The leading retailers in the casual furnishings industry were honored at the 2009 Apollo Awards during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories MarketÔ. Winners were announced at the Apollo Awards banquet held at Chicago’s Union Station on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA). Regarded as the highest honor among casual furniture retailers, the Apollo Awards celebrate the influential contributions made by industry icons. Winners are selected from hundreds of retailers throughout the country.
This year the selection for the Apollo Awards began with ICFA members nominating other ICFA members. All current members were eligible for nomination. The top five finalists in the two categories – single store and multi-store –were then selected by a vote of ICFA manufacturer / importer members. After the top five stores in each category had been selected, the ICFA Board of Directors then submitted their votes online to name an Apollo Award winner in each category.
In addition to the Apollo Awards, Richard Frinier and Art Thompson were each honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awards were presented by the ICFA, and are reserved for individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the casual furnishings industry and to their communities.
And, the Lillian B. Winchester Award was announced at The Design Excellence Awards, which is considered the highest recognition for new product design in the casual furniture industry.
The 2009 Apollo Awards Winners:
Single-store Winners
Williams All Seasons
Multi-store Winners
Fishel’s, Inc.
Best in Show Lillian B. Winchester Award
Kettler, Sereno Barrel Back Chair
Nominees included:
Single Store: Authenteak Outdoor Furniture, Fruehauf’s Patio and Garden, Sunnyland Furniture, The Pool & Patio Center, Williams All Seasons.
Multi-Store: Absco Fireplace & Patio, Carls Patio, Inc., Fishel’s, Inc., Greenhouse Mall, Patios Plus.
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is exclusively endorsed by the International Casual Furnishings Association (formerly known as the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association, SCFMA) and the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR) and managed by MMPI.
For more information about the Market, please call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.casualmarket.com.
Next Show: International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, September 21-24, 2010, The Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
SHOW INFORMATION
For casual furniture and accessories buyers who need to purchase a wide selection of outdoor furnishings and accessories, The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is a four-day trade show that provides retailers with an outlet to find all things related to outdoor and casual living. Featuring the latest products and trends in the industry, the Casual Market boasts approximately 300 temporary exhibitors and more than 40 permanent showrooms totaling approximately 350,000 square feet of overall exhibit space on floors 7, 8, 15, 16 and 17 in The Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
MMPI is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.