patio & hearth products reportLATEST NEWS
Lennox Hearth Products’ Grandview™ 230 Stove Provides Elegance and Efficiency
With gas and electric costs predicted to reach all-time highs this winter, now is a good time to provide your customers with options that will protect them from the cold and help them save their hard-earned cash.
A wood-burning stove is a great option. But if your customers aren’t fans of the old-fashioned, pot-bellied stove look and want something with a lot more style and still efficient and dependable, Lennox Hearth Products has it.
LHP’s new Grandview™ 230 wood-burning stove, from its popular Country® Collection, delivers on all counts. Designed with subtle curves and finely crafted details, the Grandview 230 looks stylish enough to fit a wide range of home decors. A variety of stylish leg, pedestal and accessory options allow your customers to choose the... continue reading
Galaxy Outdoor: The Next Generation in Firepits, Fire Tables, Firepans, Fire Plates and more
Bruce Spangrud, creator/inventor of the original modular outdoor islands, launched Galaxy Outdoor (Las Vegas, Nevada), which manufactures a new and improved line of outdoor fire products and custom and stock outdoor kitchens. All framed structures built by Galaxy Outdoor are constructed with galvanized 120 12-gauge tubing (not studs), then welded together (not screwed together). Not only are these units more durable than competing products, they are also less costly and easier to install.
Galaxy Outdoor’s product line consists of an unlimited range of finished or ready-to-finish custom islands (with stainless built-in island accessories to go with all islands), firepits, and fire tables. All Galaxy Outdoor products can be individualized to match the architecture of a home, its landscaping, its pool/spa design, and its entertaining areas.
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Select Outdoor Kitchens Expands Into Hospitality Industry
Select Outdoor Kitchens, a leader in supplying portable outdoor-kitchen cabinetry, gas grills, and ceramic cookers, recently expanded its product offerings to include turnkey, all-inclusive cabinetry units for the hospitality industry. Mike Miller, president, says, “There isn‘t anybody else offering a turnkey product that would be a self-sufficient island. These new products are full-service cooking stations that include water hookups, sinks, refrigeration, and electrical outlets, making them ideal for hotel and resort kitchens.”
He adds, “We’re sticking with portability, but we are offering hotels, restaurants, and resorts turnkey units.” Select Outdoor Kitchens is focusing on a standard product line first and will expand the product based on customers’ individual needs. The company has more than 40 years of experience in creating cuttingedge outdoor-cooking cabinetry designed to function as... continue reading
Napoleon Wins Two Vesta Awards at HPBExpo
Napoleon® received the Central Heating Systems Award and the prestigious Daniel J. Melcon Best-in-show Award for Hearth Products at this year’s HPBExpo Vesta Awards ceremony on March 2, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia.
The HMF200/9600 Combo furnace won for its industry-first design, green technology, and fuelsaving capabilities. When the fire in the wood furnace dies down, a second thermostat calls for heat and the gas furnace starts. As an added bonus, the ultra-efficient gas furnace also features a DC motor that can save up to 80% on electricity bills. Napoleon manufactures both the wood and gas furnaces in its Barrie, Ontario, facility, and the entire combination is backed by a warranty as a system—another first in the industry.
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Solair Shade Solutions Successfully Expands Brand and Market Capabilities
Solair® Shade Solutions, a line of residential shade products from Tri Vantage® L.L.C., successfully completed the 2011 outdoor-living season, offering a virtually untapped shade category to patio-furniture retailers: retractable awnings.
Rett Haigler, business manager of shade-solution products, says, “Partnering with fine outdoor-furniture retailers has breathed life into a category that needed an effective solution to create more enjoyable and flexible outdoor-living spaces for consumers. Providing consumers the opportunity to experience our high-quality retractable awnings in a realistic setting, through the retailer channel, is a major step forward in the growth of the entire market.”
