Summer Classics President Receives Allan J. McDonald International Entrepreneur Award
On October 18, 2013, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
Toronto, ON - Summer Classics President and CEO, William Bew White, III recently received the Allan J. McDonald International Entrepreneur Award for 2013. The award was presented to White by the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) at a ceremony on October 5th in Toronto, Ontario.
Created by the SIBF Class of 1987, this award serves to commemorate Allan J. McDonald, who both supported the organization and made major accomplishments in the field of international entrepreneurship.
When asked to comment on receiving the Allan J. McDonald International Entrepreneur Award, White stated: “I am truly honored by this award, particularly from this incredible international organization. Not that I can give advice to a group with this much expertise, but if I could leave you with my two of my best practices for success, they would be: 1) Be Passionate! I am extremely passionate about what I do; 2) Surround yourself with support. You need at least one person that stands by you no matter what.
“And while I have several of those inside the company, I have one that’s lived with me for 41 years, my wife Wendy,” continued White. “And she has definitely stood by me through thick and thin, no mater what!”
Presented annually at the SIBF Summit, winners of this award are chosen for outstanding efforts in international entrepreneurship during the past year.
An organization for global business leaders, SIBF both educates and connects those who are involved in the international business world. Additionally, SIBF provides networking and mentoring opportunities to its members, who are active in business in more than 60 countries. Membership in SIBF covers all of the main sectors of business as well as the non-profit, government, and education sectors.
Bew White has been in the indoor and outdoor furniture business for over 30 years. Over that period, he was a sales rep and from there he has started and helped operate four separate companies that have all been successful. Including Summer Classics, Summer Classics Contract, Parker James, and Gabby. Summer Classics has grown to be one of the largest companies in its genre.
Started almost 35 years ago, the company has built an international business doing business first in Chile, then Mexico, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. White recently opened a division in Asia for his product selling in China, Japan, India, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
White started a container direct company that has sold to such clients as Neiman Marcus, Orvis, Restoration Hardware, and William Sonoma. He started an indoor furniture company in 2009 in the midst of the great recession and now sells to more than 1,000 clients. The company also has seven company-owned stores and three licensees.
