Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Groovystuff Awarded 2013 Icon Honor
September 25,
2013 by in Community / Charitable Support, Green, Industry 
The Dallas, Texas-based company won for achievements in the integration of college students into the gift and home furnishings industry. The award was presented to Chris Bruning, president of Groovystuff, at the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta International Gift & Home Market by AmericasMart Atlanta CEO Jeffery L. Portman.
Bruning is owner and founder of “The University Hall of Innovation & Job Creation” and the associated “Groovystuff by Design: Connecting Education with Industry Challenge.” His outreach program has worked with more than 14 universities since 2008.
With “Groovystuff By Design: Connecting Education with Industry Challenge,” Groovystuff ships a box of its reclaimed raw materials to the design departments of participating universities where the students create commercial furniture, lighting and home décor under the guidance of their professors and Bruning. The class project is then exhibited at the High Point Market, voted on by attendees re marketability, then put into production. The winners are awarded lifetime royalties by Groovystuff.
“The University Hall of Innovation & Job Creation” was developed and created by Bruning to improve the competitiveness of consumer products here in the United States by supplying the residential home furnishings industry with the most current education, research, market statistics, technology, product design and innovation, as well as a revolving human resource of graduates from the educational programs and universities that service the industry. In his acceptance speech, Bruning encouraged all of the attendees to reach out to the schools in their communities to encourage those of the next generation to bring their spark and enthusiasm to the industry.
Other Icon Honors award winners included Donald J. Hall, Hallmark Cards, for Lifetime Achievement; and Century Furniture: Medal of Excellence Honor.