Since the brand’s introduction to the patio-furniture market in September 2010, Solair has partnered with 130 specialty retailers; it expects the number of high-quality stores carrying Solair awnings to grow to 150 by... continue reading
Agio to Attend Spring 2012 High Point Market
For the first time, Agio International Co. Ltd. will exhibit a selection of outdoor-furniture collections at the spring 2012 High Point Market (April 21–26). Agio-USA officials credit traditional furniture retailers who have recognized the benefit of adding outdoor collections to their product mix as the motivation behind the manufacturer’s entry into High Point Market.
Bob Gaylord, president of Agio-USA, says, “We are coming to High Point Market for the first time because we know there are indoor retailers who are ready to go into the outdoor-casual category. They’re creating an entirely new category within their stores. If an indoor retailer is ready to make the jump into outdoor, we want to be there to discuss the opportunity with him or her.”
Agio’s presence will be... continue reading
New Updates from Galaxy Outdoor
Galaxy Outdoor is the largest manufacturer of custom built outdoor kitchens and seating bars in the United States and Canada. All of the material used in the construction is USA made and 100% of the products are built in Las Vegas, NV. All of our cabinets, bars, and fire pits are constructed of 12 gauge, #120 galvanized tubing and welded together. No screws are used in assembly of the frames. Each section is designed to be bolted together and self- aligning for easy installation.
Galaxy Outdoor offers everything needed to make outside entertaining an experience that your customers will love. With a selection of over 40 different built in stainless steel components, you can incorporate everything you need for your entertaining convenience. Galaxy Outdoor does not charge... continue reading
New Vice President of Marketing for Galaxy Outdoor
With 15 years of experience in the print and advertising industry, Phillip Williams brings exciting new and innovative Marketing concepts that will help Galaxy reach their target audience. As CEO of Vista Grafix – a Nevada based large format printing company – he helped both small retail and national companies boost their visibility in the marketplace and gain brand exposure through print marketing and creative advertising efforts. With a passion for marketing, Phillip understands the needs of retail dealers and how to promote, market, and support the Galaxy line of products. Dealers beware: he will be calling to introduce himself and lend his assistance to the efforts of displaying & marketing Galaxy’s productions in your stores across the US.
Hearth Industry Mourns the Loss of Former Dura-Vent Sales Executive
John Davis passed away Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 after a long battle with liver cancer. He is survived by Helen, his wife of 45 years, their daughter, Daphne Moore, son-in-law, Ben Moore, and two grandsons John David Moore and Ben Davis Moore.
John graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He was a Vietnam war veteran serving as a U.S. Army Captain in the early 1970’s, and had a 40 year sales and marketing career in the building products industry, including over 20 years with Simpson Dura-Vent where he started as a factory representative and ultimately held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. John retired in Bentonville, Arkansas, the hometown of his daughter, son-in-law and grandsons, shortly after the... continue reading
HPBA Releases Comprehensive Report on Housing Market
The HPBA released a detailed report today on the housing market, entitled “Housing, Remodeling, and the U.S. Economy,” which was written by HPBA’s Director of Market Research Don Johnson. Johnson compiled the report after attending numerous conferences that dealt with economic issues and the housing market. The report is distributed to HPBA members twice a year. Find the report here
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Summer Classics to donate $24,500 to Ovarian Cancer Research
Three years ago Susan Lambeth lost a courageous battle to Ovarian Cancer.
Susan was a Summer Classics Sales Representative for 17 years prior to her death. Susan was a devoted wife, mother, daughter and sales representative for Summer Classics. Susan lived in Burlington, North Carolina.
Shortly after Susan’s death Summer Classics introduced a new collection called Halo and announced that a percentage of sales for this group would be donated to Ovarian Cancer Research.
On Monday April 23, 2012 Summer Classics will present a check for $24,500 to the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. This is the Hospital where Susan received care during her fight.
