Window Fashion VISIONIndustry’s Engineering and Design Teams Celebrated at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN
New York, NY (March 12, 2019) – The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) Product Awards, recognizing the best of the window covering industry’s products and merchandising programs, were celebrated at a reception at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN on Friday, March 8, 2019.
WCMA’s annual awards program showcases the window coverings industry’s product innovations, fresh designs, and the standout merchandising programs and promotions of 2018. Manufacturers toasted the award winning submissions at a reception kicking off IWCE (the International Window Coverings Expo), the U.S. trade show dedicated to the window coverings industry. Among the companies receiving awards were Alta Window Fashions; Coulisse; The Finial Company; Hartmann&Forbes; HunterDouglas; Norman Window Fashions; Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc.; QMotion; Rollease Acmeda; Somfy; and Texton.
Winners were selected in seven categories including cellular and pleated shades; drapery hardware; “green” products; horizontal blinds; motorization and automation; Roman and roller shades; shutters; and specialty applications and miscellaneous products. WCMA’s “green” category acknowledges window covering products that increase energy efficiency or conservation of resources, reduce possible impact on health and the environment, or employ sustainable practices in their manufacture.
Manufacturers’ marketing and merchandising programs were also acknowledged for creativity and achieving projected results. Winners were announced in marketing and merchandising programs including best consumer advertising campaign, best marketing technology, best point-of-sale displays, best trade advertising program, and best training program.
Hartmann&Forbes’ Rollerfold™ was selected as the 2018 WCMA Product of the Year. Rollerfold offers the aesthetics of a Roman fold shade with the performance of a roller style shade operating system. Certified by Hartmann&Forbes as a Best for Kids™ product, Rollerfold eliminates the shade-body operational cords and can be easily automated.
“Hartmann&Forbes’ submission resonated with judges for its design and style and its operating system. We congratulate the Rollerfold team and all of the industry’s engineers and designers on their hard work and vision”, said Ralph Vasami, executive director of WCMA. “I encourage everyone to view the year’s top product innovations and enhancements on the WCMA website.”
The 2018 judges included design community experts Susan Arann, Susan Hirsh and Laura Nally. Susan Arann is an interior design director and principal of American & International Designs Inc., an award winning, multi-disciplined interior design firm based in New York City. Susan is a past president of the American Society of Interior Design’s (ASID) New York Metro chapter. Susan Hirsh is a décor consultant and industry expert who formerly served as North American Manager for decorative programs at Benjamin Moore & Co, as president of the International Furnishing and Design Foundation (IFDA) and as the national chair of IFDA’s Educational Foundation. Laura Nally is design manager at Wallauer Paint & Design, a Westchester County, New York-based chain of 17 home decorating stores.
Recognized as a standout product for its technical innovation in the specialty applications category, Rollease Acmeda’s Hook tube product was also selected for the Judges’ Award, which is presented to a window covering product that exhibits measurable benefits and standout aesthetic appeal to end users. Enabling fast and easy changing of the fabric on a roller shade, the Rollease Acmeda product delivers versatility to end users without having to remove and re-install the tube of the shade.
The 2018 WCMA Product Awards winners were announced at a reception prior to the opening of
the International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE) on March 8-10, 2019 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. IWCE, the U.S. trade show dedicated to the window coverings industry, is presented by Window Fashion VISION, the window covering industry’s leading trade publication.
All submissions will be featured on the WCMA web site throughout the year, www.wcmanet.org.
The full list of the WCMA 2018 Product Awards winners:
WCMA 2018 Product of the Year
Rollerfold™
Hartmann&Forbes
Judges’ Award
Hook tube
Rollease Acmeda
Reserved for a submission selected by the judges that exhibits measurable benefit
or standout aesthetic appeal to end users
Product Category Winners
Cellular & Pleated Shades
Duette® TrackGlide™ with LiteRise®
Best New Technical Innovation
HunterDouglas
Drapery Hardware
French Double Rod with Returns – Bay Window
Best New Technical Innovation
Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc.
The Finial Company™ Modern Metal Collection
Best New Style Concept
The Finial Company
Green Products – Sustainability
Eco Essence
Best Technical Innovation
Coulisse
Eco Essence
Best New Style Concept
Coulisse
Horizontal Blinds (all finishes)
SmartPrivacy Cordless Normandy Wood Blinds
Best New Style Concept
Norman Window Fashions
Motorization & Automation
QMotion Qbasic+ Shading System
Best Technical Innovation
QMotion
Sonesse® ULTRA 30 WireFree RTS Li-ion
Best Technical Innovation
Honorable Mention
Somfy
Roman & Roller Shades
Twin Pull
Best New Technical Innovation
Coulisse
Rollerfold™
Best New Style Concept
Hartmann&Forbes
Shutters
Norman Ultra Shutters featuring Norman Ultra Hinge
Best New Technical Innovation
Norman Window Fashions
Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters with PowerView® Motorization
Best New Style Concept
HunterDouglas
Specialty & Miscellaneous Products
Hook tube
Best New Technical Innovation
Rollease Acmeda
OPTEX Solar Screens
Best New Style Concept
Texton
Marketing & Merchandising Award Winners
Best Consumer Advertising Campaign
Dealer Social Media Program
Best Consumer Advertising Campaign
HunterDouglas
Marketing Technology
The Hunter Douglas Mobile Selling App (MSA)
Best Marketing Technology
HunterDouglas
Point of Sale Display (includes sampling)
SmartPrivacy Blinds Sample Bag
Best Point of Sale Display
Norman Window Fashions
The Finial Company™ Modern Metal Table Top Display
Best Point of Sale Display
Honorable Mention
The Finial Company
Trade Advertising Campaign
Alta Window Fashions Trade Ad Campaign
Best Trade Advertising Campaign
Alta Window Fashions
Training Program
Shutter Workshop
Best Training Program
HunterDouglas
About the WCMA Product Awards: For the past 28 years, the WCMA Product Awards Program has bestowed more almost 700 awards to window covering industry products that raise the bar on style and design innovations. For more information about the WCMA Product Awards, contact WCMA at 212.297.2108. View all nominated products online: www.wcmanet.org.
About the Window Covering Manufacturers Association: Originally organized in the 1950s as the Venetian Blind Council, the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) represents the interests of the window covering industry manufacturers, fabricators and assemblers. WCMA has three membership categories: Manufacturers, Fabricators and Associates. The http://aic.org.uk/cialis-generic/ organization’s annual Product Awards recognize significant product advancements in the window covering industry and highlights the services and products it provides. For more information, visit www.wcmanet.org.
