Casual Living to publish consumer issue

Casual Living magazine, a sister publication to Home Accents Today, plans to publish an issue targeted to upscale consumers in January.

The additional 50,000 copies will be direct-mailed to affluent households in San Jose, Calif., Scottsdale, Ariz., and Miami, the three cities where consumers spend most heavily for outdoor furnishings.

"This is one of many ways we continue to explore to deliver quality results to our advertisers and share our expertise with consumers as well as retailers," said Kevin Castellani, vice president and general manager of the publications. "We view our relationship with our customers as a partnership."

"We are excited about the opportunity to deliver the message of advertisers and editors to such a select group of potential customers," said Terry Lail, publisher of Casual Living. "The title of our magazine sends the perfect message to consumers as it does to casual specialty retailers."

Working with the editors of Casual Living will be editorial staff from Home Accents Today, creating lifestyle stories about the newest and most popular furnishings for outdoor living.

"Our editorial staff sees more new product and more trends than anyone else in the industry," said Becky Boswell Smith, editor in chief of Casual Living and Home Accents Today. "It is a natural evolution to share that information with shoppers and we think it will prove as valuable to them as it is to retailers."

Although the issue will focus on consumers, the regular subscriber base also will receive it.