The donation will be made during the Highpoint International Home Furnishings Market at 5:30 pm in the Summer Classics Showroom. The Showroom is located in the Interhall Building on East Commerce Avenue. The showroom number is W-168.<... continue reading
Fire Up Your Grills for National BBQ Day on June 23, 2012
As if you needed another reason to invite your friends over for a BBQ this summer! On June 23rd, Meal Exchange’s National BBQ Day, proudly presented by Napoleon Gourmet Grills, will be asking people to celebrate locally grown food with a BBQ and a few friends.
“National BBQ Day connects people to each other and to their food system,” said Dave Kranenburg, Executive Director of Meal Exchange,. “National BBQ Day was born out of demand from our supporters for more ways to support Meal Exchange’s work of achieving hunger alleviation and increasing access to affordable, nutritious food. With a few hundred participants in the first year, and a few thousand last year, everyone is united by the belief that buying local strengthens our local economies and creates jobs.”
This year’s National BBQ Day, presented by Napoleon Gourmet Grills with support from Ch... continue reading
Wolf Steel Limited Announces New HVAC Sales Force
Wolf Steel Ltd. introduces the expansion of their HVAC Sales Force. Starting with Bill Harris as Sales Director, starting on November 14th, and joining him is Mike Cantin as the Canadian Regional Sales Manager and Scott Russel as Account Manager. The new team represent both the Napoleon® & Continental® Heating & Cooling brands.
Collectively their resumes consist of strategic planning and implementation of sales and marketing programs, outstanding client relationship building and retention, as well as a strong commitment to excellence and team spirit.
These qualifications along with progressive sales management and HVAC knowledge, this team is a significant expansion to team Wolf Steel Ltd. and will continue to grow with the progression of the HVAC division.
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American Chiropratic Association Endorses Tropitone URComfort™ Self-Adjusting Seating
Tropitone Furniture Company, Inc. announced the endorsement of its innovative URComfort™ self-adjusting seating by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). This is a first for outdoor casual seating and one of very few for seating in general.
“We are extremely pleased that the ACA has endorsed Tropitone® URComfort™ seating,” commented Frank Verna, Director of Consumer Sales and Business Development. “The ACA endorsement process is very rigorous. They want to ensure that any product that carries their endorsement label satisfies the high expectations of the buying public. Their reputation is at stake.”
The ACA is based in Arlington, VA and is the largest professional association in the USA representing Doctors of Chiropractic. Their mission is to preserve, protect, improve and promote chiropractic professionals for the... continue reading
Pelican Reef Wicker to Introduce New Panama Jack® Outdoor Furniture Collections
Pelican Reef Wicker, manufacturer and distributor of quality casual furnishings since 1983, and who last year partnered with Panama Jack to be their outdoor furniture supplier, will be introducing two new exciting collections at the upcoming April High Point Market and the July Chicago Pre-market. Panama Jack will also display the outdoor furniture lineup in their showroom located at Market on Green, Space #207.
“The last five months have been sensational with the introduction of Panama Jack’s Island Breeze Collection” said Allen Calzadilla, President of Pelican Reef. We are so excited to be able to give our existing and new dealers a chance to touch and feel the new Leeward Islands Collection, and get a sneak peak at the upcoming St. Bart’s Collection during the April 21-26 High Point market at our showroom at Showplace #1150.
“The Leeward Islands Collection has incorporated high quality teak with... continue reading
Pride Family Brands’ In-Season Custom Orders Exceed Previous Year in Size and Frequency
Luxury casual furniture designer and manufacturer, Pride Family Brands, recently reported that its in-season custom orders have surpassed those for the same period in 2011. The positive growth being experienced by the company is reflected in increases in custom order sizes, the frequency of casual retailer orders, as well as the higher-end products selected.
“The custom order segment of our business has always been significant,” says Steve Lowsky, president of Pride Family Brands. “In 2012, we are experiencing increases from retailers across categories and regions of the country. We feel if this continues throughout the season, it will create a very positive atmosphere going into 2013’s intro season.”
