ATTENDEES AT CASUAL MARKET CHICAGO were the first to hear Agio USA’s plans about its new domestic fulfillment program, intended to help cater to the needs of smaller retailers. According to Andy Sokol, Agio’s vice president for sales/retail stores, effective immediately, retailers are able to begin carrying select Agio collections with no container requirement or minimum order. Agio’s current sales representatives will also coordinate this program with retailers in their territories and will have all the details and terms.

Agio has partnered with Almo, a well-established distribution company. Sokol says, “Almo has served the appliance industry for years and,…

EUROKERA, A GLOBAL glass-ceramic manufacturer, is celebrating 25 years of providing innovative solutions for cooking surfaces, as well as hearth applications. From two sites in France to five worldwide locations, EuroKera has become the world’s reference supplier of advanced cooking surfaces. Formed through a merger of Saint-Gobain and Corning Inc., EuroKera has prospered due to the Corning discovery of glass-ceramic and its more than 150 years of experience with specialty glass and ceramics, as well as the glass-manufacturing expertise of Saint-Gobain (founded in 1665).

Two of the company’s most successful products are Pyroceram®III and Pyroceram Reflections™. Pyroceram III is…

PRIDE FAMILY BRANDS, award-winning designer and manufacturer of luxury aluminum outdoor furniture, presented awards to members of the company’s sales-representation team during Casual Market Chicago. The President’s Award for top salesperson of the year was given to Tom Durden, who represents Pride in the Midwest (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota).

Durden, who began working with Pride in 2002, exhibited overall excellence in customer service, superior product knowledge, and growth in territory and customer sales for the company’s Castelle®brand. Durden also was recognized with the award for the Specialty Representative of the Year for the…

ALLEN GANT III HAS BEEN NAMED Casual Market manager for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, responsible for the casual-furniture market and the specialty-outdoor segment. Suzie Roberts, vice president of sales for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, says, “Allen has been an important part of our team, helping to grow the outdoor-specialty segment. He has a proven record of innovative thinking and being able to find the white space in the marketplace. Allen’s leadership will be crucial in merchandising, marketing, and product support for the outdoor-furniture market.”

Gant joined Glen Raven in 2008 and was most recently the specialty accounts manager for…

OUTDOOR LIVING AND LUXURY CASUAL FURNISHINGS continue to draw a positive response from the home industry’s retail and design buyers. During the fall 2015 High Point Market, Pride Family Brands’ contemporary collections (coupled with custom design options) gained positive marks from show buyers. Durable aluminum furnishings in contemporary motifs and enhanced metallic powder-coat finishes scored big, as the potential of the outdoor category continues to grow.

“The response from buyers in High Point was once again very positive to the outdoor segment, as well as to our latest introductions. Attitudes were upbeat, with buyers also being attracted to the…

POLY-WOOD has begun a recapitalization program through Oxford Financial Group Ltd. and Cardinal Equity Partners of Indianapolis, Indiana. Each is privately held and contributes decades of experience from seasoned business executives to provide forward-thinking investment strategies. While all original Poly- Wood shareholders have remained invested, these new long-term relationships will provide strategic direction as Poly-Wood continues to implement aggressive growth plans.

Jeffrey Thomasson, managing director and CEO of Oxford Financial Group, says, “We are pleased to be part of this exciting new chapter of the Poly-Wood story. It is truly unique in the space, offering a total solution that…

NORTH ANDOVER, MA - The Flaming Gorge Copper Fire Pit Collection from Jatex International is now available in 36-inch and 42-inch round sizes. Both sizes are 28 inches high with steel tubular bases, and a copper fire bowl and grate inside.

A 54-inch round teak wood for the 36-inch size, along with a a 60-inch round teak wood top for the 42-inch size will be available during the second quarter of 2016 for customers who would like to use the fire pits as a dining table. The concept and design are Jatex International exclusives.

The steel base has Thurmalox industrial…

INDIANAPOLIS - ComfortGeni LLC has moved their booster fan assembly to Indiana. The move from Asia greatly enhances their ability to serve customers with build-to-order assembly and same day order fulfillment. In addition to improved operations and customer service, products are NAFTA compliant.

The ComfortGeni model Geni 6xr is an easy-to-install through-wall fan that increases airflow from room to room or level to level, enabling consumers to enjoy the warmth from their fireplace or pellet stove in any room. Engineered to increase the area that wood, pellet and gas appliances heat, the ComfortGeni uses no more electricity than a 14-watt…