The 14th Annual Vesta Awards Program took place at the HPBExpo in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 7, 2014. At 5pm, a crowd of approximately 1,200 poured into the Ballroom of the Salt Palace Convention Center to enjoy wine, music and good company for the 45 minutes preceding the awards program.

Wiseway was awarded the Best-in-Show - Hearth Products for its Wiseway Pellet Stove, which doesn't require electricity to operate - just gravity. Many felt this product will create a new category in the hearth industry.

Breeo Industries was awarded Best-in-Show - Outdoor Room Products for its Ablaze Fire Pit that is a virtually smokeless outdoor wood firepit. A built-in secondary afterburner drastically reduces smoke around the campfire by igniting the excess smoke.  

Friendly Fires, with three stores in Ontario, Canada, was designated Hearth Retailer of the Year.

To see all of the Vesta Winners, go to the website and click on "Vesta Awards," then on "2014 Winners."

Astria's Envy direct-vent gas fireplace.

Innovative Hearth Products (IHP), the manufacturer of Lennox Hearth Products and FMI Products, unveiled a new corporate identity at the recent HPBExpo with the launch of two new retail-oriented brands, and a new brand to represent hearth products specified for builders, remodelers and designers. The retail brands have been trademarked as Astria and IronStrike. The brand name under which the company's hearth products will be marketed to the design-build industry is Superior.

Each new brand was designed to address specific target marketplaces within the retail and design-build sectors. This includes a collective product offering of advanced fireplaces and fire systems as well as stoves and inserts. A comprehensive branding campaign is being launched nationwide to promote each brand's individual product information to trade customers and consumers.

The campaign is part of IHP's strategic initiative to streamline and restructure its product lines, following the company's fall 2012 acquisition by the Comvest Group, which included the merger of Lennox Hearth Products and FMI Products.

IronStrike's Grandview wood-burning stove.

Under the auspices of IHP, the new Astria, IronStrike and Superior brands expand the company's footprint in the hearth industry, allowing for a more diverse range of fireplaces, stoves and accessories.

"IHP's new brands encompass a full line of fireplaces, fireplace systems, stoves and inserts with technologically enhanced features and aesthetics that are designed to provide retailers and builders with all-inclusive options for their customers," says Glenn Thomson, executive vice-president of Sales and Marketing for IHP.

IHP's Astria brand is aligned with upscale, stylish, discerning and affluent marketability. It features a diverse scope of traditional wood-burning fireplaces, traditional and contemporary direct-vent gas fireplaces, traditional B-vent gas fireplaces, and traditional and contemporary vent-free fireplace systems.
 
The Astria brand also offers a selection of outdoor products, including wood-burning fireplaces, vent-free gas systems, gas logs, and firepits. The line also incorporates indoor traditional and contemporary electric fireplaces, traditional and contemporary vent-free gas fireboxes, and vent-free and vented gas logs.

The company's IronStrike brand represents a collection of products that exude practicality, ruggedness, dependability and advanced technology. IronStrike is inclusive of wood stoves, gas stoves, pellet stoves, wood inserts, gas inserts, and pellet inserts. These high-end products have been designed to cater to consumers seeking alternative, efficient home-heating options or have a need for updating existing fireplace systems.

Superior's DRT2000 Merit Series direct-vent fireplace.

The Superior brand is categorized by its versatile, utilitarian characteristics and encourages simplicity. It comprises a comprehensive line of fireplaces, stoves and inserts that are well suited for building and remodeling projects. The range of products includes direct-vent gas fireplaces, vent-free gas fireplace systems, electric fireplaces, and gas inserts, all of which are available in both traditional and contemporary styles.    

In addition, Superior provides builders and designers with an array of wood-burning fireplaces, EPA fireplaces; traditional B-vent gas fireplaces, traditional vent-free gas fireboxes; vent-free and vented gas logs; wood- burning stoves; vent-free, B-vent and direct vent gas stoves. Outdoor fireplace products such as wood burning fireplaces; vent-free gas fireplace systems; vent-free gas fireboxes; and gas logs are also available as part of the Superior brand.

Retailers and buyers interested in learning more about the new Astria and IronStrike brands can learn more at the Astria website and the Ironstrike website. Builders, remodelers and designers can find information and resources about the Superior brand by visiting the website.

From the Miami Herald

Carls Furniture, the venerable retailer whose origins date back to 1941, is closing its remaining three stores in Broward and launching a private liquidation sale, according to a letter sent to "preferred clients and friends."

After 73 years and three generations serving South Florida, "the time has come to say goodbye and thank you," Carls Furniture president Jeff Baker wrote in the letter, obtained by the Miami Herald.