Pride Family Brands currently is well within the design phase of the 2013 product introductions that will debut at the July 2012 Pre-Market in Chicago. Planning one of its most extensive new product releases, Pride Family Brands will premier multiple collections... continue reading
International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo to Appear on DIY Network’s “Extra Yardage” Next Weekend
DIY Network’s “Extra Yardage” will take millions of viewers behind the scenes of the 2011 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo [PSP] in a one-hour special highlighting the hottest trends in backyard living.
Taped during the 2011 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo last November at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, “Hot List: Backyards” will premiere on DIY Network at 1:00 pm EST on Monday, May 28, on the national cable network’s “Extra Yardage” show. Repeat episodes will air at 6:30 pm EST on Monday, May 28, and again on Thursday, June 7, at 6:30 pm EST.
Debuting on the DIY Network in April 2011, “Extra Yardage” is a half-hour landscaping series that features host Billy Derian transforming neglected decks, patios and yards into world-class outdoor entertainment spaces using the latest designs, materials and concepts.
The fast-paced “Hot List: Backyards” will feature Derian prowling the Int’l... continue reading
Oxford Garden to Introduce New Products at HD Expo
Looking to make a statement in the contract and design industries, outdoor furniture manufacturer Oxford Garden will be debuting several new products at the upcoming Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas, marking the largest product expansion for the company since its beginning in 1997.
The introductions feature a new container-exclusive line entitled Vancouver, crafted from pre-weathered teak. In addition to Vancouver, Oxford Garden will be introducing wood alternative materials to its popular Travira Collection, as well as expanding the collection to include bar and bistro elements. Finally, the company will be releasing deep seating items to its Siena Collection.
“We are very excited about what we are bringing out at the upcoming HD Show,” President Randy Meek said. “These new products provide the answer to many commercial and residential outdoor needs and desires.”
Based in Louisville, Ky., Oxford Garden provides quality furniture for the... continue reading
Woodard Featured in Art Exhibition Honoring its Contribution to American Furniture Industry
Woodard, an innovative leader in the outdoor furniture industry, is being featured in a major exhibition sponsored by the Shiawassee Art Center in Owosso, MI. As an American-based, pioneering manufacturer of wrought iron, aluminum and all-seasons wicker outdoor furniture, Woodard is being honored and recognized for its important and historical contributions to the American furniture industry for the past 146 years.
Focusing on Woodard’s time-honored tradition of quality and innovation, the exhibit will run for 2 months from June 1 – July 29 on the main floor of the Shiawassee Art Center in Owosso, MI and will display three centuries worth of designs, spanning from the original wood chairs that were made in the late 1800s to today’s current wrought iron furniture. The exhibit will also include Woodard designs that are currently part of the permanent collections in both the Smithsonian and Cooper-Hewitt Museums.
“We are excited to... continue reading
Robert Dischner Joins RH Peterson Company
RH Peterson Company, a leading manufacturer of premium gas grills and gas logs, announced today that industry veteran Robert J. Dischner has joined the company as vice president of marketing. In this role, Dischner will develop and lead marketing strategies that will drive the company’s continued growth in the years ahead.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Robert Dischner has joined Peterson, stated Leslie S. Bortz, president. “Bob is a terrific addition to our management team. With more than 30 years of fireplace experience, Dischner brings seasoned marketing skills and unique talent in new product development. His intelligence, reasoning capacity, and sound judgment will truly help our company to reach the next step in our growth. We are fortunate to have a man of Bob’s caliber at Peterson.”
Jerry Scott, vice president of sales and marketing, added “Many of us here at Peterson... continue reading
NorthCape Goes North of the Border
NorthCape is pleased to announce the addition of its fifth warehouse in North America, creating a new distribution center in the greater Toronto area. The state of the art 20,000 square foot facility is located in Mississauga, Ontario and will inventory and support some of NorthCape’s most popular collections.
We see a great growth opportunity in Canada. We look forward to expanding NorthCape’s North American business and are pleased to have a strong team leading the charge, says Tom Murray, President of NorthCape International.
