NASFM’s traditional roundtable breakouts have evolved this year into Idea Exchange sessions. Discuss some of today’s most critical industry issues in-depth with peers in the same informal roundtable format as at past NASFM conventions. This year, however, a facilitator for each session will summarize the group’s consensus on issues, challenges, and/or solutions at a brief presentation to the general assembly the following day.

IDEA EXCHANGE BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 11:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M.

Fabricators and their suppliers have been grappling with the complexities of determining what makes a fixture or display green. Now they must also comply with new governmental requirements regarding the environmental impact of their products, regardless of whether they’re destined for a green store. How will the new California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation and similar standards coming down the pike affect the way our industry does business? What other environmental rules affect material selection and fabrication techniques for store fixtures and displays? How do the terms formaldehyde and volatile organic compound apply to retail environments products? What requirements affect whether products can be marketed as sustainable?

Facilitator: Curt Alt, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Composite Panel Association

As advocate for panel suppliers, the Composite Panel Association (CPA), a trade association representing nearly 95 percent of the total North American composite panel manufacturing capacity, provided input to regulators during development of the new CARB reg. CPA monitors environmental rule-making activities that will affect panel suppliers and manufacturers that use composite panels. The association also provides emissions testing services and will be certifying products to the CARB standard in the near future.

As retailers express interest in green design yet keep a tight rein on budgets, retail designers and their vendor partners need a common-sense approach to green design. What is the tipping point that will move retailers to commit to a green project, and what will this require from suppliers? In the current retail climate, is the focus on making a store merely look natural to appeal to shoppers or on using materials and methods that are sustainable? Must style be sacrificed to achieve true green? How can green materials and products for store interiors meet retailer needs? Need LEED be the goal of every sustainable project, or do smaller steps toward green have merit? How achievable is LEED certification? How can brand appropriateness be maintained in the quest for points toward certification? How can designers, fabricators, and industry suppliers promote their green capabilities?

Facilitator: Joe Nevin, Senior Principal, Bergmeyer Associates

A founding principal of the retail group of Boston-based design firm Bergmeyer Associates, Joe Nevin specializes in retail and museum retail stores and an impressive array of those projects have won design awards. Recent projects include L.L. Bean stores in Burlington, Mass., and Central Valley, Pa., that have received LEED certification as well as several other L.L. Bean stores pursuing LEED Silver. Among his numerous industry affiliations, Nevin chairs NASFM’s DREAM Team.

Fixture and display firms are increasingly sourcing globally, and some are even operating Asian manufacturing plants. Many are looking beyond China to India, Vietnam, and other countries. As U.S. retailers drive outsourcing and, in some cases, source directly from Asia, overseas manufacturers are growing familiar with Western companies. How can North American manufacturers protect their businesses in the face of demand for outsourced products? Is outsourcing becoming appropriate for a wider range of products? What countries are emerging as viable sources of products for the industry?

Facilitators: Don Depke, President, Midwest Woodworking & Fixture Corp.; Steve Neumeyer, President, Wind Mill Slatwall Products

As president of St. Louis-based fixture firm Midwest Woodworking & Fixture Corp., Don Depke has had experience in sourcing from China over the last several years. Depke represents the second generation in the business, joining the company in 1982 after a several-year stint as an engineer for RCA. Depke serves on NASFM’s board of directors.

As president of Sheboygan Falls, Wis.-based Wind Mill Slatwall Products, Steve Neumeyer also has been sourcing from China for several years. He joined the slatwall and accessories provider in 2003 as COO. His prior background includes 10 years with Kohler Co. and 12 years with Vinyl Plastics Inc. Neumeyer serves on NASFM’s board of directors.

Demand for global sourcing exposes all industry players to the international marketplace. In addition to retailers, some fixture and display firms and industry suppliers have made inroads into foreign markets, and designers are handling an ever-growing spectrum of international projects. With the falling dollar, fixture and display manufacturers in North America may become more cost-competitive. Can the typical fixture or visual merchandising product supplier realistically hope to develop international sales? How can existing relationships be leveraged to create new business opportunities? How can exporters find the best logistical solutions? What are the ramifications of tariffs, economic conditions, and cultural differences?

Facilitators: Denny Gerdeman, Principal, Chute Gerdeman Retail; Tim Atkinson, Vice President, Sales for North America, Wilsonart International

As principal and co-founder of Columbus, Ohio-based award-winning design firm Chute Gerdeman Retail, Denny Gerdeman is increasingly working on retail projects in far-flung corners of the globe such as Japan, England, and India. His firm is currently designing a new prototype store concept for Hamleys, a British toy retailer. Among his numerous industry affiliations, Gerdeman is past chair of NASFM’s DREAM Team.

A Wilsonart associate since 1977, Tim Atkinson has been instrumental in the firm’s aggressive international growth strategies. The supplier of flooring, solid surface materials, adhesives, and Greenguard-certified laminates has been steadily expanding overseas through acquisitions and greenfield operations. The 51-year-old firm now enjoys global sales, thanks to manufacturing facilities in China and Thailand; five Asian DCs; the acquisitions of German, U.K., and Canadian brands; and strong market positions in Australia and South/Central/Latin America.

IDEA EXCHANGE PRESENTATIONS
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 11:20 A.M.-Noon