Casual Market Chicago 2015
Easy Way Products hit the Windy City in mid-September, joining hundreds of exhibitors and attendees for Casual Market Chicago 2015. We have exhibited at or attended the show for more than 20 years, and we always return home impressed and inspired by what we’ve seen. The permanent showrooms are excellent for researching trends and learning customer needs, while the temporary booths are a great way to learn about new and innovative products.
THE EXHIBIT FLOOR
There seems to be a booth for just about anything you could imagine, and outdoor furniture is especially well represented. This year’s attendance was higher than in recent years, and we definitely noticed the increase in activity on the show floor.
With so much to see, the show can be overwhelming to attendees. We wanted to give people a chance to escape for a few minutes by giving our booth the feeling of a beach cabana. To make our space more welcoming and relaxing, we framed beach images with our drapes, and added plenty of seating featuring our cushions and pillows in a beachy color palette. We also brought along a sample of one of our custom furniture covers, which generated a ton of interest. The clean, open look of our booth was well-received, and gave us an inviting space to chat with many current and potential customers.
OUTDOOR FURNITURE TRENDS
One of our favorite aspect of this show is how much we learn each year—inspiration is everywhere. We use what we see to improve and enhance our outdoor furniture product offerings so that we can be a better business partner to our customers each year.
Some of the outdoor furnishings trends we noticed this year were:
- Minimalist looks that are simple but sophisticated
- Fully upholstered outdoor furniture
- Organic shapes
- No-maintenance furniture made from composite wood alternatives in a variety of colors
- Hammocks, in a variety of styles and materials
- Fire pits and grills galore
If you are a buyer in the Casual Furniture industry, Casual Market Chicago is an event you can’t pass up. We hope to see you there next year!
