What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

While attending the Las Vegas furniture market, I had the good fortune to attend a trend forecast seminar presented by Michelle Lamb of Marketing Directions, Inc. During this standing room only presentation, Michelle shared her color and design trend forecast for 2009 and 2010.

I learned so much, I thought my head might implode. I'll save the color forecast for another forum - for right now, I would like to share with you her views on current and upcoming fabric design trends;

1. Lots of detailing - pleats and puckers with both visual and tactile interest, ruffles and gathers, and contrasting piping and outlining.

2. Interesting luster levels - mixing matte and shimmering fibers, creating a juxtaposition of a dressy and casual aesthetic.

3. Global evolution - with an African, Asian and Moraccan influence, leaning a bit away from the exotic and more toward a decorative, folkloric look.

4. And, all of this will inspire a counter-trend of clean and simple lines, stripes, smocking, and dots in the positive and negative.Later, while walking the (over 5 million square feet) of showroom space, I saw many examples of these trends in furniture, bedding, accessories, lighting, floor coverings, and textiles.

Next time, I will write about colors....

Family Matters

I work in an anomaly in the business world. Along with my brother, I manage our family business. That by itself is not too unusual, but we are the third generation of our family in the same location running a strong and robust company in a dynamic industry. What makes our story even more unique is my son, Brian, is the fourth generation of our family to be involved in our business.

Even though more than 90% of businesses in the United States are family owned, less than 3% make it to the fourth generation. Those are some staggering statistics. What is it that makes some family businesses viable over the years while others falter?As I grew up in our business, I watched our family develop certain qualities that have served us well and allowed for the succession of future generations.

First, we have been able to keep our family and business rolls separate. It is not often easy, but it has enabled us to balance the needs of our families with the needs of our business. We are able to make family decisions for family reasons and business decisions for business reasons.

Second, we are flexible within our roles in our company. Although we each have defined responsibilities, our structure is still somewhat informal, allowing us to step up in rank if and when the need arises.

Third, the older members of our family have patiently mentored the younger members, encouraging them to learn current trends in our industry while creating an atmosphere that is creative and adaptable.Hopefully, we have built the framework for succeeding generations to prosper and continue the legacy of the founder of our business, my grandfather, Howard Tocker.
Share