CHICAGO – The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) recognized manufacturing and retailing excellence, turned the spotlight on top product designs and honored the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at a gala awards celebration yesterday during Casual Market Chicago.

More than 500 ICFA members and guests joined the dinner event at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, which also included announcement of the Sales Representative of the Year and the Unsung Hero Award recipient. The annual ICFA Awards Gala is underwritten by theMART, co-sponsor of Casual Market Chicago.

Apollo Awards
The Apollo Awards recognize retail excellence in the sales and marketing…

Luxury wood furniture manufacturer, Jensen Outdoor has recognized ‘Outside of Ordinary’ sales excellence by awarding the top performing team, Crandall & Associates, with the Jensen Outdoor Representatives of the Year award for 2020 and 2021.

The honor is bestowed upon the sales team with top marks in customer service, product knowledge, and sales. Other winners include Rob Quello Sales for top territory growth in 2021, Dennis Sales Associates (DSA) for top territory growth in 2020, and Casual Visions, Inc. for top two-year growth for 2020-2021.

“Recognizing these incredible individuals for their continued service to us and our resellers is…

ScanCom International A/S CEO Stig Maasbøl has won in the category ‘Green Solutions’ at the 2021 HRH Crown Prince Frederik International Business Awards. Stig Maasbøl received the prize at a ceremony held at the Royal Danish Palace of Amalienborg on August 27 2021. The award recognizes a person that have successfully driven and implemented initiatives that contribute to a better environmental effort, through presenting an outstanding effort in promoting sustainable Danish products, services and values worldwide.

The award is given based on Stig’s dedication and involvement in driving projects of sustainability and ethical manufacture and consumption. In this case revolving…

CHICAGO — SunVilla Corp. recently announced its new Ecobello line of premiere fabrics for the company’s Portica, SunVilla, and Royal Garden brands of outdoor furniture. The new line will debut during Casual Market in Portica’s (#15-120) and Royal Garden’s (#16-108) showrooms in the Chicago Merchandise Mart.

Ecobello is an Italian-made specialty fabric line produced at one of Europe’s most eco-friendly factories that features a cogeneration plant, solar power and water recycling to reduce its carbon footprint. The line includes 60 different outdoor fabrics, including over 30 pillow pouf designs

Available in Spring 2022 for specialty and eCommerce retailers, select product…

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Eleven manufacturers of outdoor home furnishings and accessories have been recognized for their outstanding product designs, the International Casual Furnishings Association announced today.

From among the 11 category winners in ICFA’s Design Excellence competition, two products will be selected for the Lilly Award for Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Accents, and one product will be honored with the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” Award. These honors will be announced at the ICFA Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 22 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park.

The Design Excellence category winners include:

• Chaise Lounge: Gensun Jayne Daybed…

DELTA, BC - FPI Fireplace Products International (Regency Fireplace Products) has appointed David Fraser as its new President. Earlier in 2021, Glen Spinelli stepped down as president after 26 years of leadership and announced he would be transitioning into retirement.

During Glen’s tenure at FPI, the company experienced multiple decades of consecutive growth. Glen was responsible for reshaping the go-to-market sales, distribution, and marketing strategies, ultimately leading the company to triple in size. Glen will remain an active member of FPI’s board of directors.

David joins FPI with over 17-years of executive-level leadership experience in the residential, commercial,…

BURLINGTON, N.C. - At a time when people continue to seek new ways to personalize their homes with a greater focus on comfort, sanctuary, and function, Sunbrella unveils its Upholstery Outlook and latest fabric collection, Emerge, to tell a story about the guideposts that are influencing a wide range of customization in design. Crafted by the global design team at Sunbrella, this forward-looking report provides expert insight into the drivers of consumer interests and how they translate to a new approach to mixing patterns, textures, and colorways in residential home design.

Upholstery Outlook
Gathering inspiration from other industries, cultural…

SARASOTA, FL -  Windward Design Group of Sarasota, FL has named casual industry veteran Charles Emmons as its new executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. In addition to his responsibilities leading the sales and marketing efforts, Emmons will join the executive team headed by CIO Rachel Peace, to carry out the long-term growth mission of the company.

“Charlie is an exceptional leader and a consummate professional with immense knowledge of the casual furnishings category,” said Rachel Peace, CIO, Windward Design Group. “He has proven to be a strategic thinker, respected leader and cultivator of relationships with not only retail…