Tropitone Adds Dressed-Up Style And Tilting Motion To Its Basta Sole Product Line

Furniture World Magazine

Tropitone Furniture Co., a leading manufacturer of fine casual furniture, announced that it has ‘dressed up’ its Basta Sole product offerings with the debut of the Savoy umbrella, while also adding a tilt mechanism to one of its most popular market umbrellas, Portofino II. Basta Sole, which Tropitone acquired in 1995, is recognized throughout the industry as having originated in North America the ‘market umbrella’ concept modeled after the European market umbrellas with their colorful and dramatic style. According to Michael Echolds, chief executive officer of Tropitone, the stylish Savoy umbrella, designed by Victoria Dawson, features a feminine elegance, which is embellished with eye-catching tassels and trim. “Our goal is to offer consumers an umbrella with a look unlike any other umbrella currently available from large manufacturers – an umbrella that is extraordinary. With the Savoy’s showy, yet fashionable and feminine details, our retailers have a very distinctive shade solution to dress up and differentiate their showrooms. “When Victoria joined Tropitone earlier this year,” Echolds said, “we were eager to benefit from her creativity as a designer and her experience in the casual furniture industry. The Savoy umbrella reflects her originality and ability to translate this imaginative thinking into innovative products. With its whimsical and upscale look, this umbrella truly has an irresistible charm,” he said. It will come as no surprise that this very elegant umbrella was designed by a woman, said Peter Homestead, vice president of design for Tropitone. “Victoria has successfully addressed the need for a decorative custom-looking market umbrella that will dress-up any environment it is placed in. The Savoy styling adds a unique, personalized elegance to a product category that is quickly becoming a mass-produced commodity,” Homestead said. The Savoy umbrella is currently available in a 9-ft hexagon shape and nine different color combinations. The complementary colors of the umbrella’s frame, fabric, bindings and tassels all work together to create a distinct decorative visual impact, which is very upscale and pleasing to the eye. According to Echolds, Tropitone’s Portofino II umbrella, which was initially designed for the hospitality market, has always been popular in the retail side of the marketplace because of its rugged construction, yet graceful form. “By designing a tilt mechanism into the Portofino II, it now has what customers consider one of the most desirable features in an umbrella – the ability to maneuver the umbrella into different positions to create shade even as the direction of the sunlight changes,” he said. The Portofino II Tilt umbrella, which has an all aluminum crank handle and housing powdered coated to match the frame, is currently available in a 9-ft hexagon shape as well as a 8x10 ft oval shape. 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 additional to its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Irvine, the company operates a manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida. For more information about the company, visit www.tropitone.com.