ICFA Changes Awards Program

April 11, 2013  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on April 12, 2013

The International Casual Furnishings Association has made several changes to the casual industry's annual awards programs.

Those include an update to the categories for the Design Excellence competition and, for the first time, the acceptance of design entries from companies that are not ICFA members.

Based on recommendations from an industry task force charged with updating the awards programs, the ICFA Board approved the following categories for Design Excellence entries, beginning with the 2013 competition:  

• Dining or Bar Table
• Dining or Bar Chair
• Chaise Lounge
• Lounge Seating--Cushion
• Lounge Seating--Non-cushion
• Heating/Firepits
• Shade Products
• Outdoor Lighting
• Outdoor Carpeting, Rugs & Flooring
• Fabric
• Complementary Casual Products

The top five categories replace previous categories that focused on materials rather than the function of the product, including cast metal, tubular materials, wrought iron/wrought aluminum, resin/fiberglass, rattan/wicker/woven and wood. New for 2013 is the heating/firepits category. The last five categories are the same as in previous years.

The Design Excellence entry fee remains at $100 per entry for ICFA members. Non-members may now enter the competition for $500 per entry. 

In addition to these changes to the Design Excellence competition, the task force recommended consolidating ICFA's two awards events, both held during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago, into a single event.

The new ICFA Awards Gala will include presentation of the Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show" Award, the Manufacturer of the Year, the Sales Representative of the Year and the Apollo Awards for retail excellence. In addition, the annual tribute to the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will also be included in the evening's program.

The Design Excellence category winners and the Manufacturer Leadership awards will be presented in showrooms prior to the Casual Market or on the first day of the show.

The Awards Gala is slated for Sept. 19 at the Field Museum in Chicago. Tickets are $55 per person or $500 for tables of 10 for first-time attendees. All other gala guests will pay $65 per person or $600 for a table for 10. 

Guidelines and entry forms for all of the casual industry awards will be available on the ICFA Web site. In addition, Design Excellence competition entry packages will be mailed to all International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market exhibitors.