Bella-Dura has been named a Legacy Leader by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. The Legacy Leader Award is given to companies for developing products that meet specific sustainability standards. One of only six brands being honored, Bella-Dura was introduced in 2002, after three years of teaming, testing, and planning with technical and design experts.

Irwin Gasner, president of Wearbest SilTexMills (the parent company of Bella-Dura), says, “We are thrilled and honored to be receiving this award.When we set out to create Bella-Dura, our intention was to develop a high-performance fabric that was highly sustainable, and this award…

SAN DIEGO - Soundcast Systems, developer and manufacturer of high-performance wireless music systems, has hired Jesse Coyer as its new director of Training. The move is part of the San Diego-based company’s accelerated business growth plan. 

Jesse started his consumer electronics career in sales at Ultimate Electronics in the 1990s. He advanced to store management and was promoted to general manager in 2004. In 2005, Jesse joined Magnolia Home Theater as a supervisor, and later advanced to in-home sales with their Geek Squad entity. He helped develop their scalable field selling and training program. 

In 2009, Jesse was…

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Phifer Inc, a global manufacturer of energy-saving sun control fabrics, insect screen products, drawn wire products, engineered meshes, and indoor/outdoor designed furniture fabrics, has launched its updated Web site at www.phifer.com. 

Phifer’s newly-designed site features a clean, bright layout with a more streamlined navigation. Paired with the use of social media tools, the Web site provides all visitors with a more user-friendly, interactive experience. Earlier this fall, Phifer launched its presence on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/phiferincorporated) and YouTube (www.youtube/phiferincorporated) to complement the electronic media initiative.

“Phifer.com is designed to be a key resource and information…

With the popularity of outdoor upholstery and low maintenance, aluminum frames on the rise, Gloster has designed a stylish outdoor lounge collection to capitalize on current trends. The Vista collection arrives at a competitive price with powder coated aluminum frames inspired by the sleek yachts of the French Riviera.

Items in the Vista Collection feature strong horizontal lines formed into flowing, curved shapes to create a visually light, yet welcoming form. Sleek, angled legs contrast with the curved backs and add to the design appeal.

Highly modular, Vista is comprised of just three units—a corner/end unit, center unit and…

PHILIPPINES - In the wake of the devastating typhoon last month in the Philippines, company officials at furniture manufacturer Pelican Reef made appeals for help to friends, family, and furniture dealers. 

Ultimately, relief goods and thousands in cash donations poured in. Factory representatives acknowledged the donations with photos and a thank you note, which said the following.

Thanks to the Donations of Pelican Reef’s Staff, Representatives, Customers — warmly received and appreciated by our staffs and workers who were also affected by the recent calamities. We will never forget your help. God bless you all!

Pelican Reef maintains one…

Commerce Department estimates for home construction permits showed a 13.9% jump in Oct 2013 as compared to the same period last year. The numbers released this week showed privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at an adjusted annual rate of 1,034,000—6.2% above the Sept rate of 974,000.

An analysis by CNBC concluded that permits for future U.S. home construction rose to their highest level in nearly 5 1/2 years in October, suggesting the housing market recovery remained intact despite recent signs of slowing down. CNBC’s Steve Liesman says the report is mostly driven by multi-family…

POTTSTOWN, PA - Alfresco Home, the exclusive North American distributor of the “Fornetto™” Wood-Fired Dual Purpose Oven and Smoker, will soon ship its new Fornetto™ Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal and Fornetto™ European Smoking Chips throughout North America.

Based just outside of Philadelphia, PA, Alfresco Home, a designer and manufacturer of casual furniture, garden accents, and outdoor gourmet products has partnered with Garth Industries and leading manufacturers worldwide to add a full slate of accessories to the recently introduced Fornetto™ Ovens. Adding the premium hardwood lump charcoal and smoking chips expands the accessory product line for the Fornetto™ beyond the…

WASHINGTON, DC - After narrowing down the field to 14 finalists, judges at the Wood Stove Decathlon in Washington, DC, presented the Wittus Twinfire with an award for second place. 

The Decathlon challenges teams to design and build wood stoves that are low-emission, high efficiency, innovative and affordable. Consumer publications such as Popular Mechanics reported that the Wittus Twinfire shared the $10,000 second prize, while scoring highest in the efficiency category.

“These award-winning technologies are part of the solution for millions of Americans to reduce their reliance on fossil heating fuels,” said John Ackerly (via the