Retail Observer

August 2014

The Retail Observer is an industry leading magazine for INDEPENDENT RETAILERS in Major Appliances, Consumer Electronics and Home Furnishings

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RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2014 38 "Our showroom this year reinforced a fundamental concept we developed ten years ago – to create, collaborate and rejuvenate and we presented inspiring vignettes that articulate our brand and direction. We were extremely pleased with the show's success and the reaction of end users and specifiers," Kennedy said. • Also pleased to be a part of the show, Jim Keane, president and CEO of Steelcase, commented, "Steelcase was once again honored to have the opportunity to showcase our newest innovations alongside the multitude of respected design companies and professionals at NeoCon. This year we introduced Susan Cain Quiet Spaces by Steelcase; five unique applications tailored to unlock the potential of one-third to one-half of the population who are introverts and struggle in open plan environments." Bob King, founder and C.E.O. of Humanscale, a permanent showroom, summed up the experience, adding, "We think the show has been terrific. We've seen higher volume of folks than in the last couple years. There's a lot of good energy." Attendees echoed exhibitor sentiments, noting increased traffic and a great showing from exhibitors, who used the show to launch their innovative products and concepts. Maria Melrose, the head of Weston International, commented, "I think there's a better mix of people from more markets this year than in years past. There were more people from the West Coast, as well as more international attendees. The vibe is very upbeat - people are saying that business is improving." Joelle Drury, a project manager at Unispace, agreed, stating, "I've noticed there have been more people this year and it's really high energy. NeoCon is always a good resource for forecasting trends. You see it here first. It's very helpful to be able to see what colors, finishes, etc. are trending." All in all, NeoCon 2014 showed that not only does "place matter," the theme of this year's show, but products and people do, as well. This was seen in every area of the event, from programming to product launches and everything in between. Next year's show will take place June 15-17, 2015. Follow NeoCon on the following social media channels: Face- book, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Vine and visit: www.neocon.com. NEOCON 2014 DELIVERING ON ALL FRONTS E xcellence RO NEOCON 2014 SHOWED THAT NOT ONLY DOES "PLACE MATTER," THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S SHOW, BUT PRODUCTS & PEOPLE DO, AS WELL.

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