Casual dining vendors enjoy solid business

By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, November 3, 2008 HIGH POINT — With a soft economy and financial uncertainty, most casual dining producers either expected a so-so week or hoped solid collections would score them a home run. For Canadel, it was a home run. The custom specialist usually expands options and colors, but this market it focused on a concept collection. Stephane Deschesnes, vice president of market and product development at Canadel, started market week with an interesting problem. Retailers wanted to buy a wall display in the showroom to promote its new Champlain collection. The display was created for use at market, but now will also become a retail display in at least 25 stores. The thick and rustic Champlain collection — based on reproductions of colonial Quebec furniture and celebrating Quebec City's... [read full story]