Casual Industry Names Manufacturer Leadership Award Finalists

The 10 companies were selected after online voting in August among ICFA’s retail, designer and supplier membership. The finalists include: Brown Jordan, Castelle, Gloster Furniture, Jensen Leisure Furniture, Lloyd Flanders, O.W. Lee, Patio Renaissance, Telescope Casual Furniture, Treasure Garden and Tropitone Furniture.

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. From the 10 finalists, the company with the most votes will be announced at the ICFA Awards Gala on Thursday, September 22, at the Field Museum in Chicago.

In prior years, winners were announced in 10 product categories, then a final Manufacturer of the Year was named from among those 10 category winners.

“The move to identify 10 overall outstanding companies reflects the broadening of merchandise assortments within companies throughout the industry,” explained ICFA Executive Director Jackie Hirschhaut. “This has made the previous practice of classifying companies by product category or material obsolete.”

The September 22 awards gala will bring together all segments of the outdoor furnishings industry to recognize and celebrate top retail stores, manufacturers and sales representatives. Products receiving the industry’s Design Excellence Awards will be spotlighted, along with the two Lilly Awards for Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Accents, plus the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” design award.