OFMA to host awards night Jan. 13
Association accepting nominations
Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, October 23, 2007
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – The Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. will host a gala dinner on Sunday, Jan. 13, to bestow its annual Lifetime Achievement Award and honor its 2008 Retailer of the Year.
The event — during the Canadian Home Furnishings Market, which runs Jan. 12-15 — also will recognize the winners of this year’s Retailers’ Choice Award.
OFMA Chairman Laine Reynolds, said nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Retailer of the Year Award are being accepted. Nomination letters should be sent to OFMA President Murray Vaughan via e-mail at murray@ofma.ca.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a manufacturer or importer in recognition of his or her long-term contributions to the industry and community. The 2007 honoree was Hugh Owen, president of Owen & Company/Kingsdown Canada and past chairman of the OFMA.
Prior recipients of the LAA include the late Orville Mead, then president of Durham Furniture; Terry Clark, longtime president of the Canadian Council of Furniture Manufacturers and chairman of Furniture West; and Pat Thody, former president and CEO of Simmons Canada.
The 2007 Retailer of the Year was Mega Group. Prior honorees include Tom Leon, formerly chairman of Leon’s Furniture; Dennis Novosel of Stoney Creek Furniture; and Bill Comrie, formerly president and CEO of The Brick.
“All of these people have made a real difference not only in their own businesses but to the industry and their communities,” Reynolds said.
For the second consecutive year, retailers are being asked to vote on which of their resources/suppliers does the best job helping them build their business.
“This is an opportunity for retailers to say who among us is doing an outstanding job, not just in designing and building product, but in marketing, service and delivery as well,” said Reynolds, who also serves as vice president of sales for upholstery maker Superstyle Furniture.
Retailers will be able vote online at the OFMA Web site, www.ofma.ca, once the section is set up in the next week or so.
Every manufacturer member of the OFMA, Furniture West and the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn. is eligible for the award. Manufacturers are divided into two categories: C$10 million and under in annual sales and over C$10 million. The associations created the lists for each category.
Voters are asked to select first, second and third place in each size range. “The manufacturer with the highest overall score in each of the two categories will be awarded the 2007 Retailers’ Choice Medallion,” said Reynolds.
Last year’s winners were Brentwood Classics in the C$10 million and under category and Superstyle Furniture in the over C$10 million segment.
Retailers are asked to consider several criteria, developed by the association in consultation with retailers, including product quality and salability, service, distribution, in-store support and sales representation.
Retailers can vote as many times as they wish until Dec. 31.
The Canadian Home Furnishings Awards program, recognizing excellence in the design, manufacturing and marketing of Canadian-made residential furniture, will not be held this year.
The Jan. 13 awards dinner will be held at the Pearson Convention Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the OFMA office at (905) 677-6561.
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