Tirro Luckino, an industry veteran, will be the general manager for the facility, bringing years of experience and expertise to NorthCape International.. Brandon Luckino will continue on as the greater Toronto area sales rep, teaming with his father to grow the business.
NorthCape will open its new facility in early May 2012, immediately shipping products to new and existing... continue reading
Associated Energy Systems 2012 Spring Break
With a lot of excitement and beautiful weather, over 100 people attended this annual event. Attendees were treated to a full day of technical and business-building classes. Class topics ranged from IPI Gas Valve Troubleshooting to How to Design and Sell Outdoor Kitchens. When folks weren’t busy learning, they were able to visit with all the vendors at the on-site tradeshow. It was an excellent opportunity to see many items that debuted at the HPBA Expo earlier in the year. Another added attraction was the multitude of Show Special Buys and the world famous Closeout Corral – both of which treated show attendees with some amazing deals that more than made up for the day spent out of the shop.
Comvest Announces Acquisition of Lennox Hearth Products
The Comvest Group (“Comvest”), through its Comvest Investment Partners IV fund (“Comvest IV”), is pleased to announce the acquisition of Lennox Hearth Products (“LHP” or “the Company”) from Lennox International, Inc. (NYSE: LII). LHP is a manufacturer of fireplaces, fireplace inserts, free-standing stoves, gas log sets, accessories and venting products.
John Caple, a Managing Director with Comvest, said, “We are excited about the opportunities for LHP to be a leader in the hearth industry. LHP has invested significantly in the last few years in innovation and new products, and we are looking forward to the Company’s continued growth. We believe that LHP President and CEO Wendy Howells and her team are well positioned to continue the Company’s tradition of product innovation and industry leading customer service.”
“Throughout the process, the Comvest team has repeatedly demonstrated its belief in the importance... continue reading
Remembering Al Bradtke, Former Empire Representative
Longtime Empire sales representative Al Bradtke, passed away on Wednesday, April 25, at the age of 98.
Bradtke served as a Navy SeaBee during World War II. He worked for Whirlpool for more than 18 years before striking out on his own as an independent sale rep in 1983. The Bradtke Sales Agency represented Empire for more than 15 years and was instrumental in carving out a market for Empire’s vent-free heaters in the southeast.
Empire initially imported vent-free heaters from Spain under the brand name “Corcho.” Bradtke’s strong advocacy of the then-new technology earned him the nickname “Mr. Corcho,” a name that stuck with him long after Empire began making vent-free products domestically under its own Empire Heating Systems brand.
He truly was... continue reading
HPBA Young Guns News
As we begin the process of making the Young Guns as great as we can possibly make it, we want to take a step back to say thanks to the people that have gotten us to this point: Jack Goldman, the President & CEO of HPBA, Rodge Holland, the Chairman of the HPBA Board of Directors, as well as the entire Board who both supported and approved the group’s formation. We also want to thank the first committee members (list below) who have offered their time and expertise to help make Young Guns possible.
The Young Guns have these specific goals:
1. To raise awareness of our industries to members of HPBA
2. To support education and networking regionally throughout HPBA
3. To grow the future leadership of HPBA
4. To encourage new professionals to join the hearth and outdoor living industries<... continue reading
Rhapsody From Lennox Wins Vesta Award
The new the new Dave Lennox Signature® collection Rhapsody™ direct-vent fireplace by Lennox Hearth Products (LHP), Nashville, Tennessee, won a 2012 Vesta Award in the Hearth Products: Gas Products category at HPBExpo (held in Atlanta, Georgia, in March). With a best-in-class design featuring contemporary styling elements, the Rhapsody direct-vent fireplace offers an energy-efficient, easy-to-install decor option for the modern home.
Available this spring, the Rhapsody features a 54-inch viewing area equipped with LHP’s innovative Infini-Flame™technology, which showcases a continuous band of tranquil flames. This breathtaking design is enhanced by a porcelain interior that features optional illusion panels and backlighting to add design interest— even when the fireplace is not in use.
