HIGH POINT – A forum intended to encourage professional and personal development among women in the casual furnishings industry has been established by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA). The Women’s Leadership Network will provide a diverse array of programming, including networking, peer-to-peer learning, small group cohorts, mentorship circles and leadership opportunities.

As the second woman elected as the ICFA Chair, Megan Pierson, executive vice president of Poly-Wood, LLC., was determined to actively encourage more women to embrace the many professional and personal growth opportunities of membership. She believed that “creating a women’s leadership network would create a pipeline of…

HIGH POINT – The International Casual Furnishings Association has added two membership managers to its staff, one for the West Coast and one for the East Coast.

Candy Chase, who most recently was national sales manager for Treasure Garden, is responsible for the West Coast, and Jill Schiff is covering the East Coast.

Chase has worked in the casual industry for 25 years, getting her start in 1999 as a buyer for California Backyard. She also has worked for three other casual industry retailers: Emigh’s Casual Living, Paddock Pools and Today’s Patio, all on the West Coast. She…

ARNPRIOR, ON – Elmira Stove Works, a manufacturer of premium vintage-inspired appliances and woodburning cookstoves, has announced its newest curated color collection: Aurora Borealis. This contemporary series of shades is available as custom color options in Elmira’s Northstar and Heritage product lineups.

The collection is inspired by the beautiful display of colors seen in the night sky due to the natural phenomena that occur when solar flares meet strong magnetic fields in the earth’s atmosphere. Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is entering its peak phase between November 2024 and March 2026. During this time, the northern lights will…

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Increased retail membership along with improved internal messaging and a new external communications program are key focus areas for the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) following a strategic planning session conducted last month.

As part of the group’s annual Membership and Planning Workshop, held this fall in Los Angeles, the Board of Directors engaged in a full-day session led by Micah Ray and Mike Witt of D4 Concepts. The High Point-based business management consultants used multiple small-group discussions among the Association’s leadership team to identify priorities and tactics as the framework of a structured action plan.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — AMD Direct, a provider of premium outdoor living products, has sold its American Made Grills brand to American Made Grills LLC. The sale is part of AMD Direct’s broader strategy to streamline its business and concentrate on areas with the highest growth potential.

With the transition, AMD Direct plans to invest resources into optimizing inventory levels for faster fulfillment, enhancing customer support capabilities, and strengthening marketing initiatives to better serve its partners and customers.

“The sale of the American Made Grills brand is a strategic decision that allows us to focus on our core competencies…

DALLAS – International Pool, Spa, Patio Expo, co-located with Deck Expo returns to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, November 12-14. The expo partners with the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) to collaborate across industry verticals and gather nearly 10,000 registered professionals from more than 60 countries to connect with prominent brands, buyers and suppliers to understand the newest trends in safety, efficiency and design.

The expo hall hosts more than 440 companies spanning all categories of outdoor living and wellness products. The industry’s leading companies…

FORT LEE, N.J. - Couristan has opened a new 2,659 square foot High Point Market showroom within the IHFC building, space #D335. The company will be celebrating the grand opening of the showroom on Sunday, October 27th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

The aesthetic of the new showroom is mid-century modern with a twist and pays an ode to the lineage of the 98-year-old company while bringing the company into the now. Products are featured in vignettes with most products displayed on 6’ x 9’ racks, and…

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Dan Gingiss and Tom Edwards will deliver keynote presentations that launch each day of ELEVATE 2025, the International Casual Furniture Association’s annual educational conference slated on February 3-5.

Next year, the event takes place at The Westin Tampa Waterside Hotel with an agenda also including breakout sessions and roundtable discussions.

“ELEVATE 2025 is the largest, must-attend learning event for the outdoor furnishings industry that brings together retailers, designers, manufacturers, sales representatives and Solution Partners to gain business insights and share best practices,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, ICFA executive director.

Gingiss has charted more than 20 years…