HPBA Asks Retailers to Contact Congress to Support Extension of 25C Tax Credit
On May 01, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
In the beginning of April, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee voted to include the Residential Energy Efficiency (25C) Tax Credit in a tax extension package of 50+ tax breaks. This provision, which expired on December 31, 2013, includes a tax credit for biomass-fueled stoves that would be applicable for qualifying appliances purchased between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015.
The tax extenders are expected to be discussed on the Senate floor in May or June of this year. One piece of legislation, known as the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency Act (the EXPIRE Act), has…
OW Lee Unveils New Fire Pit Builder Website Enhancement
On April 28, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
ONTARIO, CA - OW Lee, a manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, fire pits, and accessories based in the Golden state, has launched a new interactive Fire Pit Builder tool on their website.
The Fire Pit Builder is designed to help consumers, designers, and dealers visualize any OW Lee fire pit in real time. It allows the user to choose one of OW Lee’s 15 fire pit styles and apply any top, finish, tile, and fire media available from OW Lee, totaling over 1,500 different configurations. The tool also allows users to save, print, or download the image with a…
Tropitone Preps Spasso Upholstered Group for HD Expo Debut
On April 28, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
IRVINE, CA - Tropitone Furniture Company Inc is gearing up for the HD Expo & Conference in Las Vegas (May 14-16, 2014) with plans to introduce its Spasso outdoor upholstered group, with linking system, for the Tropitone® MODA™ brand.
“We are excited about the addition of the Spasso outdoor upholstered group with linking system to the Tropitone® MODA™ brand,” said Tanya Stevens, vice president of Marketing & Service Operations. “Tropitone MODA offers distinctive fashion solutions for extraordinary spaces. All products have refined designs and meticulous workmanship. The brand…
New COO and CFO at Summer Classics
On April 22, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Summer Classics, a luxury outdoor furniture manufacturer, has appointed Neal Morgan as its new COO, and promoted Janet Roberson to CFO.
As COO, Morgan will be responsible for examining corporate operations and pursuing opportunities to further develop the current business model. Morgan has held multiple positions throughout his lengthy career at Summer Classics, the most recent as CFO.
“As one of the first employees, Neal has been with our company since the beginning,” said William White III, president and CEO of Summer Classics. “I am completely confident that his skill set and determination will only further…
Casual Cushion Corp Purchases New Building and Expands Operations
On April 22, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
ROCK HILL, SC - Casual Cushion Corp, a manufacturer of outdoor cushions and patio umbrellas, recently purchased 181,000 square feet of additional warehouse and manufacturing space.
The purchase brings Casual Cushion’s total manufacturing and warehouse space to more than 300,000 square feet, all located in the company’s headquarter city of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Since its move to South Carolina from South Florida in 2007, Casual Cushion has seen tremendous growth across all segments of its business.
“We have had growth with our catalog, specialty, OEM and contract customers over the past seven years,” said Jason Siesel, vice president…
Camp Chef Launches New Somerset Series
On April 17, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
HYDE PARK, UT – The power, versatility, and portability of Camp Chef outdoor stoves are coming to the patio with the recently upgraded Somerset series. Available models consist of two, three, or four-burner versions.
The new design includes a stainless front panel with updated control/ignition knobs and a cast iron grate. Folding side shelves, wheels, and a storage shelf are added for convenience. A holder for a bulk propane tank sits behind the front panel for better organization.
Each Somerset stove is designed as a 16-inch cooking system, meaning the cooking area measures 16 inches from front to back. The…
Wearbest/Bella-Dura® Appoints Stuart Schneider as Director of Sales
On April 15, 2014, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
NEW YORK - Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills, the fourth-generation family mill based in New Jersey, and its Bella-Dura® brand of high performance textiles, have a new director of Sales, effective immediately.
Stuart Schneider brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the textile industry. In his new role, he will be tasked with increasing sales and driving business forward.
“Stuart’s expertise throughout the home furnishings field, his wide range of contacts both nationally and internationally, along with a deep understanding of emerging industry trends make him an ideal choice,” said Irwin…
Hearth Industry Mourns the Loss of Golden Blount
On April 10, 2014, In Industry News by Staff
Golden Blount, hearth-industry veteran and founder of Golden Blount Inc. (Dallas, Texas), passed away on March 6, 2014, at the age of 85. Blount started working in the hearth industry in 1970, as a manufacturers’ representative for Puritan, Glo- Fire, Hearth Craft, Thermo-Rite, Seymour, Trueheat, DuraVent, Metal-Fab, and Heat & Glo. His business quickly evolved into a distributorship, and in the 1980s, he began to import tool sets and screens from Taiwan.
He developed and began importing some of the first glass doors to come from Taiwan, and by the early 1990s, he had begun manufacturing these domestically, in…
