Outdura recently hired Ryan Bowman as sales manager of its casual furniture division. Bowman comes to sattler with 15 years of experience in the casual furniture industry. His background is in textiles, retail sales management, and OEM design and manufacturing. as sales manager, Bowman will serve in a key role for the outdura sales organization.

Ryan will manage key customer relationships with a focus on casual furniture OEMs and retailers. He will also provide direction and leadership to the inside sales and customer service teams while managing responsibility for customer satisfaction and market share growth for the outdura fabric…

Brown Jordan has unveiled stretch, an exciting new collection by prominent designer Richard Frinier. stretch represents a chic and enduring design sensibility for the indoor/outdoor living room. It reimagines the next generation of class designs by Brown Jordan. The dynamic and angular frames are accentuated with horizontal and vertical lines that evoke feelings of calmness and tranquility.

The elastomeric fabric strap is constructed using durable sunbrella yarns for superior performance and just the right amount of stretch for added comfort. the overall design impression is welcoming and provides a clear sense of balance and design integrity. the stretch collection…

Dansons, USA has hired Bobby Martin as senior vice president of product. Martin brings more than 16 years of management and leadership experience from his roles at Cabela’s, Li and Fung, and Big R retail centers. In his role at Dansons, Martin will be leading all product and engineering teams toward strategic development of products and accessories throughout the grilling category. This effort will include leading product innovations and line expansion. In addition, Martin will be leading the procurement and sourcing efforts across the organization to improve operational effectiveness and enhance go-tomarket speed.

“Bobby brings a breadth of talent,…

OW Lee (Ontario, California), manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, firepits, and accessories, presented Dave Digirolamo and Jeff Glarrow with the Sales Rep of the Year award for 2018. The awards were presented at Casual Market Chicago in September.

Digirolamo has been at OW Lee since 1994 and has successfully developed OW Lee in the Northern California and Northern Nevada regions. Glarrow joined Dave Digirolamo & Associates in 2013 and has further strengthened and built new customer relationships in the eastern part of the territory.

“Dave D. and Jeff were the clear choices for the award this year,” says…

Hearth & Home Technologies (HHT) has acquired Big Woods/Stellar (Prior Lake, Minnesota), a leading manufacturer of premium linear and custom gas fireplaces. With a proven track record of innovation, Big Woods/Stellar’s award-winning engineering team offers decades of collective experience. They have been recognized throughout the hearth industry with many awards for bestin- class new product innovations that reflect their artistry and innovation. In addition to a premium gas fireplace offering, the custom fireplace division differentiates itself by taking a concept from the architect, builder, or homeowner and bringing that concept to life with a unique fireplace.

“Today, Big Woods/Stellar…

Terry Wayne Lail (1952-2018), a veteran of the casual furniture industry, passed away on Oct. 10 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the presence of his family after a long and difficult recovery from injuries he sustained in an automobile accident in 2017. a funeral was held on Oct. 14 at Providence Baptist church, near his home in Hickory, North Carolina, where he served on the finance committee and as a deacon.

Lail’s career in the casual furniture industry began in 1977 and spanned several positions within the industry in publishing, management, and sales. He was well-known in the industry…

The original founder of the pellet grill, Joe Traeger, has joined Louisiana Grills (Dansons, USA) to elevate the Louisiana Grills brand and product portfolio. In this partnership, Traeger will be developing new pellet grilling products alongside Louisiana Grills founder and pellet grill innovator, Dan Thiessen. Raised by an inventor father, Traeger proceeded down his own path of innovation by developing the first pellet grill to market. A longtime grilling enthusiast, he was inspired to create a new grilling experience after a friend shared a bucket of wood pellets. This bucket of wood pellets inspired Traeger’s original innovation, and the first…

Acclaimed marketing expert Erik Qualman will share insights on digital trends and leadership in the opening keynote address at the International Casual Furnishings Association’s Educational Conference, slated for Feb. 5-7, 2019, at the Omni La Mansión in San Antonio, Texas. ICFA’s third-annual learning forum offers free registration for all retail members.

Qualman, the author of “Socialnomics” and “What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube,” will integrate tips on branding and entrepreneurship to kick off the Wednesday morning agenda dedicated to marketing success. Technology is the focus of the Wednesday afternoon agenda, including the return of last year’s favorite mobile…