Casual Furniture To Honor Baker With Lifetime Achievement Award

Furniture World Magazine

James F. Baker, who was chairman and chief executive officer of Tropitone from 1977 to 1991, has been named as one of two honorees to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards to be presented during the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market in Chicago later this year. The Casual Furniture Retailers (CFR) and the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers (SCFMA) Associations established the award to recognize individuals who over their lifetimes have made exemplary contributions to the casual furniture industry and to their communities. James Baker, a third generation furniture maker, is credited with building both Tropitone’s name as well as elevating the awareness of fine casual furniture among consumers through national advertising campaigns that ran for nearly 25 years in such publications as Architectural Digest, New Yorker, House Beautiful, Town and Country, Better Homes & Garden and Sunset. In addition, he led the expansion of Tropitone from Florida to California in 1970, having foreseen both the ‘influence and affluence’ of the Western market. Jim appointed his younger brother, Bert Baker Jr., as the executive responsible for managing this Western expansion. Today, approximately half of Tropitone’s revenues are generated from its manufacturing facility in Irvine, California, which is also the company headquarters. Jim Baker’s grandfather was a Norwegian cabinet-maker who immigrated to America. His father, Bert M. Baker Sr., had been an engineer at Lockheed Corporation during World War II, prior to purchasing an ownership in the Grand Rapids Chair Co. When Mr. Baker Sr. moved to Florida for his “retirement,” he bought the Sarasota Redwood Furniture Co., which in 1954 became Tropitone Furniture. With his experience working with aluminum at Lockheed, Mr. Baker Sr. quickly recognized the many opportunities and benefits of crafting outdoor furniture from aluminum rather than wood. Jim Baker joined his father’s company in the mid-1960s as vice president of sales and marketing before serving as chairman and chief executive officer. Jim’s son, Douglas Baker, who became chairman of Tropitone in 1991, and Tropitone’s chief executive officer, Michael Echolds, who joined the company 1973 and was named CEO in 1995, will accept the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Mr. Baker, who died in 2003. According to Echolds, the Baker family tradition of ‘quality first -- never cut corners’ has played an important part in establishing Tropitone’s 50-year tradition of manufacturing aesthetically appealing, yet durable casual furniture. This quality focus is an outgrowth of Tropitone’s long-standing and active involvement in providing furnishings for the very demanding hotel and resort markets. In addition, Tropitone was the first company in the industry to offer a 15-year frame and finish warranty to retail customers. “In the 1950s,” Echolds said, “Jim’s father pioneered the use of aluminum. In 1969 -- ten years before it became the industry standard among casual furniture manufacturers -- Jim was instrumental in Tropitone’s introduction of the use of powder coating for long-lasting, luxurious finishes for furniture frames. With Jim’s flair for marketing and eye for design, Tropitone also was the first to offer uniquely-shaped tables, wide aluminum extrusions for arm comfort, contemporary color pallets, and a new generation of weather resistant, quick-drying outdoor cushions. Such product innovations as these -- championed and brought to market by Jim -- transformed the way consumers thought about casual outdoor furniture,” Echolds said. “Dining sets and chaise lounges for the pool and deck were no longer viewed simply for their usefulness at backyard picnics or for sunning by the pool. With their dramatic look and sophisticated style, outdoor furnishings became highly fashionable and an important part of the consumer’s desire for a relaxed and elegant outdoor lifestyle. Today’s increasingly popular ‘outdoor rooms’ highlight the enduring and broad appeal of an outdoor lifestyle that brings the comfort and charm of the interiors of today’s home to the outdoors. Jim’s imaginative and forward-thinking ideas paved the way for creating this ‘outdoor lifestyle’ around fine casual outdoor furnishings. “While his leadership was often quiet and behind-the-scenes, his love of contemporary design -- as well as his marketing savvy and commitment to creating unsurpassed value for customers -- made an indelible mark on the company and the industry,” Echolds said. Among Tropitone’s hallmark designs are Cantina (1972), Brasilia (1977), Boccaccio (1980), and Hollywood (1984). The Tropi-Kai Collection introduced in 1963 is a Tropitone classic that has been popular for over 40 years and is still in production today. According to Doug Baker, his family is proud to have participated in the major transformation and expansion of the casual furniture industry over the past 50 years. “My father and grandfather’s legacy is reflected in Tropitone’s tradition of offering customers fashionable yet practical furniture for enjoying an outdoor lifestyle. Our ongoing commitment is to honor this legacy by continuing to be an industry leader focused on distinctive and exciting casual furnishings while also providing unparalleled customer service and support,” Baker said. Founded in 1954, Tropitone is based in Irvine, California, and is recognized throughout the casual furniture marketplace for its design leadership as well as its commitment to service and value. The company sells its products to retailers, designers and the hospitality trade under the Tropitone and Basta Sole trademarks. In addition to its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Irvine, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Temecula, California, and Sarasota, Florida. For more information about the company, visit www.tropitone.com.