HIGH POINT, N.C. – The International Casual Furnishings Association is adding a new award recognizing outstanding customer service to its roster of honors at the annual Awards Gala. The Unsung Hero Award pays tribute to the manufacturers’ employees who serve as company liaisons with dealers and sales representatives.

“The ICFA has long recognized that there is a group of ‘unsung heroes’ in our business that the industry would be hard-pressed to do without and that is our brave, hardworking customer service representatives,” said Candy Chase, national sales manager of Treasure Garden and chair of ICFA’s Awards Committee. “These unsung heroes…

Hospitality Design (HD) magazine has selected Dometic MoBar, a premium mobile beverage center for outdoor living space, as a finalist for this year’s Hospitality Design Award.

The HD Awards from Hospitality Design (HD) magazine honor the best and most innovative in project and product design. Finalists are selected by an accomplished panel of industry professionals. The Dometic MoBar™ was named a finalist in the Special Judges’ Award: F&B (Food & Beverage) category for 16th annual Hospitality Design Awards.

Professionally graded with a timeless patented design, the MoBar doesn’t compromise style for functionality or convenience, allowing hosts and their guests to…

The Hammock Source hired Todd H. Nifong to serve as vice president of sales and marketing. Nifong is an innovative and dynamic executive bringing 18 years of experience in the home furnishings and textile industry. He is a strong leader with a progressive career encompassing operations, sales, design, merchandising, marketing, business management, and distribution in both domestic and international markets.

Prior to joining the Hammock Source, Nifong held executive positions with Swavelle Performance Fabrics LLC, New York, New York; and Al Fresco Functional Fabrics, High Point, North Carolina. He is an industry award winner and has been chairman of…

Dan Binzer, founder of Montigo/ Canadian Heating Products, died on March 11. Binzer began building the company we now know as Montigo in the early 1970s. Ever the creative inventor, Binzer’s innovations changed the landscape of the hearth industry. An intensely private man, he never wanted to be the face of the company he built, but he touched many lives throughout the years and was widely respected throughout the hearth industry.

Although Binzer sold the company in June 2016, he remained involved in product design until he officially retired in late 2019. Product development was the part of the…

Bernhardt Furniture has tapped Erin Sullivan, former vice president and general merchandise manager of luxury home furnishings brand Frontgate, to lead its Bernhardt Exteriors outdoor furniture line.

Launched in October 2019, the Bernhardt Exteriors brand offers a range of approximately 70 pieces, including sofas, sectionals, accent and swivel chairs, dining tables, dining chairs, and occasional tables in custom materials and finishes and luxury performance fabrics.

Sullivan, who will serve as director of Bernhardt Exteriors, held various senior merchandising positions at Frontgate for 19 years and most recently was vice president of product development and merchandising at Fine Furniture…

The Big Green Egg Company has long recognized the value of a strong independent dealer network and stands committed to supporting its retailers with the very best grilling products and numerous best-practices tools to help them succeed. New for Big Green Egg is the launch of an omni-channel e-commerce sales initiative that enables consumers to enjoy the convenience of online shopping for EGGs and related EGGcessories, while providing a direct sale at the local dealer level.

“Our model is unique in that it is designed to be inclusive of our authorized dealer network, and brings them into the process…

April 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a day intertwined with POLYWOOD’s mission to improve the planet by turning 1 million pounds of ocean-bound plastic into furniture by 2021. POLYWOOD is encouraging others to join in the fight by encouraging its customers to take an active role in protecting the planet.

“Understandably, the focus lately hasn’t been so much on the health of the planet—but instead, on the health of the people who inhabit it,” says Brady Maller, EVP of strategy and sales at POLYWOOD. “However, just like we’re figuring out with the current virus, everyone can make…

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, numerous companies in the casual furniture, barbecue/grill, and hearth industries have retooled their manufacturing facilities and worked with other organizations to produce much-needed medical supplies and equipment. A number of these companies have shared updates with Patio & Hearth Products Report.

OW Lee, a manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, firepits, and accessories located in Ontario, California, has produced 25,000 adult and children’s face masks. All masks are being made at cost in order to get them in as many hands as possible. In addition, a “buy one, donate one’” purchase option is available…