Summer Classics, Inc., one of the leading manufacturers of high quality casual and outdoor furniture in the United States, conducted its annual Garden Party last week where dealers were flown in to preview the new product line, learn some best practices from rousing speakers, and be present for awards given to dealers, vendors and staff. Awards are as follows:

• Sales Representative of the Year: Steve Bennett (TX, OK, AZ)
• “Whatever It Takes” W.I.T. Award: Beth Goggins, Customer Service
• SHOPS Dealer of the Year: Victory Furniture, Los Angeles
• A new “Connie Kasper - Outstanding Achievement Award”, for incredible years of service to the Customer Service Department
• 20 year Award: Harold Hudson, Sr. VP of National Accounts and recent president of Parker James
• 10 year Award: Jeremy Rago, former National Sales Manager, current Sales Representative for IN, IL, WI

“Our theme this year was for our staff, dealers and vendors to be more “intuitive”. As an industry we need to be proactive with our customers by giving them what they need so they never have to ask for it,” said Bew White, III, CEO of Summer Classics. VP of Sales and Marketing, Keith Norton states, “We had a record attendance, high energy, and great participation from vendors. The talk of the show, for product was our new Oyster finish, which dealers agree are right on trend.”

Guest speaker, Michael Young, a Fashion TV mogul and TV Emmy Award winner, opened the Garden Party with “It’s the hard that makes it good”, rousing the crowd to understand that overcoming the biggest problems leads to the biggest successes.
Guest speaker Stewart Welch, owner of The Welch Group, a fee-only Wealth Management firm, and an expert in sel made millionaires, enlightened the audience with “The Universe Rewards Action” teaching principles such as: 1. stay close to your numbers, 2. treat your business as a fortune 500 company, not a personal checkbook, 3. attach yourself to a visionry, 4. delegate, and 5. ask customers what they want.
During the day, Summer Classics staff presented training on product, programs, and retail strategies. Dinners exuded luxurious southern hospitality and heartfelt speeches from vendors, staff and owner, Bew White.

Summer Classics is a premier innovator, manufacturer, and retailer of fine outdoor furniture in the U.S. For over a quarter century, the family owned company has aimed to delight its customers by passionately designing patio furniture from the belief that timeless designs can and will be embraced for years. Life’s best moments. Furnished.™