Jan 25, 2008

19th Annual ARTS Awards Winners Announced; Dallas Market Center and ART presented awards during gala event

Dallas, TX – – Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART) announced the winners of the 19th annual ARTS Awards during a gala event held Saturday, January 19 in the Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart. More than 700 guests attended the ceremony which featured the presentation of ARTS Awards in 25 categories as well as recognition of Academy of Achievement honoree Arlette Baker of Carl’s Furniture in Boca Raton, Fla. Among the attendees were a wide range of retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives, media and designers from across the country.

The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Market was transformed for the evening and glowed in gold and cinnabar hues. The Asian influenced decor was modern and elegant. Hundreds of gold orchids and cinnabar Gerber daisies adorned the tables.

Presenters for the evening were top designers, retailers and industry personalities as well as DMC executives. Bill Winsor, President and CEO of Dallas Market Center, and Sharon Davis, Executive Director of ART, opened the evening. Other presenters included Cindy Morris, COO of Dallas Market Center, nationally renowned designer Barry Dixon, Trading Spaces personality, Edward Walker, and Colleen Visage, Progress Lighting and ART Board President. The Academy of Achievement Award was presented to Arlette Baker by Bob Dragen, Co-owner of Carl’s Furniture.

The ARTS Awards, presented each January during the Total Home & Gift Market, is the premier awards program for the decorative accessories industry and recognizes excellence from retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and designers in every region of the United States.

“We are proud to celebrate the decorative accessories industry each year in Dallas and partner with ART,” said Bill Winsor, President and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “The ARTS Awards is one of the highlights of our January Total Home & Gift Market and we congratulate all the deserving winners.”

“Once again the ARTS Awards represented the best the industry has to offer,” said Sharon Davis, Executive Director, ART. “It’s wonderful to work in an industry that continues to grow and excel because of people’s creativity and hard work. We applaud all of this year’s winners and finalists.”

19th ARTS Awards Winners

Manufacturers

• Accent Furniture

  Four Hands – Austin, Texas

• Area Rugs

  Feizy Rugs – Dallas, Texas

• Decorative Accessories

  The Phillips Collection – High Point, N.C.

• Home Textiles

  Etoffe Makara – University Place, Wash.

• Lighting Fixtures

  Fine Art Lamps – Miami Lakes, Fla.

• Outdoor Living

  Seasonal Living Trading – Austin, Texas

• Permanent Floral

  SIA Home Fashion – France

• Portable Lamps

  Oriental Accent, Inc. – Dallas, Texas

• Tabletop

  Juliska – Stamford, Conn.

• Wall Decor

  Art Dreams Home – Ventura, Calif.

Retailers

East/Atlantic

• Furniture Store

  At Home Nashville – Nashville, Tenn.

• Home Accent Specialty Store

  Accessories Etc. – Bethlehem, Pa.

• Lighting Showroom

  Southern Lighting Gallery – Augusta, Ga.

• Furniture Store

  McManus Company – Beaumont, Texas/li>

• Home Accent Specialty Store

  Signed Sealed Delivered – Rogers, Ark.

• Lighting ShowroomMetro Lighting – Brentwood, Mo.

West

• Furniture Store

  C.S. Wo & Sons – Honolulu, Hawaii

• Home Accent Specialty Store

  Moses at Home – Albuquerque, N.M.

• Lighting Showroom

  Sun Lighting – Tucson, Ark.

Product Designer

Kathleen Koszyk, Art Dreams Home

Rising Star Retailer

Pam Vincent, Culinary Connection

Sales Reps

East/Atlantic

Russ Jones, OneCoast Northeast Home

Midwest/Southwest

Amber Leone, Codarus

West

Tom Wright, Liteforce Sales

Academy of Achievement

Arlette Baker, Carl’s Furniture – Boca Raton, Fla.

Make plans now to attend March Total Home & Gift Market (March 27 – 30, 2008) and June Total Home & Gift Market (June 18 – 24, 2008) taking place in Dallas. Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, MarketTravel, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

About the ARTS Awards

The ARTS Awards is the premiere awards program dedicated to the home decorative accessories industry. Twenty-six categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star, Academy of Achievement and Hall of Fame. Manufacturers and the Rising Star award are nominated by retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. Retailers are nominated by manufacturers, sales representatives and other industry officials. Sales representatives are nominated by manufacturers, retailers and other industry officials. Product designers are nominated by all. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five or more times will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: Distinctive Designs International Inc., Fine Art Lamps, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.

About the Accessories Resource Team

The Accessories Resource Team (ART) is the association representing accessory manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other industry individuals and companies interested in promoting the decorative home accessories industry. The association’s goal is to enhance the market position of decorative home accessories. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars and the ARTS Awards. The Accessories Resource Team Web site is available at accessoriesresourceteam.org.

About Dallas Market Center

Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men’s, western, women’s and children’s apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 84 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $7.5 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center Web site is available at dallasmarketcenter.com.