With an efficient burner design (rated at 70% AFUE), the Rhapsody provides more visible flame per Btu, for added energy savings, and will continue to operate even in the event of a power failure.... continue reading
The Merchandise Mart Announces Exciting Changes
The Merchandise Mart, the world’s largest commercial building and epicenter of fine design, announced that in the coming months a thoughtful reconfiguration of the Mart’s casual outdoor furnishing floors will commence, offering designers and buyers a more enjoyable, seamless experience while shopping the superb showroom offerings.
Currently shoppers must visit casual/outdoor furnishing tenants, many of whom are intermixed with different industries, on floors 15, 16 and 17 in The Mart. By consolidating these showrooms to floors 15 and 16, a casual furnishings destination will be created, helping to re‐energize this already vibrant industry.
“The co‐location of the casual/outdoor furnishing showrooms to one area of the building has been requested by many buyers, tenants and the International Casual Furnishings Association over the years,” said John Brennen, executive vice president of MMPI. “This relocation will allow MMPI to renovate the floor and tenants to upgrade their... continue reading
Z-Line Designs Names Justin Smith as VP Sales for New Leather Furniture Division
Z-Line Designs, a leading manufacturer of contemporary home office and home entertainment furniture products, has named Justin Smith as vice president of sales for its newly established leather furniture division. Smith will oversee the launch of the company’s leather furniture line at this month’s High Point Market.
Smith joins Z-Line Designs with a 15-year track record in the leather industry. Most recently he was vice president of Le Noir Leather/Davis Direct Furniture, where he was involved in development, sourcing, design, and sales. Prior to that, he held positions with Natuzzi and Leather Trend.
“When we decided to enter the leather market, we looked for the best people we could get to come on board, and Justin rose quickly to the top of the list,” says Jim Sexton, Z-Line Designs founder, president and CEO. “He is very knowledgeable in leather furniture and is... continue reading
Z-Line Designs Expands Its Casual Furniture Line
Z-Line Designs is launching full steam ahead into the casual market – with an expanded casual furniture line designed to fill the need for high-quality styling targeting mid-range pricing. The company will present the complete line at this month’s High Point Market, as well as in Chicago at the ICFA Preview Show in July and the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in September.
“Full-line furniture and specialty retailers have responded very well to the quality, styling, and price points of our new casual furniture,” says Mark Gorr, senior vice president of Z-Line’s casual furniture division. “That response translated to sales that were nearly triple our expectations for this year. So with the line extensions and enhancements we’ve put in place for 2013, we’re very excited about showing a complete line for the first time at the upcoming markets.”
Z-Line Designs will be... continue reading
Z-Line Designs Debuts Leather Furniture Line Offering Unique Details and Inspired Styling
SAN RAMON, CA. Apr. 9, 2012 – Z-Line Designs, a leading manufacturer of high-quality, fashionable home office and home entertainment furniture, is extending its renowned design expertise to the leather category, as it unveils a striking new line of leather seating at this month’s High Point Market. The new collection will be presented in Z-Line’s permanent High Point showroom at 220 Elm, Space 206.
Z-Line Designs’ leather furniture spans the full range of seating from sofas and sectionals to recliners and chairs, and features styles ranging from contemporary to traditional. The line is being offered as a good/better/best program, with innovative design elements and styling details throughout, created specifically to appeal to today’s lifestyle consumer.
“The Z-Line name is synonymous with great style, and our leather furniture collection takes that style to a whole new level,” says Jim Sexton, president and CEO. “With styles that... continue reading
Tervis Announces Leadership Changes
in insulated drinkware since 1946, has announced the promotion of Richard Kaplan to president and chief brand officer. Board member Patrick Redmond was also recently named president and CEO.
Norbert Donelly, owner, says, “At Tervis, we put a strong emphasis on bringing in top-notch talent to elevate the company. It’s talented people such as Rich and Pat who will continue to lead Tervis on a path of strategic growth.”
