Aug 22, 2008

Finalists for 20th Annual ARTS Awards Announced

DALLAS –– Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, announced the 20th annual ARTS Awards finalists.

The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry and is held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 14-20, 2009). This year’s gala will take place on Saturday, January 17, 2009 in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart. “Congratulations to the finalists for this year’s ARTS Awards,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “It’s an honor to celebrate these outstanding manufacturers, retailers, product designers, and sales reps during the 20th anniversary of the ARTS Awards.”

The finalists will submit a detailed portfolio to a panel of distinguished judges previously announced, including Mark McMenamin, senior editor at Interior Design; Janace Clarke, associate professor of fashion merchandising at Texas Christian University; Rawlins Gilliland, retail consultant and expert; Helen Erdman, founder of Helen Erdman Interiors; and Pat Mayfield, founder and president of a business consulting company, Pat Mayfield Consulting, LLC. The portfolios will consist of information including company history, philosophy, product development, marketing, merchandising and customer relations. In November, the panel of judges will convene in Dallas for two days to individually review each company’s submission. Once judging is completed, a designated accounting firm will tabulate and secure the ballots until the winners are announced in January.

The 20th annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by Accessory Merchandising, Contract Lighting, FurnitureStyle, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, HFN, Home Accents Today, Home Lighting & Accessories, Residential Lighting, and The Gift & Home Channel.

For tickets to the ARTS Awards gala contact Emily Forsythe at 214-655-7635 or eforsythe@dmcmail.com.

Make plans now to attend the next Total Home & Gift Markets in Dallas on September 13-15, 2008 and January 14-20, 2009. 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 and Academy of Achievement. 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: C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Fine Art Lamps, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.