| Market Reports
And the Winners Are . . .
WCMA announces the recipients of its 2003 Product Innovation Award.
The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA), New York,
NY, has announced the winners of its annual Product Innovation
Awards, offering industry recognition in dozens of window treatment
product categories.
In order to qualify for the awards, industry members submitted their most innovative
designs to WCMA for judging, which took place in mid-February. WCMA received
65 entries and the judges selected 30 award-winners (see complete list).
“It was very exciting to see the diversity of products that were submitted
for consideration this year,” said Carolynn Jennings, WCMA executive director. “It
just proves how hard the industry works to bring innovative products to consumers.”
IMPROVEMENT AT THE TOP
All entries were judged in one of the following product categories: Alternative
Shading Products, Cellular Shades, Curtains and Draperies, Drapery Hardware,
Motorization, Shutters, Pleated and Roller Shades, Verticals, Wood Blinds and
Shadings (Wood/Faux Wood) and Merchandising. In each category, the judges recognized
entries for Best New Technical Innovation, Best New Style Concept and Most Innovative
Overall Design. In addition, the judges awarded a Product of the Year. This year’s
top honors went to Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, Upper Saddle River, NJ, for
improvements to its Remembrance® Window Shades.
This year’s judges were Susan Arran, ASID, president, American Society
of Interior Designers New York Metropolitan Chapter; Susan Hirsh, vice president,
purchasing for decorative products, Janovic Plaza, Inc.; Leonard Mozer, window
fashions editor, LDB Interior Textiles; and James Shearron, special projects
editor, House and Garden Magazine.
The WCMA winners were honored at a reception held during the International Window
Coverings Expo (IWCE) in Baltimore, MD, on April 2. Photographs from all entries
were displayed during the show.
Over the past 13 years the Product Innovation Awards Program has bestowed over
275 awards (See D&WC, May 2002, page 24.)
For more information about WCMA and its awards program, contact Jennings at (212)
297-2111.
| WCMA 2003 product innovation awards |
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
Improvements to Remembrance® Window Shades
ALTERNATIVE SHADING PRODUCTS
Best New Technical Innovation:
Harmonic Design, Inc.-Somfy International
System I Designer Shading Motor
Best New Style Concept:
Hunter Douglas
Improvements to Jubilance® Roman Shades
Most Innovative Overall Design:
Hunter Douglas
Improvements to Jubilance Roman Shades
CELLULAR SHADES
Best New Technical Innovation:
Comfortex Window Fashions
EZ Count Cellular Fabric
CURTAINS AND DRAPERIES
Best New Style Concept:
Waverly
French Door Fabric Blind
Most Innovative Overall Design:
Waverly
French Door Fabric Blind
DRAPERY HARDWARE
Best New Technical Innovation:
Levolor Kirsch Window Fashions
Adjustable Curtain Rod Bracket
Best New Style Concept:
Levolor Kirsch
The Clodagh Collection by Kirsch
Honorable Mention:
Springs Window Fashions
Graber® Woven Collection Drapery Hardware
Most Innovative Overall Design:
Source Global Enterprises
The One Rod
MOTORIZATION
Best New Technical Innovation:
Somfy Systems
Chronis RTS Timer
Most Innovative Overall Design:
Hunter Douglas
Luminette® with Powerglide™
PLEATED AND ROLLER SHADES
Best New Technical Innovation:
RollEase, Inc.
The Galaxy Clutch by RollEase®
Best New Style Concept:
Hunter Douglas
Improvements to Remembrance Window Shades
Most Innovative Overall Design:
Hunter Douglas
Improvements to Remembrance Window Shades
|
SHUTTERS
Best New Technical Innovation:
Finecraft Custom Shutters, Ltd.
Motorized and Barless Custom Wood Shutter
Best New Style Concept:
Coronado Block Shutter
Coronado Block Shutters™
VERTICALS
Best New Style Concept:
Hunter Douglas
Cadence™ Soft Vertical Blinds
WOOD BLINDS AND SHADINGS (WOOD/FAUX WOOD)
Best New Technical Innovation:
Hunter Douglas
Everwood® Countryside Dimensional Shutter Blinds
Honorable Mention:
Comfortex
Woodwinds® Cordless Blinds
Best New Style Concept:
Hunter Douglas
Country Woods® Exposé™ Bella Royale Collection
Most Innovative Overall Design:
Hunter Douglas
Country Woods Exposé Bella Royale Collection
MERCHANDISING
Best New Sampling Program:
Springs Window Fashions
Virtual Decorator
www.graberblinds.com
Honorable Mention:
Hunter Douglas
Heritance™ Hardwood Shutters Sampling
Most Innovative Point of Sale Program:
Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
Gallery® Program
Honorable Mention:
Levolor Kirsch
Kirsch Retail Display
Best Advertising and Promotional Program:
Hunter Douglas
Solutions Package and Promotion
Honorable Mention:
Comfortex
Comfortex Blind Crafters Program
Best Industry Education Program:
Hunter Douglas
Enhancements to Professional Installer Program (PIP) |
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