ICFA OFFERS TOOLS FOR MANUFACTURERS, RETAILERS, SALES REPRESENTATIVES AND SUPPLIERS TO STAY ON THE LEADING EDGE OF A GROWING OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS MARKET
“Whether enclosed or open-air, outdoor spaces have come into their own as legitimate rooms in the American home,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and executive director of its outdoor division, the International Casual Furnishings Association. “Today’s outdoor rooms have it all – somewhere to dine, to relax and be entertained, with furnishings that function like they would for any room in the home, and with style and flair that distinctly says out-of-doors.”
Morris, an executive assistant at the American Home Furnishings Alliance since 2000, has provided support to AHFA’s public relations and marketing functions for 18 years but has also at various times assisted membership, IT and environmental programs. She was additionally assigned to a support role for ICFA in 2014.
In 1995, when OW Lee CEO Terri Lee Rogers and her mom, Beverly, were asked to leave an all-male Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) closed board meeting she felt embarrassed and somewhat rejected. Two hours later, the equally embarrassed Chairman of the Board, Mike Echolds from Tropitone, called and invited her to join that board.
All segments of the industry gathered at the Chicago Field Museum Thursday, Sept. 15, to recognize manufacturing and retailing excellence, spotlight top product designs and pay tribute to the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. Awards presented or recognized during the event included the following:
Whether it was building his insurance company from 11 to 514 employees, changing careers to open Outdoor Elegance Patio Design Center as the casual furniture shopping destination for the stars and the rest of upscale Southern California, or becoming the first retail Chairman of the Board of the International Casual Furnishings Association, Doug Sanicola always goes big. His aspirations for his legacy as the head of our trade organization are equally lofty. “I am pledging to reach out to all retailers to join us.
The 10 companies were selected after online voting in August among ICFA’s retail, designer and supplier membership. The finalists include: Brown Jordan, Castelle, Gloster Furniture, Jensen Leisure Furniture, Lloyd Flanders, O.W. Lee, Patio Renaissance, Telescope Casual Furniture, Treasure Garden and Tropitone Furniture.
From among the 11 category winners in ICFA’s Design Excellence competition, two products will be selected for the Lilly Award for Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Accents, and one product will be honored with the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” Award. These honors will be announced at the ICFA Awards Gala on Thursday, September 22, at the Field Museum in Chicago.
The Design Excellence category winners announced this week include:
When is the last time you have attended a traditional dinner party? If you are like most, it’s probably been a while. Bygone are the days of a traditional “dinner party”- indoors or out...
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