HIGH POINT, N.C. — The International Casual Furnishings Association has announced the finalists for this year’s Apollo Awards, Manufacturer of the Year and Sales Representative of the Year.
The Apollo Awards recognize excellence in specialty outdoor retail in the single-store and multi-store categories. Single-store nominees are Daylight Home & Patio in Paso Robles, California; Island Living & Patio in West Palm Beach, Florida; Lawn & Leisure in Sterling, Virginia; and Villa Terrazza Patio & Home in Sonoma, California.
Multi-store Apollo Awards nominees are Gasper Exterior Furnishings Studio in Pennsylvania, Kolo Collection Outdoor Furnishings in Georgia and Tennessee, Offenbachers Home Escapes in Virginia and Maryland, and Sunnyland Outdoor Living in Texas.
The prestigious Apollo Awards honor specialty retailers based upon innovative merchandising and marketing, sales management, annual growth, sales training program, credit history and achievement of goals. The winners will be announced during the ICFA Gala held during Casual Market Atlanta in September. Fowler Brothers Home & Patio won in the single-store category last year, and Gasper Exterior Furnishings Studio took home the multi-store honor.
Castelle, Frankford Umbrellas, Jensen Outdoor, OW Lee and Telescope Casual Furniture have all been named finalists for the Manufacturer of the Year Award. Honorees are judged on the quality of manufactured goods, design, merchandising, customer service, ethics/trade relations and communication. The winner will be announced during the ICFA Gala. Berlin Gardens took home the honor in 2025.
The ICFA also announced the nominees for Sales Representative of the Year: Mike Madorsky, Livingston, New Jersey; Rob Robinson, Birmingham, Alabama; Charlie Smith, La Quinta, California; and Tim Wood, Chapin, South Carolina.
The Sales Representative of the Year Award recognizes candidates based on leadership, professionalism, exceptional service, communication skills, knowledge and product training expertise. The winner will be announced during the ICFA Gala. Last year’s honoree was John Pinion.
The ICFA also honors outstanding products each year with the Design Excellence Awards. Co-sponsored by the ICFA and AmericasMart/Andmore, the Design Excellence Awards honor the year’s best in 11 product categories based upon innovative design, marketability, color, construction and imaginative use of materials as determined by a distinguished panel of industry experts. Two products selected from the 11 category winners are selected for Lilly Awards for Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Accents, with one receiving top honors with the Lillian B. Winchester Best of Show Award.
The deadline for Design Excellence entries is Friday, July 10. Entries must include a contact sheet and entry form, as well as product images. Entries can be sent to Michele Morris at mmorris@icfanet.org. Full details and entry forms are available on the ICFA website.
The winners of the Lilly Awards and the Lillian B. Winchester Best of Show Award will be announced during the ICFA Gala in September.
