ICFA Shifts Casual Market to AmericasMart Beginning in 2023

Furniture World News Desk on 8/15/2022

As the Casual Market relocates to AmericasMart in Atlanta beginning in 2023, the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) is refreshing and reimagining the 60+-year-old event. The inaugural Casual Market Atlanta will be held July 10-13, 2023, in a dynamic new casual furnishings destination featuring five full floors of permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits.

“As we close one chapter in Chicago, we are very excited to open a new one in Atlanta,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, ICFA executive director. “The move to AmericasMart is not only a fresh start and opportunity to further the growth of ICFA, but for the outdoor and casual furnishings industry as a whole.”

Casual furnishing leasing has accelerated in anticipation of the 2023 debut of Casual Market Atlanta with four floors filled by permanent, purpose-built showrooms for 43 leading outdoor living brands.

For the July 2023 launch, Casual Market Atlanta will also showcase some 100+ temporary exhibits on Floor 7 of Building 1. The tradeshow will feature additional outdoor furniture brands plus fire pits, hammocks, outdoor and garden accessories, outdoor lighting, statuary, umbrellas and more.

New synergies will be created through Casual Market’s colocation with the summer edition of International Market Centers’ (IMC) Atlanta Market – the nation’s largest gift and home décor buying event presented July 11-17, 2023, at AmericasMart – offering an added benefit for casual buyers and sellers.

“ICFA’s move to Atlanta delivers both casual furnishing resources as well as a broad program of educational and social events to our new home,” added Steve Elton, Brown Jordan chief brand curator and ICFA board chair. “This launch marks a new era for ICFA, and we look forward to the fresh, exciting opportunities that it will bring for our diverse range of members, including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers and Solution Partners.”

In addition to the major industry event in July, ICFA and AmericasMart will host the Outdoor Design Week, September 18-20, 2023, for product sourcing, education and industry networking. This event will overlap with AmericasMart’s Fall Market offering opportunities for gift and home product sourcing.

New Branding for a New City

In connection with the relocation, Casual Market Atlanta is introducing a fresh logo and branding. Inspired by the sun in a lively blue color palette, the logo represents a new beginning for the market. The upcoming Casual Market Atlanta website – CasualMarketAtlanta.com – will feature market information, exhibitor listings and more. The updated brand identity and new online resource center will reinforce the Casual Market Atlanta’s new permanent home in Atlanta.

Expanding AmericasMart Resources at Markets and Year-Round

Outdoor living brands have begun the move to Atlanta to optimize connections opportunities with AmericasMart’s home décor and lifestyle buyers. Permanent showrooms will be open in time for the Winter 2023 Atlanta Market, January 10-16, 2023. In addition, showrooms located on Floors 2, 3, and 4 of Building 1 will be open Mondays-Fridays between markets, joining the 400+ décor, gift and lifestyle showrooms that are open year-round for retailer and designer sourcing.

“We are beyond excited for the new opportunities presented by Casual Market’s new home in Atlanta and welcome the industry with IMC’s hallmark hospitality,” said Bob Maricich, IMC CEO. “Both buyers and sellers within the Casual industry will benefit from the robust collection of complementary gift and home resources and buying power found at AmericasMart.”

International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home décor and apparel industries. With more than 20 million square feet of premium wholesale showroom space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. With the launch of Juniper, a fully integrated omnichannel B2B commerce solution and multiline B2B e-commerce marketplace empowering buyers and sellers to better manage and grow their business at markets and year-round, IMC now provides the only omnichannel sales and marketing platform that seamlessly connects physical and digital wholesale commerce. For more information, visit www.imcenters.com.

The International Casual Furnishings Association, based in High Point, N.C., represents manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives and designers of outdoor furnishings plus suppliers to the industry. ICFA supports and promotes the growth of the outdoor and casual furnishings industry through professional education, networking and development. For more information, visit www.icfanet.org.

About The International Casual Furnishings Association
The International Casual Furnishings Association, based in High Point, N.C., represents manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives and designers of outdoor furnishings, plus suppliers to the industry.