The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., awarded Caroline Hipple, President of Norwalk Furniture, a special award at its annual Induction Celebration. The presentation was made at a prestigious dinner attended by more than 1,100 industry leaders.
Hipple has served on the Hall of Fame Board of Directors more than 15 years and is the first female president of the Board. She is on the creative team for the design and furnishings of the industry’s new home, which opened in April this year. The 25,000-square-foot home is a place to gather, to honor and to learn. Hipple was instrumental in the creative concepts of the exhibits and the gathering spaces throughout the building.
“Caroline is one of the most respected women and leaders in our industry,” says Karen McNeill, President of the Foundation board of directors. “She began in the industry in 1977 as a part-time sales associate and rose to become Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Merchandising at This End Up Furniture, a manufacturer and retail store chain based in Richmond, Va. She served as President of Storehouse, a retail chain based in Atlanta. Today she is President of the legacy brand, Norwalk Furniture which was founded in 1902. Under her leadership, Norwalk became an ESOP company in 2021.
“The Hall of Fame would not be where it is without Caroline Hipple. Her leadership is impeccable and she has served as a role model for men and women of our industry,” she says. “We are giving her this honor to recognize her many contributions to the Hall of Fame, to our industry and to the legacy brand Norwalk Furniture. We are grateful but more importantly we publicly recognize her commitment to relentless service to her company, her integrity and the profitability she has brought to the brand.”
