I
love it when an issue comes together.
Not when the pages head to the
printer (although that’s always a good
feeling), but when the realization
hits that the stories we’ve written, diverse
as they may seem at the outset, reveal an
unexpected synergy throughout the issue. It
doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does,
it’s kind of magical.
This August issue is like that. I’m not talking
about the editorial thread
that naturally connects
our features through a
common theme. This
is a subtle nuance,
which emerged as the
stories developed. The
features in this issue offer
up different projects,
products and profiles that, at first glance,
don’t necessarily connect. But look a little
deeper and they showcase what can happen
when creativity takes over and we begin to
think outside of the box. From an interior
designer working on a cutting-edge airport
hotel or a 500-year-old landmark restoration
project to a pillow designer who creates a
pointed personal connection, these stories
are inspirational in their uniqueness.
We also share the stories of our 10th
annual Showroom of the Year winners here.
These retailers are far from ordinary, and
their willingness to approach their businesses
creatively is what makes them stand out.
When our stories converge with a
common underlying connection like
this, I pay attention.
These types of synergies are
not that uncommon, no matter
what business you’re in — interior
design, retail, product design and
manufacturing. Are you watchingfor the subtle nuances that connect when
you see them in your design projects or retail
selection and customer inquiries? They might
be coincidence or they might be something
more, and that could be important. I’d like to
think these synergies can point to impending
business and design trends your clients and
customers might be discovering.
From all sides, like any business, home
furnishings faces its challenges. There are
plenty of outside influ-
ences that can disrupt
the status quo — poten-
tial tariffs and increased
prices, online retailers
diverting local traffic
and more.
To stay ahead of the
curve, we need to tune
into the whole picture, not just work through
each project individually. It’s how you deter-
mine what’s coming next.
If you think about the markets you may have
attended this summer, you didn’t decide what
was trending after one showroom visit. It took
visiting several showrooms, or maybe several
markets, to determine that next color, pattern
or style gaining steam.
In your own business, calculating what’s
“next” from the subtle threads you see
running throughout mitigates the risk if you
watch for the potential. The synergies you
find when you connect the dots between
trends, design projects or company direction
could indicate the next evolution that will
help your business flourish. So pay
attention. FLDfrom the editor
VOLUME 3. ISSUE 8WATCH THE SUBTLE SYNERGIES
To stay ahead of the curve, we
need to tune into the whole
picture, not just work through
each project individually.8 | AUG.19 http://www.furniturelightingdecor.com
VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP PUBLISHER
Diane Vojcanin | 847.391.
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