Talented employees are making quite an impact at Tervis; the company has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. The familyowned business has grown from just 200 employees a few years ago to nearly 650 today—with plans for continued expansion. Kaplan and Redmond will be instrumental in leading the team to continued success.
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HD Expo Returns to Las Vegas on May 15–17
The nation’s leading event for the hospitality industry is back in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo) will take over the bustling strip from May 15 through 17, 2012. The three-day event will allow attendees to gain insight into industry trends while learning how to maintain success in the ever-evolving and ultracompetitive world of hospitality design. Led by industry experts, the show will feature idea-generating educational sessions, an intimate awards ceremony, and special events focused on the latest and most innovative products and services.
Liz Sommerville, group show director for The Hospitality Design Group, says, “For 2012, we look forward to offering guests an invaluable experience, while also paying tribute to the industry’s leaders and innovators who have supported the show over the years.”
Produced by The Hospitality Design Group and presented by Hospitality Designmagazine, the show continues to grow and... continue reading
Couristan Announces Winners of Its 85th Anniversary Grandprize Getaway
In celebration of the company’s milestone 85th anniversary, Couristan conducted a grand-prize raffle at the Surfaces show (held January 23–26 in Las Vegas, Nevada), with two lucky customers winning an all-inclusive trip to their choice of two four-star tropical beach resorts. Picked in a random drawing from hundreds of entries, Couristan’s winners are Matt Lund of Foremost Interiors (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Jan Mink of KL Mink and Sons, operator of the Fine Rug Gallery at Macy’s (New York, New York).
Both Lund and Mink will receive a four-day, three-night trip for two to their choice of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, or the Riu Palace in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The trip includes airfare, lodging, drinks, and food for two people, with convenient scheduling and booking provided to both winners through Couristan’s full-service New Jersey travel... continue reading
Richey Industries Launches New User-friendly Site
Richey Industries, Inc., has introduced a new website focusing on the company’s Great American Woodies casual-furniture collections. The website can be searched based on furniture type (seating, tables and groupings, or swings and A-frames) or by collection (Southern Cypress, Cottage Classics, Western Red Cedar, Lifestyle Poly-Resin). Each page highlighting a specific type of furniture can be viewed as one long scrolling page, or it can be searched by collection.
On each collection page, the entire collection can be viewed at once, or it can be viewed based on each of the three types of furniture. The website also offers image galleries that highlight each collection, and all images on the website can be enlarged for more detail. Dimensions for all products are included. The new website can be viewed at www.greatamericanwoodies.com.
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Bull Outdoor Sponsors Academy of Country Music Barbecue Competition
Bull Outdoor Products was the title sponsor of four barbecue events held as part of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Experience, held March 30–April 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. These events included the ACM BBQ Throwdown, presented by Bull Outdoor. This event (sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society) drew barbecue competitors from around the world to compete for $50,000 in prize money.
The Bull Sin City Celebrity Rib Throwdown paired championship grill masters with countrymusic celebrities, who grilled using Bull Outdoor kitchens. The Bull Celebrity Chef Showdown on the Strip allowed the best restaurant chefs in Las Vegas to compete on Bull Outdoor grills. The winner had the opportunity to donate the proceeds from the sale of a Bull Island to a favorite charity.
The Bull-B-Que Before the Que was an amateur grilling competition that kicked off the festivities in the weeks leading up to... continue reading
Sunbrella Launches Multiplatform Ad Campaign
New print ads, videos, and a website celebrate worry-free living through the Sunbrella® Live Free Style campaign. Through the perspectives of an imaginative child and a practical parent, the campaign draws attention to the many ways that Sunbrella fabrics are used in everyday life.
Gina Wicker, design and creative director for Sunbrella fabrics, says, “We believe that people will relate to this campaign on many levels—as parents, homeowners, and individuals who enjoy the relaxing moments in life. With Sunbrella, the possibilities are endless, and this campaign highlights those aspects of creativity and imagination.”
