Outdoor Entertaining

OW Lee’s Rainforest fire pit with Montrachet chairs
“Our winning casual dining/outdoor group is not your typical dining scenario. Many of my customers have moved from eating full meals outside to enjoying drinks and casual hors d’oeuvres. Therefore, they are finding deep-seating chairs around a fire pit the most comfortable, enjoyable way to entertain outdoors. OW Lee’s Rainforest 54-inch round fire pit with the Montrachet chairs is a hit and has sold extreme well. The Rainforest fire pit is beautiful and instantly draws customers to the setting. Versatility and simple functionality are other reasons. It can easily be converted from a fire pit to a 24-inch casual table top by simply taking out the glass fire kit and replacing with the Lazy Susan top. A final, and probably the most important, winning element is the comfort this set provides.” Most of these sets retail for about $8,000 to $9,000 depending on fabrics for the club chairs.

- Deb Kirchner, senior buyer, Mulhall’s, Omaha, Neb.

Woodard’s Cayman Isle
“Our top-selling group right now is Cayman Isle by Woodard. It’s an aluminum collection and available in both cushion and sling. This year they introduced a padded sling version that has a half of an inch of Dacron sandwiched between two layers of the sling or mesh material so it provides more comfort than the traditional sling products but dries quickly if rained on. Part of the attraction is its medium price point—between $1,200 and 1$,600 for a five-piece set. There is a full-line extension that includes dining chairs and swivel rockers, high-back dining chairs and swivel rockers, chaise lounges, recliners and ottomans, gliding loveseats and sofas, swivel barstools, six different table sizes, etc. It is available in 20 finishes and 300 fabrics and ships domestically in 12 days. The consumer can get a lot of pieces for their money and have it made custom and quick. How can you beat that?”

- Gary Ecoff, president, Carl’s Patio, Boca Raton, Fla.

Laneventure’s Charleston
“It’s called the ‘Charleston,’ and it’s a well-priced, all-aluminum group” with both dining and seating. Dining table, four chairs with seat cushions retails for $1,598. Three-cushion sofa starts at $1,348.

- John Wells III, president, Wells Home Furnishings, Charleston, W.Va.

World Source LD10-B table and chairs
“It’s a higher end dollar for us, but it’s been phenomenal as far as quantities going out the door.” Retail as shown is $1,022.

- Fran Coleman, case goods buyer American Furniture Warehouse, Englewood, Colo.