"The furniture industry has been one of the hardest hit during our economic downfall. ... We tried downsizing by reducing our number of locations and cutting overhead. However, even those changes and sacrifices were not enough."

Carls, which operates stores in Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale, will hold a "private sale" for five days, beginning on Thursday, wrote Baker, who did not return calls seeking comment on Monday. It is not clear what date the stores will close to the public.

At the height of its pre-recession dominance, Carls Furniture and its patio division had 22 showrooms from Kendall to Stuart and as far as California. The upscale furniture chain consistently ranked among the top 100 furniture stores in the country in terms of revenue.

When the housing market collapsed in 2007, furniture chains across the country suffered severe blows. In South Florida, big-name stores like Robb & Stucky, Modernage and Dream House closed in the wake of the recession. In 2008 it and Carls Patio split into separate companies; Carls Patio remains in business with nine South Florida locations.

Carls filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2011, closing stores in Kendall and Boca Raton and leaving several others open; the company emerged a year later, downsized and reorganized.

Carls showed signs of trouble even before the recession. Its sales dropped to $119.9 million in 2007 from $134.2 million in 2005. Revenue continued to decline, with 2009-2010 year-over-year sales slumping 30 percent, from $26 million to $19 million.

South Florida-based competitors Ashley Furniture, Baer's Furniture, City Furniture and El Dorado have managed to survive the recession and, in several cases, expand.

Panama Jack continues to add new resort-inspired products and designs to the home furnishings market. The company recently signed two new licensing agreements as well as having introduced several additional product lines with manufacturers already partnered with the lifestyle brand. The agreements cover indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, home décor and fabrics.

Panama Jack has been well-received by customers since diving into the furniture market in 2012 and as a result will be expanding its High Point Market showroom from 7,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. for the 2014 show, set for April 5-10. In addition to continuing to grow its reach within the United States, Panama Jack will be introducing its beach-inspired brand into Europe with collections available in over 50 showrooms across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

"Panama Jack continues to expand its reach in new product categories and international markets," said Panama Jack president Kim Manna. "The development and growth of our brand creates ongoing excitement about our future and new opportunities for consumers to experience and connect with Panama Jack."

The licensing agreements will produce new lines of furniture, furnishings and accessories to complement Panama Jack's current product offerings and provide consumers with a wider range of choices to live the lifestyle embraced by the brand at home. The additional licensees are as follows:

Palmetto Home - Panama Jack will expand its offerings by Palmetto Home and give customers more options by adding two new lines to their popular collections. Colors, available at retail in May, will feature a variety of ocean-inspired hues and Millbrook, a coastal home collection highlighting two distinctive wood tones that will be available at retail in June. Both series feature wooden pieces styled to reflect Panama Jack's spirit of fun and adventure. They include options for the living and dining room as well as bedroom.

Pelican Reef - The casual-furniture company will expand its production of pieces that reflect the feeling of the islands for the lifestyle brand with additional options including lounge chairs, coffee tables and glass dining sets designed for outfitting a home's sunroom.
  
Colonial Mills - Colonial Mills now offers a line of its signature braided-texture rugs inspired by Panama Jack and the relaxed attitude of the brand. Introduced at the January Las Vegas market, the rugs are available in a variety of colors that were designed to complement the new Palmetto Home collections.

Stein World - Known for its unique and one-of-a-kind home accents, Stein World has designed a new collection, including a variety of new lighting options, highlighting a variety of elements including nautical accents, rope detail and distinctly distressed pieces. These pieces capture the heart of beach living and will be available this April.

"Our goal is to offer the Panama Jack lifestyle to our consumers through a variety of indoor and outdoor furniture collections that reflect the brand's personality," said Panama Jack's head of Home Furnishings, Stephen Giles. "We are excited about our new partnerships and the expanding lines within our current partners and look forward to introducing them into our growing marketplace."

Panama Jack is an international company that has built a powerful brand and loyal following synonymous with a casual, fun and friendly lifestyle. The breezy, relaxed ways of the tropics can be found in everything that bears its name from Panama Jack signature suncare, eyewear, apparel, headwear, footwear and beach accessories, to Panama Jack beach cruiser bicycles and a complete home furnishings collection.

Its Indoor and Outdoor Home Collections provide consumers with even more freedom to enjoy what's most meaningful to them and their families. Currently, Panama Jack has five retail stores at top travel destinations with additional store openings scheduled for 2014. Founded in 1974 and based in Miami, Florida, Panama Jack is celebrating its 40th year.