The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market September 10-15,2002 At The Merchandise Mart, Is The Most Comprehensive Resource For Casual Furniture Retailers

Furniture World Magazine

As the only show dedicated solely to the casual furnishings industry, the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™, held September 10-15, 2002, at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, showcases an unprecedented collection of the latest casual furniture from leading manufacturers. The event-packed Market features award presentations honoring top manufacturers and retailers; a comprehensive lineup of seminars designed to give retailers a competitive edge; additional complementary product offerings at the concurrent Chicago Gift & Home Market, ™ September 12-14; and a variety of special events and amenities. The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is produced by Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) and is endorsed by the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) and the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR). "With more that 350 permanent and temporary exhibitors, the Chicago Casual Market is the best place for casual furniture retailers to see all the products available to them, including new introductions and a wide range of complementary products" said Edward J. Collins, vice president of leasing, MMPI. "Thousands of attendees come to The Mart each year to renew acquaintances, conduct business and see new product at the only show exclusively devoted to the casual furnishings industry." The 2002 market introduces the new 2 nd_floor Market Suites featuring an incredible selection of indoor and outdoor casual furnishings, umbrellas and accessories. Additionally, the 8th floor Market Suites showcase even more fabulous casual furnishings on one easy-to-shop floor. And, as always, the Merchandise Mart's 16 th and 17 th floors are home to the leading names in the casual furniture industry, including Brown Jordan, Lloyd/Flanders, Laneventure, Grosfillex, Woodard, Winston, Meadocraft, Telescope Casual, Homecrest, Tropitone, Treasure Garden, Barlow Tyrie and many more. AWARD PRESENTATIONS 18th Annual Design Excellence Awards - Awards Breakfast Thursday, September 12 • 7:30 a.m. Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Wolf Point Ballroom, 1 5th floor The prestigious Design Excellence Awards are considered the highest honor recognizing manufacturers for innovative design in casual furnishings. The best designs in eight different product categories are awarded as judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts. The 2002 nominees will be showcased and the winners announced at this breakfast. 43rd Annual Apollo Awards: Awards Banquet Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 6 p.m. Navy Pier Grand Ballroom - By invitation only The year's outstanding casual furniture retailers are recognized at the elegant Apollo Awards Banquet when the prestigious award is presented to retailers in single-store, multi-store and international store categories. The evening's events will conclude by 9:30 p.m. SEMINARS Leading experts in the casual furniture industry will present a series of complimentary, informative seminars during the Chicago Casual Market. Focusing on a variety of topics ranging from merchandising and design trends to management techniques and selling, these valuable seminars will give retailers an edge and provide up-to-date industry information.This year's seminar topics are: Thursday, September 12 How to Take the Guesswork Out of Hiring Presented by Carol Hacker of Carol A. Hacker & Associates 8-9 a.m. - 8 th floor, Meeting Room A Why this will be Our Best Decade Presented by Jerry Epperson of Mann, Armistead & Epperson 8-9 a.m. . 8th floor, Meeting Room E Creative Training Techniques Presented by Suzanne Gust of Not So Basic Training & Consulting 8-9 a.m. . 8th floor, Meeting Room C Friday, September 13 CFR Breakfast - Manufacturer Leadership Awards 7:30 a.m. - Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Wolf Point Ballroom, 15th floor Immediately following the CFR Membership Breakfast:Take Ownership of the -Outdoor Room, Part2 Presented by Richard Wright of Hearth & Home magazine Saturday, September 14 Leisure Marketplace - Trends & Fashions Presented by Cinde W. Ingram & Becky Boswell Smith of Casual Living magazine 8-9 a.m. - 80th floor, Meeting Room C Merchandising and Competitive Intelligence Presented by Connie Post of Connie Post Companies 8-9 a.m. - 8th floor, Meeting Room E Imports and Your Profits... the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Presented by Margo Smith of Hearth & Home magazine 8-9 a.m. - 8 th floor, Meeting Room A Even More Product Offerings At The Chicago Gift & Home Market™ The Chicago Gift & Home Market, - September 12-14, runs concurrently with the Casual Market. The amazing selection of products available from top gift and home decor manufacturers represented on floors 12, 13, 14 and 15 of The Mart expands buying options for retailers who want to cross-merchandise their stores or round out their selection of home and garden accessories. Product offerings include accent furniture, tabletop, indoor/outdoor decorative accessories, holiday decorations, artificial/preserved trees and floral, and much more. TRAVEL AND REGISTRATION Buyers and exhibitors can find travel information on MMPI's Web site at www.merchandisemart.com (click on "Chicago Casual Market" then click on "Travel") or by calling Mart Travel Services at 800.528.8700 (dial .312.369.2001 when calling from outside the United States). Certain travel discounts and special hotel rates are available. Buyers and exhibitors can also register for the market online at www.merchandisemart.com (click on "Chicago Casual Market" then click on "Registration"). An online form requests the appropriate information from registrants, then generates a 2-D bar code that they print. The printed bar code is scanned on site and a badge will print immediately. For more information about the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, visit www.merchandisemart.com or call 800.677.6278 (MART). Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C. Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.