Outdoor-furniture manufacturer SunVilla Corp. has introduced a third full outdoor collection under the Paula Deen Home brand. the Bungalow collection is sold exclusively through universal Furniture.

Matt Weiss, senior vice president of SunVilla, explains, “the Dogwood and River House collections have been so well received. We are thrilled to continue to build on our relationship with Paula Deen Home and universal Furniture by launching our third collection, which we expect to be equally well received.”

Jeff Scheffer, universal Furniture’s president and CEO, says, “We believe this product is a natural extension of the comfortable, casual, Lowcountry lifestyle.” Bungalow…

Designer Richard Frinier was honored with a platinum award in this year’s ADeX competition, an industry recognition of design and product innovation, for his Seaside collection of Sunbrella®fabrics. the Seaside collection is named for the iconic, romantic coastal locales around the world that inspired the beautiful (and exceptionally executed) performance textiles.

“As a native Southern Californian, I have lived in and around a coastal region my entire life and am naturally drawn to seaside destinations and lifestyles,” Frinier says. “there is an inherent allure to seaside cities and resort villages that beckons us to come closer and then compels…

Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens, a leading manufacturer of stainless-steel outdoor kitchens, was honored by the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) with a Best in Show award for innovative booth design at the 2017 Architectural Digest Design Show, held in New York, New York. The company earned Best Kitchen honors in 2016. IFDA recognized Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens for its distinctive booth layout featuring ASA-D2, a contemporary, modular outdoor kitchen developed in collaboration with Cosentino, a leading architecturalsurfaces manufacturer, and architect

the Companion Group has released CC Sync™, its line of smart outdoor- living products. CC Sync items include the Q-tech Bluetooth thermometer and the Soundbeam™grill light with Bluetooth speaker, and the company plans to add more items in the future. Grilling fans can amp up their next backyard experiences with CC Sync.

A growing number of people want to live in smart homes. A 2016 study by Kelton Global found that eight of 10 u.S. respondents either owned or had interest in smart-home devices, and 38% of respondents were more interested than they had been six months earlier. the…

After more than three decades in the competitive world of outdoor furniture, erwin and Sons Direct Imports (Woodstock, Georgia) has come up with significant innovations, all while helping its dealer partners succeed in business. Patio & Hearth Products Report sat down with erik Dych, vice president, to get a sense of the company’s history, as well as what dealers can look forward to in the future.

How does your company’s considerable experience benefit consumers and dealers?
Dych: erwin and Sons has been in business for decades. We began our business in the 1980s with indoor rattan furnishings,…

Fermob USA hired emilie Bozon (formerly based in France) to serve as sales and marketing manager at the company’s U.S. headquarters for three years. In addition, Jacob Dierdorff was hired as inventory-control manager, and Merilee Dyer was hired as accounting specialist. Fermob USA also redesigned its website and launched the new Fermob consumer catalog for 2017, highlighting new outdoor furniture, accessories, and lighting. The digital catalogs are now available to download from Fermob USA’s website (www.fermobusa.com).

Leslie Thompson, COO of Fermob USA, says, “Fermob USA is growing, and our new employees add depth to our team with their respective…

the Designer Sales Division of Castelle recently received approval for its presentation, Furnishing the Great Outdoors— Tomorrow’s Opportunity, Here Today, for continuing-education units (CEUs). The presentation, designed to educate design professionals about the outdoor segment, has been approved by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC). Elements of style, trends, and the sales potential of the category are covered in the one-hour talk.

Derek Ritzel, CEO of Castelle, says, “We recognize the need to educate the designer segment with regard to the outdoor category and its potential. With this presentation achieving CEU approval, design professionals will now also be…

Bull Outdoor Products has hired Amy Aberle-Rogan, executive chef, as its culinary brand executive. With over 16 years of culinary experience as a chef, private chef, caterer, purchasing director, sous-chef, and executive chef, Aberle-Rogan will lead the company’s culinary operations and recipe development. After attending the California Culinary Academy in 2000, she completed her apprenticeship in Rufina, Italy. For the next seven years, she worked in various restaurants in Italy. She then worked in San Francisco, California, for the following six years, cooking at Italian restaurants.

According to Wade Fortin, Bull’s marketing manager and two-time world burger champion, “Chef…