The International Casual Furnishings Association announces the finalists for three prestigious awards to be presented at the ICFA Awards Gala during Casual Market Atlanta in July.
Founded in 1959, the Apollo Awards program recognizes retail excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings. Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments plus active partnership and excellent credit rating with manufacturers and industry suppliers. Each finalist is recognized as an exceptional dealer of a wide variety of quality products in their trading area and a role model for others within the industry, as well as characterized by superior customer service plus innovative marketing and merchandising strategies.
Finalists in the single-store competition include Island Living & Patio, West Palm Beach, FL, O’Malia’s Living, Carmel, IN.; Outdoor Elegance, La Verne, CA; Patios Plus, Rancho Mirage, CA.; Villa Terrazza, Sonoma, CA; and Village Green Home and Garden, Rockford, IL.
Retail businesses with multiple stores include Gasper Home & Garden Showplace, Furlong, PA.; Kolo Collection, Atlanta; Sunnyland Outdoor Living, Dallas; Today’s Patio, Scottsdale, AZ.; and Viridien (formerly Fire House Casual Living), Charlotte, NC.
A follow-up online ballot with profiles of each retailer will be distributed to all ICFA members in good standing to determine the winner in each category.
Six manufacturers of outdoor furnishings have been named finalists for the ICFA’s 2023 Manufacturer of the Year Award. The finalists were selected based on the overall design and quality of their products, along with their merchandising, customer service, ethics, communications and trade relations.
The companies selected for ICFA’s Manufacturer Leadership Award after a call for nominations include Castelle, Ebel, Inc., Lloyd Flanders, Poly-Wood and Treasure Garden.
Company profiles of the manufacturer finalists will be distributed to ICFA members for a second round of voting, and the company with the most votes will be announced as the Manufacturer of the Year.
In addition, six outstanding sales representatives have been selected as finalists for the 2023 Sales Representative of the Year. Finalists were selected based on leadership, professionalism, exceptional service, communication skills, knowledge and product training expertise. Finalists include John Balch, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Tim Baldwin, Richmond, Va.; Doug Becht, Geneva, Ill.; Joe Crandall, Marietta, Ga.; Phil Fowler, Wilmington, Del.; and Charlie Smith, La Quinta, Calif.
Hosted by International Market Centers at the Oceans Ballroom at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the ICFA Awards Gala will bring together all segments of the outdoor furnishings industry for a dinner celebration that recognizes excellence throughout the casual furnishings industry. Kathy Juckett, CEO of Telescope Casual Furniture, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and products receiving the industry’s Design Excellence Awards will be spotlighted, including the Lilly Awards for Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Accents plus the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” design award.
Tickets for ICFA members can be ordered from the ICFA website, https://www.icfanet.org/2023-awards-dinner-reservations/, for $85 per person or $800 for a table of 10. Tickets for non-members are $110 each and $1,100 for a table of 10. Sponsorship of the ICFA Awards Gala is available in a variety of levels at:
https://www.icfanet.org/2023-awards-gala-sponsorship/
