CHICAGO - The ICFA Preview Show, held annually at The Merchandise Mart, saw strong attendance—up 22% over last year. The Preview Show is an invitation-only show held for the permanent outdoor showroom tenants on floors 15 and 16, and select exhibitors on floor 7, who are also members of the ICFA. This preview show gave attendees a look at the impressive new products that will also be available at the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market September 16-19, 2014 at The Merchandise Mart.

“We are very encouraged by the strong turnout at this year’s ICFA Preview Market…

HIGH POINT, NC – The International Casual Furnishings Association has named Jackie Hirschhaut as its new executive director following the retirement of long-time head Joseph Logan.

Hirschhaut is the vice president of public relations and marketing for the American Home Furnishings Alliance, a trade association based that represents hundreds of manufacturers and importers of home furnishings for the U.S. market. ICFA is a wholly owned subsidiary of AHFA.

She now assumes leadership of the 370-member trade association dedicated to the casual furnishings industry, comprised of manufacturers/importers, retailers, designers, sales representatives, suppliers and media associate members.

Ward Usmar, vice president…

CALHOUN, GA - Surya has appointed Jim Levine to the newly created role of vice president of Surya Outdoor. Levine is a veteran of the casual furniture industry where he has spent the last 32 years overseeing business operations, sales and marketing, supply chain management and product design for a variety of outdoor product lines.

In his new role, Levine will be responsible for expanding Surya’s outdoor product offerings while also building and overseeing a sales force focused specifically on retailers in the outdoor products category. Surya’s outdoor lines currently include rugs, pillows and poufs, with ceramics, hurricane lamps, tabletop…

DES PLAINES, IL - All current remodeling market indicators showed an increase in the second-quarter 2014 Remodeling Business Pulse (RBP) survey from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI). Remodelers are currently seeing growth, from conditions in March, which had seen a decline in business conditions during the first three months of 2014.

Growth indicators in the second-quarter 2014 are as follows (rating is from 1 to 9, where 1 is much worse than a year ago and 9 is much better; 5 is about the same as last year):
• current business conditions increased…

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Twin Eagles has become the latest grill to join the jaw-dropping collection of more than three dozen smokers, grills, and wood burning ovens at Barbecue University ™, the acclaimed cooking school run by Steven Raichlen at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Founded in 2000, Barbecue University offers consumers an intensive 3-day course on the art of live fire cooking. Students literally come from all over the world to grill, dine, and relax at the 5-star, 5-diamond Broadmoor resort in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. 

Steven Raichlen is a multi award-winning author,…

After twenty two years of loyal and dedicated service, Charles Vernon will be retiring from Gloster Furniture Holding AG at the end of July 2014. When Vernon joined Gloster in 1993, it was a small English company known as a manufacturer of traditional teak garden furniture. Vernon worked hard to evolve and grow the Gloster brand, so that today it has become one of the worldwide premium outdoor living brands.

“Although Charles will be retiring from his role at Gloster, he will remain available to give advice to the DK Premium Brands Board until January 2015,” says Angelo C…

PHILADELPHIA - Outdoor living manufacturer Alfresco Home, LLC has expanded their partnership with Garth Living of Australia, a global gas grill manufacturer. Alfresco Home will exclusively introduce FERVOR™ to the North American market, a brand of Australian inspired gas grills engineered for superior performance and designed for ease of use.

The Fervor range of products includes five models from three to six burners that feature Garth’s patented GrillSmart Technology™, Insultouch Hood, and tempered glass viewing windows among many other features. A full line of Fervor™ accessories will also accompany the barbecue range.

Designed by the experts at Garth…

BERKELY, CA - Founded in 1984 in a small garage in Berkeley, Calif, The Companion Group (TCG) began with just two people making chimney starters one at a time by hand. Today, TCG has evolved into a “Family of Brands,” with 50+ employees providing design and manufacturing services for retail customers world-wide.

After a long and arduous process, TCG has adopted an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) effective July 1, 2014. Over half of The Companion Group employees have been with the company for 10 years or more, and they believe the move to align their actions and attitudes…