We live in a time of borderless retailing in which practically everything can be available from anywhere.

Despite this notion, for casual retailers the locale and the elements that accompany it are major considerations and determining factors shaping customer buys. So what sells where? In words and project photo reveals, retailers from three unique settings provide answers. 

Deep South

“Deep” in the South is not only a navigational location, but also exactly the casual furniture that is producing strong sales for multiple Apollo Award winner Yard Art Patio and Fireplace. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Yard Art Patio and Fireplace serves customers with a vast array of product – but especially deep seating. 

In a recent residential installation, Yard Art revealed a typical patio-scape that incorporated many of the key outdoor décor items that are popular with their Texas customers. The homeowner incorporated cast aluminum deep seating and dining with accessories and shade products to complete multiple outdoor rooms. 

“We sell a lot of deep seating,” said Garrett Wallace, merchandising manager. “It doesn’t matter the construction; we sell a lot.” Wallace emphasizes that the deep seating sold in their market focuses on comfort with large cushioning being especially popular.

“We also sell a lot of fire elements, with our round fire pits being very big for us,” Wallace said. Wallace credits the year-round use of the outdoors by his customers as providing incentive for dressing these spaces with quality casual products. 

 In a region with more than 200 days of sunlight, umbrellas are a fun and important accessory. “Cantilevers have become very popular,” Wallace said. “The ability to have shade over you without dealing with a pole is attractive to our customers.”

As far as accessories, the Yard Art customer enjoys a variety of items with wall hangings and decorative pillows topping the list. “We stock the furniture in neutral colors to allow our clients to brighten them up with pillows,” Wallace said. 

Upper Midwest

Just off a major install within a commercial location, Laacke and Joys of Brookfield, Wis., point to several products and features that are attracting attention from their Midwestern buyers.

“I think a common thread with this reveal is that the commercial customer is looking for the residential feel, but they just need it to translate into a commercial application,” said Mary Mann, vice president/general manager of Laacke and Joys. 

Mann indicates that although dining has always been the star of outdoor décor and especially with commercial jobs, the current big push is for more deep seating. “Before, deep seating was the add-on, but now dining furnishings are the secondary consideration with deep seating first.” 

Considerable deep seating and dining was revealed in the commercial installation completed by Mann’s team at the North Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls, Wis. Outdoor deep seating and dining selected for North Hills included Summer Classics’ Provence collection.

“This project shows that a commercial client is not afraid to spend on high-end furnishings,” Mann said. “We are seeing dining used in multiple locations throughout the outdoor space in commercial as well as residential projects.” 

Midwesterners are seen as having something in common with those along coastal regions with the growing popularity of marine grade polymer furnishings. “Marine grade polymer products are a huge trend in our area,” Mann said. “Although sea salt is not a factor, it is the winter and the freezing temperatures that make this construction popular with customers.”

As winds create an added factor for outdoor décor in the southern Wisconsin area, Mann points to furniture that carries considerable weight as working for her customers. “Homeowners want something very heavy and very sturdy that will withstand the elements year around,” Mann said. “The MPG furniture is a great option again as there is no need to bring it in during harsh weather.”

In accessory selection, weight is also a consideration with fire pits and shade products. A recent installation revealed a trending fire pit with local stone and natural elements that will remain where placed. Mann’s customers also are requesting large umbrellas.

“Cantilevers in 10, 11 and 13-foot styles are huge. We are doing phenomenal with these,” Mann said. “Shade is big once our customers understand it completely. We have posted videos on YouTube educating customers on our shade products.”  

Urban East

From its Atlanta location, Authenteak serves urban and regional Georgia customers. For a company that specializes in wooden outdoor furnishings and accessories, a recent project showcases a mixture of constructions. “We are known for our wood and are strong in the category,” said Eric Brenner, owner of Authenteak. “But the category that doesn’t stop right now is the woven all-weather wicker. It is never ending.” 

In the all-weather wicker category, the styles carried by Authenteak are mostly transitional, but the sales team also offers lines with contemporary styles and designs. “We are Southern as a state and a city,” Brenner said, “but the population is from all over and the clean urban or contemporary feel is very popular.” 

Design motifs are not as big a consideration within Authenteak’s wood offerings due to a common factor. “With our wood products, regardless of the style, as a construction it is ultimately timeless,” Brenner said. “No matter the age, there is a timeless feel to those furnishings.”

A message that repeated across casual retailers is the popularity of sofas, love seats and lounges. “We’re seeing deep seating drive the business right now,” Brenner said. “And as far as accessories, what does well are umbrellas. Our customers are looking for large umbrellas – the bigger, the better.” The ability to cover an entire space with one cantilever umbrella versus multiple umbrellas is a much requested option in Authenteak’s market. 

No matter the locale, what is selling where is often the result of a combination of geography and demographics. The short answer, however, is that casual products are what is selling. Everywhere.