46th ANNUAL APOLLO AWARDS HONOR THE BEST IN CASUAL FURNITURE RETAILING
CHICAGO (Sept. 15, 2005) – The very best in casual furniture retailing were honored at the 2005 Apollo Awards during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Sept. 14-17, 2005. Regarded as the highest honor among casual furniture retailers, the Apollo Awards pay tribute to retailers whose outstanding accomplishments and dedication to customer service distinguish them from the others. Winners are selected from hundreds of retailers throughout the country.
Voting for the Apollo Awards begins with each member of the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) offering three nominations in each category. The winners from each category were then chosen by ballot by members of the SCFMA. Also announced at the Apollo Awards ceremony was the Lillian B. Winchester Award for Best in Show of the Design Excellence Awards. The 2005 winner was TUUCI for the Metro Parasol.
The 2005 Winners:
Single-store Winners
First Place:
Sunnyland Furniture
Dallas, Tex.
Second Place:
Leisure Living
Salt Lake City, Utah
Third Place:
Dodds & Eder
Oyster Bay, N.Y.
Multi-store Winners
First Place:
Casual Marketplace
Hockessin, Del.
Second Place:
Patios Plus
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Third Place:
Georgia Backyard
Suwanee, Ga.
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is sponsored by the SCFMA and the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR), the industry’s two leading casual furniture associations, and managed by Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).
For more information about the Chicago Casual Market or Apollo Awards, please call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.merchandisemart.com and click on the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market.
SAVE THE DATE:
International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™
Sept. 13-16, 2006
The Merchandise Mart
Chicago, Ill.
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show, leasing and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, 350 W. Mart Center and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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PRESS CONTACT:
Natalie Campbell
Public Relations Associate
Phone: 312.527.7790
E-mail: ncampbell@mmart.com