ICFA Names Apollo, Other Award Members, New Board

September 23, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on September 24, 2010

The International Casual Furnishings Association honored outstanding product and individuals at this week's International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market.

The Apollo Awards recognize retail excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings.
Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and commitment to customer service. Winners in two categories, single store and multi-store, were selected through an online ballot.    

Outdoor Elegance, of LaVerne, Calif., was the single store winner. Yard Art Patio & Fireplace, with four stores in and around Irving, Texas, was the multi-store category winner.

The Design Excellence Awards, co-sponsored by Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., recognize products for their overall design, as well as their marketability, innovation, color, construction and imaginative use of materials. Category winners included: 
* Cast Metal: Varenne barstool from Veneman€™s Roger Thomas Collection.
* Complementary Casual Products: cushion storage chest by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster.
* Fabric: French Twist Collection from Shuford Mills/Outdura.
* Outdoor Lighting: Phatty conversation table lamp by Andy Morter for Shady Lady.
* Outdoor Rugs/Carpeting/Flooring: Peacock Ocean Aqua outdoor rug, from Sawgrass Mills/The HammockSource.
* Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials: Gigi lounge from JANUS et Cie.
* Resin/Fiberglass: Brio MPG cushion sectional by William Vanderminden for Telescope Casual Furniture.
* Shade Products: Plantation MAX parasol by Dougan Clarke for TUUCI.
* Tubular Materials: color glass dining table from Telescope Casual Furniture.
* Wood Furniture: Topaz stackable carver by Ciani Design for Jensen Leisure.
* Wrought Iron/Wrought Aluminum: Amelie dual spring rocking loveseat by Shaun Sweeney for Woodard.

The Topaz stackable carver by Ciani Design for Jensen Leisure took the Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show" award, which was selected from among the 11 category winners listed above.

Lifetime Achievement awards to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the casual furniture industry and to their individual communities included:

* Larry Shaw (1928-2009): Shaw was co-founder with William Lyon of the Lyon-Shaw wrought iron outdoor furniture company in 1969.
* Ron Ball: Ball is a sales representative for O.W. Lee in Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia and for Windham Castings in Texas and Oklahoma.

One manufacturer was honored in each of eight categories for the design and quality of their products, along with their merchandising, customer service, ethics, communications and trade relations. Winners were:
* Tropitone in the Tubular Materials Furniture category.
* O.W. Lee Company, Wrought Iron/Aluminum.
* Laneventure, Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials.
* Gloster, Wood Casual.
* Treasure Garden, Shade Products.
* Lady, Outdoor Lighting.
* Ancient Mosaic Studios, Complementary Casual Products.
* Gensun Casual Living, Cast Metal.

Manufacturer of the Year
From among the eight category winners listed above, O.W. Lee was selected "Manufacturer of the Year."
 
Bryon Echols was the inaugural winner of a new award, Sales Representative of the Year. Echols, Echols Enterprises Inc., is a sales representative for Classic Cushions & Umbrellas, Lloyd/Flanders and Meadowcraft.

In addition, ICFA elected new officers and directors at its annual membership meeting held during the Casual show.

Rory Rehmert of Pride Family Brands was elected chairman. Vice chairman is Eric Parsons, Gloster Furniture.

Directors elected to one-year terms on the ICFA Executive Committee include Dudley Flanders, Lloyd/Flanders Inds.; Jim Schultz of Patios Plus; and Butch Wallace, Yard Art Patio and Fireplace.

Elected to three-year terms on the ICFA Board were Margaret Chang, Treasure Garden; Joseph Cilio, Alfresco Home; Dudley Flanders, Lloyd/Flanders Inds.; Petey Fleischut, Casual Marketplace; Greg Johnson, JDG Sales; Terri Lee Rogers, O.W. Lee Company; Greg Martin, Kolo Collection; Doug Sanicola, Outdoor Elegance; Jim Schultz, Patios Plus; and Ward Usmar, TUUCI.