Bull Outdoor Products was the title sponsor of four barbecue events held as part of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Experience, held March 30–April 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. These events included the ACM BBQ Throwdown, presented by Bull Outdoor. This event (sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society) drew barbecue competitors from around the world to compete for $50,000 in prize money.

The Bull Sin City Celebrity Rib Throwdown paired championship grill masters with countrymusic celebrities, who grilled using Bull Outdoor kitchens. The Bull Celebrity Chef Showdown on the Strip allowed the best restaurant chefs in Las Vegas…

New print ads, videos, and a website celebrate worry-free living through the Sunbrella® Live Free Style campaign. Through the perspectives of an imaginative child and a practical parent, the campaign draws attention to the many ways that Sunbrella fabrics are used in everyday life.

Gina Wicker, design and creative director for Sunbrella fabrics, says, “We believe that people will relate to this campaign on many levels—as parents, homeowners, and individuals who enjoy the relaxing moments in life. With Sunbrella, the possibilities are endless, and this campaign highlights those aspects of creativity and imagination.”

Developed by Wray Ward, the…

OW Lee (Ontario, California), a manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, Casual Fireside collection firepits, and accessories, has launched two new quick-ship programs, allowing faster access to inventory for retail dealers and designers in all regions. The program includes the company’s Santorini firepit and a Monterra chat and firepit set, which can now be shipped within 10 working days from receipt of completed sales orders. The quick-ship programs (which were launched on March 1) have been entitled Fast As Fire, on Demand. They will be available to OW Lee’s customers through August 31.

Terri Lee Rogers, president, says, “We developed…

Sharon DeFelice, founder and president of Top Dog Outdoor Living, announces the launch of her new company, which features an e-commerce outdoor-living site for consumers and hospitality design (HD) market professionals interested in purchasing midrange and high-level products. DeFelice was formerly the CEO and cofounder of Two Dogs Designs for Outdoor Living. She resigned from that position earlier this year.

“We are proud to be answering the call from consumers, buyers, and HD professionals for a site that will be the ultimate showcase for all things outdoor,” DeFelice says. The company’s Marketplace for Outdoor Living is a one-stop outdoor…

Summer Classics announced today that JTT Outdoors will be the exclusive internet provider of Summer Classics Discontinued Products.

Summer Classics is one of the premier providers of outdoor and garden furniture in the United States. Based out of Montevallo, Ala., Summer Classics has been offering their products to a variety of customers for the last 32 years.

The announcement of JTT Outdoors as the exclusive Summer Classics internet provider was made by Harold Hudson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Summer Classics. The new site will be www.summerclassicsdiscontinued.com and will only sell previous years’ discontinued products, frame finishes and…

DALLAS – April 10, 2012 – With the show still 7 months away, the 2012 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo [PSP] is off to a great start as evidenced by the return of the big 3 companies — Pentair, Hayward and Zodiac.

The 2012 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo will be held November 6-8, 2012, at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana USA, with the educational conference taking place November 3-8.

The participating companies, combined with other companies that had made their choices in the Early Space Draw, resulted in the show’s most…

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Eric Parsons, President, Gloster Furniture, Inc. in South Boston, Virginia, has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA).

Parsons, who resides in Raleigh, NC, will serve a one year term. ICFA is a trade Association comprised of manufacturers, importers, retailers, designers, sales representatives and suppliers in the outdoor furnishings industry. Its mission is to create the desire for quality outdoor furnishings through industry partnerships. The Association is the sponsor of the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market, held each September at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.

Thirty executives from leading…

Joe Brueggemann, industry veteran and Empire Comfort Systems’ sales vice president, marked a 20-year milestone with the company in January. Brueggemann began his career with Empire Comfort in 1985, as marketing manager. He later served as sales vice president before leaving in 2000 to pursue other interests in the hearth and barbecue industry. Brueggemann returned to the company in 2007, resuming his sales role just as the company embarked on an aggressive product-expansion campaign.

“In my 20 years at Empire, I have seen the consumers and our customers drive…