Dec 11, 2014

Home and Garden Trading Company to be Recognized as ARTS Awards Rising Star

ART and Dallas Market Center, co-founder and producer of the ARTS Awards, today announced that Home and Garden Trading Company of McKinney, Texas, an emerging resource for home furnishings and interior design, will receive the Rising Star Award at the 26th annual ARTS Awards on Friday, January 16, 2015 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

Home and Garden Trading Company strives to bring beauty, both old and new, home to McKinney from around the world. Owner Carol Scarborough discovers unique items from around the world, and the flea markets in Paris, France are just one of the many sources of product for her store. The home design showroom in the bustling downtown historic square offers a selection of beautiful home furnishings, accessories, rugs, lighting, bedding, bath linens, fashion accessories, garden décor and more.

After a long career in banking and 20 years serving as the senior vice president for a large national bank, Scarborough began to take note of the amount of people who move to Texas, buy large homes and need furnishings to fill them. Scarborough saw an opportunity to serve the thriving industry and established Home and Garden Trading Company in 2012. Scarborough chose Money Magazine’s #1 Best Place to Live in America, McKinney, Texas, as the location.

Ever evolving, Home and Garden Trading Company realigns their strategy as the needs of the market change. In June of this year, just two years after opening, the store underwent a complete redesign that highlighted their fresh and updated approach to the business. In efforts to offer the best service in the business, the store also launched their full interior design and home consultation services.

The Rising Star Award recognizes innovation and modern excellence demonstrated by a home industry company that has been in business less than three years. A special industry committee cast a unanimous vote to extend this tribute to Home and Garden Trading Company.

“We reviewed many retailers that were exceptionally qualified, however, Home and Garden Trading Company kept coming up on top,” said ARTS committee member, Harvey Hollingsworth. “We like their story, store presentation and true passion for the industry. They offer a fresh approach to a rather traditional business, which is one of the many reasons that we were confident we had chosen the most deserving company.”

ARTS Awards, developed by the non-profit ART and produced by Dallas Market Center, is the premier international awards program for the home industry – honoring designers, manufacturers, retailers and sales representatives – and is held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. The ARTS Awards black-tie gala is attended by nearly 700 industry leaders who are among the tens of thousands of Market attendees.

The 26th annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by enLIGHTenment, FANDECK, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Giftware News, HFN, Home Accents Today, Home Fashion Forecast, Home & Textiles Today, 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 85 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. The Dallas Market Center website is available at dallasmarketcenter.com.

About ART

ART is the creative home furnishings network representing manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other individuals and companies interested in promoting and enhancing the market position of the home furnishings industry. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars, the ART card and the ARTS Awards. The ART website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.

About the ARTS Awards

The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to the home industry. Up to 27 categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Interior Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star, Green and Academy of Achievement. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. Academy of Achievement and Rising Star honorees are selected by an ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won an ARTS Award 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., Palecek, Paragon, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.