentations for 2016 are:
• Interior Design Meets Exterior Design: Tips and Tactics on Blurring the Lines Between Indoor and Outdoor Décor
Presented by: Libby Langdon
Designer, author and makeover television personality Libby Langdon is the creative force behind New York City-based design firm, Libby Interiors, Inc. She shares her insight on the latest outdoor trends, design inspiration and how consumer’s lifestyle changes are affecting where the casual living market is headed. She breaks down how retailers and designers can appeal to the increasing number of homeowners that want fully furnished and completely designed outside spaces just as they would any interior spaces in their home. In a fast paced, visual presentation, Libby arms you with ways to boost your business by tapping into this exterior market movement of consumers that are looking to create a total outdoor haven.
• Every Consumer is a Digital Consumer: How Technology has Changed Durable Goods Retail
Presented by: Jennie Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer, Retailer Web Services
You know a lot about your own customers... but what about the prospects that could have done business with you, but chose to do it with someone else instead? Get an inside look at how all your prospects shop today—specifically when looking for expensive new items for their home—from the industry’s first, large-scale research on the topic. Replace uncertainty and doubt with cold hard facts about how consumers’ online experiences influence what business they’ll do offline. Find out if showing prices on your website helps or hurts, what prospect information you should be tracking and how to use it, how to keep review sites like Yelp and (now) Google from harming your business, and more. Understanding your consumers and meeting their expectations in the digital world is the key to surviving disruption in today’s turbulent retail industry. Arm yourself with this data-driven, myth-busting intelligence and practical application techniques.
• The Magic of Outdoor Living
Presented by: Margot Shaw
A tour of inspiring and ingenuous outdoor spaces with tips on easy, stylish entertaining–mixing styles, colors, and textures and of course, flowers!
For more than 35 years, Casual Market Chicago has been the must attend trade fair for outdoor living and, it’s the only show in North America dedicated to the casual and outdoor furnishings industry that is exclusively endorsed by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA).