Chicago – The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) honored top retailers, manufacturers, representatives and designers this week during two gala award celebrations slated during the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market here.

Hundreds gathered at the beautiful Ballroom of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on Tuesday, Sept. 13, to spotlight top product designs, recognize manufacturing excellence and honor an outstanding sales representative.

Then, ICFA members and their guests assembled again on Wednesday, Sept. 14, for the annual Apollo Awards dinner honoring the industry's top retail stores and paying tribute to the year's Lifetime Achievement honoree.

Awards presented Sept. 13-14 included:

Apollo Awards
The Apollo Awards recognize retail excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings. Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and commitment to customer service. Winners in two categories, singe store and multi-store, were selected from a group of 10 finalists through an online ballot.

Fruehauf's Patio & Garden of Boulder, Colorado, was the single store winner. Summer House, Tukwila, Washington, was the multi-store category winner.

Finalists in the single store category included Authenteak Outdoor Furniture, Atlanta; Ken Rash's of Arkansas, Little Rock; Sunnyland Furniture, Dallas; and Leisure Living Inc., Salt Lake City. Finalists in the multi-story category were: ABSCO Fireplace & Patio, Birmingham, Ala.; Carls Patio, Boca Raton, Fla.; Season's Leisure Inc., Atherton, Calif.; and Greenhouse Mall, Austin Texas.

Design Excellence Awards
The competition recognizes products for their overall design, as well as their marketability, innovation, color, construction and imaginative use of materials. Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. co-sponsors the awards. Category winners included:

Cast Metal: Atlanta Lounge Chair by Woodard Landgrave
Complementary Casual Products: Apple Martini Stone Table Top by Veneman Collections
Fabric: Heritage-Sunbrella Performance Fabric, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics
Outdoor Lighting: Joi Powered by Thermologi by Caframo Ltd.
Outdoor Rugs/Carpeting/Flooring: Ravella Disco Orange by Liora Manne for Trans-Oceans Imports Company
Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials: Aman High Back Lounge Chair by Janus et Cie
Resin/Fiberglass: Ineo Extension Table by Grosfillex
Shade Products: Plantation Max Cantilever by Dougan Clarke for TUUCI
Tubular Materials: Azore 34-inch Square Table by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster Furniture
Wood Furniture: Ventura Deep Seating Swivel Rocker by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster Furniture
Wrought Iron/Wrought Aluminum: Jax Stationary Lounge Chair by Scott Coogan for Woodard

Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show"
The Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show" award, selected from among the 11 category winners listed above, went to the Ventura Deep Seating Swivel Rocker by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster Furniture.

Lifetime Achievement
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the casual furniture industry and to their individual communities. The 2011 honoree was Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. of Telescope Casual Furniture. Vanderminden, now 83, was a teenager when he began designing products for Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty, the company founded by his grandfather in 1903. For more than 60 years, he created innovative product, machinery, process and plant designs that transformed both the company and, eventually, the entire outdoor furnishings industry. His designs helped the company win many awards over the years, but the 2008 Design Excellence Award for his popular Windward Sling Collection design is worth special note, since the designer was not only in his 80s, but also by this time was suffering from macular degeneration, a disease that renders him legally blind. Vanderminden was named to Telescope's Board of Directors in 1967 and became executive vice president of the company in 1971. He was CEO from 1989 until 2001, when he was named Chairman of the Board.

Manufacturer Leadership
One manufacturer was honored in each of eight categories for the design and quality of their products, along with their merchandising, customer service, ethics, communications and trade relations. Winners were:

Tropitone Tubular Materials Furniture
O.W. Lee Wrought Iron/Aluminum
Laneventure Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials
Jensen Leisure Wood Casual
Treasure Garden Shade Products
Alfresco Home Complementary Casual Products
Pride Family Brands Cast Metal
Trans Ocean Outdoor Carpeting/Rugs/Flooring
Seaside Casual Resin/Fiberglass

Manufacturer of the Year
From among the eight category winners listed above, Tropitone was named "Manufacturer of the Year." Both the category winners and the Manufacturer of the Year were selected in online voting.

Sales Representative of the Year
This award recognizes an outstanding sales representative within the casual furnishing industry. Candidates were selected based on leadership, professionalism, exceptional service, communication skills, knowledge and product training expertise. The 2011 winner, selected from three finalists and determined through online voting, was Gary R. Deane of G & R Deane Associates. Following a 25-year career with United Parcel Service, Gary joined his brother in business as a sales representative for the indoor furniture industry. After a few years on the road, he decided to devote his future to the casual furniture industry. He currently represents four manufacturers: O.W. Lee, Lloyd Flanders, Treasure Garden Umbrellas and Gold Crest Cushions.