CHFA to honor Decor-Rest's Angelo Marzilli

Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, October 29, 2012

MarzilliMISSISSAUGA, Ontario - Angelo Marzilli, the founder of upholstery maker and furniture importer Decor-Rest Furniture, has been named the 2013 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance.
     The CHFA established the award in 2001 to recognize people who have made exemplary and sustained contributions to the Canadian home furnishings industry and to the community in which they live.
     "Angelo Marzilli's success has come as a result of hard work, commitment and persistence," the CHFA said in a statement announcing the award. "It is important to Angelo that the Marzilli family values are applied to Decor-Rest's dealings with everyone. This philosophy gave birth to the company's tagline ‘built by our family for your family.'"
     The son of a traditional farming family, Marzilli immigrated to Canada in 1962 from Compabasso, Italy, at age 15. His career in the furniture industry began at the now defunct Newport Chesterfield in 1963 where he trained as a master upholsterer before moving to Futurama four years later.
     Marzilli founded Decor-Rest in partnership with his wife, Christina, in 1972, opening a 4,000-square-foot factory employing 20 in the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge.
     Twelve years ago, the company built its current facility - called The Showplace - which includes a 225,000-square-foot factory as well as offices and a showroom. Today, Decor-Rest has 250 employees and is one of Canada's largest upholstery manufacturers.
     Marzilli also supports a number of charitable and community organizations.
     This year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was Art DeFehr, CEO of Palliser Furniture. Prior honorees include Jean Deveault, retired executive vice president of Canadel; Richard Magnussen, president and CEO of Magnussen Home Furnishings; and the late Orville Mead, president of Durham Furniture.
     The association will host a gala dinner to honor Marzilli and the 2013 Retailer of the Year, Sears Canada, on Friday, Jan. 11, in the Orion Ballroom of the International Centre here.
     For tickets to the event or for more information, contact CHFA President Murray Vaughan at (905) 655-6561 or by email at murray@chfaweb.ca.