Developed by Wray Ward, the campaign includes print ads that incorporate aspects of the furniture, awning, and marine markets served by Sunbrella. Each ad features a QR code that takes visitors to a stop-motion animated video that brings the ad to life and offers additional information on Sunbrella fabrics.
OW Lee Announces Two New Quick-ship Programs
OW Lee (Ontario, California), a manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, Casual Fireside collection firepits, and accessories, has launched two new quick-ship programs, allowing faster access to inventory for retail dealers and designers in all regions. The program includes the company’s Santorini firepit and a Monterra chat and firepit set, which can now be shipped within 10 working days from receipt of completed sales orders. The quick-ship programs (which were launched on March 1) have been entitled Fast As Fire, on Demand. They will be available to OW Lee’s customers through August 31.
Terri Lee Rogers, president, says, “We developed the new Fast As Fire, on Demand program with quicker lead times on key products to maximize dealer success with our lines. In addition, we wanted to ensure popular items could be delivered to our customers in a timely manner for their short–lead-time installations.”
The Santorini... continue reading
Top Dog Outdoor Living Announces Its Online-commerce Initiative
Sharon DeFelice, founder and president of Top Dog Outdoor Living, announces the launch of her new company, which features an e-commerce outdoor-living site for consumers and hospitality design (HD) market professionals interested in purchasing midrange and high-level products. DeFelice was formerly the CEO and cofounder of Two Dogs Designs for Outdoor Living. She resigned from that position earlier this year.
“We are proud to be answering the call from consumers, buyers, and HD professionals for a site that will be the ultimate showcase for all things outdoor,” DeFelice says. The company’s Marketplace for Outdoor Living is a one-stop outdoor online destination that distinguishes itself by featuring a comprehensive array of fine quality products and increasing exposure to the consumer market while linking to password-protected sites for the hospitality industry.
“We are creating a site that is easy to navigate and beautiful to view. The... continue reading
Summer Classics partners with JTT Outdoors
Summer Classics announced today that JTT Outdoors will be the exclusive internet provider of Summer Classics Discontinued Products.
Summer Classics is one of the premier providers of outdoor and garden furniture in the United States. Based out of Montevallo, Ala., Summer Classics has been offering their products to a variety of customers for the last 32 years.
The announcement of JTT Outdoors as the exclusive Summer Classics internet provider was made by Harold Hudson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Summer Classics. The new site will be www.summerclassicsdiscontinued.com and will only sell previous years’ discontinued products, frame finishes and fabrics. No current in-line frames with current finishes will be sold on the site.
“For the past few years our discontinued inventory seemed to remain stagnant and our current dealer base was not interested in allocating their floor space to a discontinued... continue reading
The Big 3 Return to the Big Easy for the 2012 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
DALLAS – April 10, 2012 – With the show still 7 months away, the 2012 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo [PSP] is off to a great start as evidenced by the return of the big 3 companies — Pentair, Hayward and Zodiac.
The 2012 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo will be held November 6-8, 2012, at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana USA, with the educational conference taking place November 3-8.
The participating companies, combined with other companies that had made their choices in the Early Space Draw, resulted in the show’s most successful Space Draw since 2008. 322 companies were assigned 1,175 booths taking 117,500 net square feet or 82% of the total show floor.
“We are overwhelmed by our Space Draw results and the buzz created by the return to New Orleans after a nine year absence,” said Lindsay Roberts, Director of the Expo. “95% of last year’s final show floor... continue reading
Gloster President to Serve as 2012 ICFA Chairman
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Eric Parsons, President, Gloster Furniture, Inc. in South Boston, Virginia, has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA).
Parsons, who resides in Raleigh, NC, will serve a one year term. ICFA is a trade Association comprised of manufacturers, importers, retailers, designers, sales representatives and suppliers in the outdoor furnishings industry. Its mission is to create the desire for quality outdoor furnishings through industry partnerships. The Association is the sponsor of the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market, held each September at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.
Thirty executives from leading outdoor furnishings companies serve on the Board.
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