IHFRA 2021 FIAG Goes Virtual

June 24, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

IHFRA confirmed that this year’s event will also go virtual for the first time. “While we love getting our furniture family all in the same room during FIAG, with COVID-19 still an issue for many, we opted to put the health and safety of our honorees and attendees first,” said Ray Allegrezza, executive director, IHFRA.

Allegrezza added that this year’s honorees made it easy for IHFRA to decide on a Hollywood theme. “Each of our honorees is a star in his or her own right,” he said referring to  Shan Huei “Samuel” Kuo, co-founder and chairman of Samson Holding, Ltd., who will receive the Pillar of the Industry award, Andrew Koenig, president of Top 100 City Furniture, who will be presented with the Retailer of the Year Award,  Kathy Ireland, chairman, chief executive officer and chief designer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, who will receive the coveted Icon Award, industry veteran Kevin O’Connor, who currently serves as a consultant to Samuel Kuo of Samson Holding, slated to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, Geoff Weed, former IHFRA president and longtime rep for Ashley Furniture, who will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award, Marty Libowsky set to receive the Legacy Rep Award and Joseph Montero, who will receive the Rising Star Award.

The other exciting element, IHFRA said, is a new partnership with The Malouf Foundation, which exists to confront child sexual exploitation, specifically sex trafficking and online abuse. The group, founded by Sam and Kacie Malouf of home furnishings supplier Malouf, fulfills its mission by providing education, promoting healing, and ensuring justice for survivors.

As a non-profit, IHFRA has counted on sponsorships and ticket sales to attend the event to help the company stay in the black. “While our decision to go virtual will likely challenge this year’s operating budget, we will always put the health of our friends in front of our finances,” Allegrezza said, adding, “so much so, that we will make the show available for anyone to watch, free of charge,” he said.

To register to watch the FIAG gala at no charge, click here.

To sponsor this year’s FIAG, click here.