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From Home Furnishing Business
NeoCon Announces Seven Brands for Permanent Showrooms
April 5,
2023 by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
THE MART is pleased to announce that seven new brands have signed on for permanent showrooms and a number of companies are extending their leases ahead of the 2023 edition of NeoCon, the leading commercial design trade show, June 12-14 at THE MART in Chicago.
“We’ve seen over 200,000 square feet of showroom leasing within the past 18 months, with the contract industry representing more than half of that. Many of our new permanent tenants started out with temporary spaces on the 7th floor,” comments Byron Morton, vice president and co-head of leasing for THE MART.
“It's a great testament to the strength of our building that manufacturers, especially international brands aiming to tap into the US market, have chosen THE MART as their catalyst for growth and expansion.”
British-based Frövi, a previous 7th-floor exhibitor, is among the seven new permanent showrooms at THE MART. Taking the light-filled suite 11-101 on the 11th floor, Frövi’s new home will be divided into nine zones of experiential vignettes featuring Frövi’s distinctive products, from zoning and collaboration solutions to seating and shelving collections utilizing both traditional and innovative production techniques.
Frövi Showroom Designer, Matt Coules says, “We want the space to be multisensory. The area is not just about looks but about the feel, the fabrics, the textures, the importance of comfort, and the use of greenery. There will be something to cater to all senses.”
Canadian-owned Borgo Contract Seating will move this year from the 7th floor to a permanent showroom on the 11th floor (11-115), which will feature a range of seating solutions designed for a variety of commercial applications, including office, healthcare, education, and hospitality environments.
"Our move into a permanent showroom at THE MART is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase our latest designs and products to a wider audience at NeoCon, and to connect with industry professionals from around the world,” comments Alessandro Spassiani, president of Borgo Contract Seating.
FurnitureLab’s first appearance at NeoCon was in 1996, and now they are back to take a permanent space on the 10th floor (1058) to showcase modern and elevated takes on multidisciplinary dining spaces.
Perfectly timed with their own branding refresh, Venue Industries (10-164) will unveil a 10th floor showroom and launch three new product lines displayed across multiple vignettes within the space—designed to highlight the community and gathering spaces of the hybrid workplace.
Schiavello’s new space on the 10th floor (10-135) is an integral part of the Australian-headquartered company’s growth strategy. “We have the industry experience and design intelligence of America’s biggest commercial furniture players— so when it came to establishing a beachhead in the North American market, THE MART was an ideal venue,” comments Jeff Thompson, executive vice president North America at Schiavello.
Sustainability-minded supplier, Tiger Leather will debut a new showroom on the 10th floor (1040A). The 20-year-old North Carolina brand, known for its high-performance, exceptional patent leather, has evolved to bring designers and their clients design-driven leather in every category for a wide range of hospitality, fashion, and contract projects.
Recognized for their comfortable, beautiful, and durable furniture that sets a higher standard for the healthcare experience, Stance will join the 10th floor in suite 10-139. Understanding the important role design plays in emotional and physical wellbeing, Stance is committed to providing innovative furniture solutions that encourage healing and improve the healthcare experience for all.
New and noteworthy 7th floor exhibitors include Anthom Design House, Alvic USA, Arrmet, Cane-line Furniture, Formica Corporation, Nardi S.p.A, Mute Design, Room & Board Business Interiors, and Zintra, all bringing fresh and innovative solutions from the US and around the globe.
Show registration is free for all attendees. To register, head here. Programming registration for keynotes, featured presentations, CEU sessions and workshops will open on April 3, 2023. Stay tuned for more details on programming, exhibitor updates, product trends, and highlights to come at NeoCon 2023!