ICFA awards top efforts in design, manufacturing and sales
Tropitone named Manufacturer of the Year
Cinde W. Ingram, Casual Living -- Furniture Today, September 14, 2011
CHICAGO — The International Casual Furnishings Association presented the industry's top awards in product design, manufacturing and sales Tuesday night at the ICFA reception in the impressive ballroom of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
ICFA members and their guests gathered to spotlight Design Excellence winners, recognize the industry's best manufacturing partners and honor an outstanding sales representative. The industry will gather again tonight for the annual Apollo Awards dinner honoring the industry's top retail stores and paying tribute to the year's Lifetime Achievement honoree.
2011 Design Excellence Award Winners
The competition recognizes products for their overall design and quality, as well as their marketability, innovation, color, construction and imaginative use of materials. Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. co-sponsors the awards. Category winners included:
+ Cast Metal: Woodard Landgrave - Atlanta Lounge Chair by Scott Coogan
+ Complementary Casual Products: Veneman Collections - Apple Martini Stone Table Top
+ Fabric: Glen Raven Custom Fabrics/ Sunbrella Performance Fabrics - Heritage
+ Outdoor Lighting: Caframo Limited - Joi powered by Thermologi
+ Outdoor Rugs, Carpeting and Flooring: Trans-Ocean Imports Company - Ravella Disco Orange by Liora Manne
+ Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials: JANUS et Cie - Amari High Back Lounge Chair
+ Resin Fiberglass: Grosfillex - Ineo Extension Table
+ Shade Products: TUUCI - Plantation MAX Cantilever by Dougan Clarke
+ Tubular Materials: Gloster Furniture Inc. - Azore 34" Square Table with Synthetic Wood Top by Povl Eskildsen
+ Wood Casual: Gloster Furniture Inc. - Ventura Deep Seating Swivel Rocker by Povl Eskildsen
+ Wrought Iron/Wrought Aluminum: Woodard - Jax Stationary Lounge Chair by Scott Coogan
Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show"
The Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show" Award, selected by ICFA members from among the 11 category winners listed above, went to Gloster Furniture for the Ventura Deep Seating Swivel Rocker by Povl Eskildsen.
Manufacturer Leadership
One manufacturer was honored in each of eight categories for the design and quality of its products, along with its merchandising, customer service, ethics, communications and trade relations. Casual Living Publisher Norman Hamilton and Greg Martin, chairman of the ICFA Retail Council and owner of Kolo Collection, joined ICFA Executive Director Joe Logan on the stage to present awards to the following winners:
+ Pride Family Brands - Cast Metal
+ Tropitone - Tubular Materials Furniture
+ OW Lee Company - Wrought Iron/Aluminum
+ Seaside Casual - Resin/Fiberglass
+ Lane Venture - Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials
+ Jensen Leisure - Wood Casual Furniture
+ Treasure Garden - Shade Products
+ Trans-Ocean - Outdoor Carpeting, Rugs/Flooring
+ Alfresco Home - Complementary Casual Products
Manufacturer of the Year
From among the nine category winners, Tropitone was selected as top Manufacturer of the Year. Both the category winners and the Manufacturer of the Year were selected in ICFA members online voting.
"The obvious words are ‘It's not just Tropitone. It's our suppliers. It's our retailers. It's all a combined unit,'" Tropitone President Cap Hendrix said.
"We are truly grateful for your leadership and the example you have set for everyone in our industry," Logan said.
Sales Representative of the Year
This award was designed to recognize and honor an outstanding sales representative within the casual furnishing industry. Candidates were selected based on leadership, professionalism, exceptional service, communication skills, knowledge and product training expertise.
Gary R. Deane of G&R Deane Associates was named the winner of the ICFA Sales Representative of the Year Award for 2011, determined through online voting. Following a 25-year career with United Parcel Service, Deane joined his brother in business as a sales associate for the indoor furniture industry. After a few years on the road, he decided to devote his future to the casual furniture industry. He currently represents OW Lee, Lloyd/Flanders, Treasure Garden and Gold Crest Cushions.
Deane responded to calls for a speech from the audience and said it was hard to put into words what he was feeling because he felt his 10 years of experience did not compete with those who had logged 30 years or more as sales reps. "I respect all of you who are much better at this than I am," he said. He added it was quite an honor.
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