The Cooper Family of Uttermost to Receive ARTS Awards Academy of Achievement Honor
Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the home accents industry, today announced that the Cooper family of Uttermost will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 24th annual ARTS Awards.
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home accents industry held during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 16-22, 2013). The Academy of Achievement honor is awarded each year to recognize companies and/or individuals that have made significant contributions to the industry. The awards will be presented on the evening of Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
“For more than 35 years, Uttermost has provided the home and decorative accessories industry with affordable, quality products that speak to the current trends,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “The company’s continued success speaks volumes to the dedication and hard work of the Cooper family.”
Founded by Bob and Belle Cooper in 1975 and currently led by their son, President Mac Cooper, Uttermost manufactures products in a range of categories including accent furniture, mirrors, wall décor, art, lighting, permanent botanicals and more. Uttermost also includes best-selling products from Austin Reproductions and the entire line of Timeworks clocks.
The brand prides itself on the most current, innovative creations from Designers Billy Moon, Carolyn Kinder, Constance Leal-Linyard, David Frisch, Eve, Grace Feyock, Joe Famulari and Matthew Williams. Uttermost products are sold by some of the most prestigious home retailers in the world and are also featured in many top international hospitality design projects.
Bob and Belle Cooper were married in 1957 and in 1960, following Bob’s service in the Air Force, they moved to Rocky Mount, Va. to work for Bob’s father at Cooper Lumber Company. The manufacturer produced mirror frames and molding for furniture companies such as Bassett Furniture, Lane Company and American-Drew. By 1970, the family had been blessed with four children: Cathy, Sam, Mac and Taz. In 1975, Bob and Belle started Uttermost from a small division of Cooper Wood Products. The first years of business were difficult, but the family held strong to their faith and dedication to Uttermost.
Mac Cooper often worked at the family business as a young boy, as did his brother and sisters, working as a janitor or stacking lumber, and he officially joined Uttermost in 1987 when Bob and Belle needed to expand the management team. Mac has led Uttermost through many years of rapid growth and today the manufacturer is global in both customers and resources. Uttermost has factory and distribution facilities in California, China and Virginia. For more information visit www.uttermost.com.
Reservations to attend the ARTS Awards will be available online in November 2012. The 24th annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, HFN, Home Accents Today, Home Fashion Forecast, Home Lighting & Accessories, Overcoffee, Residential Lighting, and the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. 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 78 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com.
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 website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.
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, Green Design and Academy of Achievement. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc. (NDI), Palecek, Paragon, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.
