Edited By Kris Kyes

WoodPellets.com Extends a Helping Hand to Retailers
WoodPellets.com (formerly PelletSales.com), the nation’s leading independent distributor and direct-to-consumer retailer of wood-pellet heating fuel, has added new features to its existing affiliate-dealer program that help hearth retailers increase their sales of pellet-heating systems. Consisting of educational tools, advertising, public relations, and lobbying, the comprehensive program is designed to help grow retailers’ businesses and strengthen the biomass-fuel industry.

Jon Strimling, president of WoodPellets.com (Goffstown, New Hampshire), says, “Many people still view our company as just an online retailer of wood pellets, but are unaware of the strong relationship we have with heating-appliance retailers in our network.” WoodPellets.com currently works with hundreds of retailers across the country that sell wood-pellet heating systems.

According to Strimling, WoodPellets.com helps retailers in three ways: first, by serving as a sales channel to create new customers for wood-pellet heating systems; second, by ensuring customer satisfaction by providing high-quality, low-priced fuel in an efficient manner; and third, by promoting word-of-mouth advertising, encouraging existing customers to refer friends and family members to retailers.

Much of WoodPellets.com’s outreach is conducted via Internet. Over a million visitors access WoodPellets.com each year, and last month, more than 8,000 visitors to the site searched for retailers that sell wood-pellet heating systems. To locate one of these businesses on the Web page, all one has to do is type in a ZIP code after clicking on the “Find a Dealer” icon. Traffic to the company’s Web site has grown substantially in the past year due to a comprehensive advertising campaign that includes billboards, newspaper and radio advertising, and public-relations events.

WoodPellets.com also works directly with retailers in developing joint promotional efforts. For instance, it recently installed kiosks with computer hookups in some of its affiliate stores, allowing customers to access WoodPellets.com’s interactive Web site. This not only lets customers learn what their savings would be if they converted to pellet fuel, but also provides them with detailed information about pellet-fuel technology.

“These in-store computers are powerful sales tools, since they allow customers to plug in data to find out how much they can personally save by making the switch to a pellet stove,” Strimling says. WoodPellets.com also recently launched an online chat feature on its Web site, letting customers chat live with pellet experts.

To assist retailers in their sales efforts, WoodPellets.com provides a wide range of printed material (such as brochures, posters, and banners), as well as hangtags that can be affixed to pellet stoves to distinguish them from nonpellet stoves. WoodPellets.com also shares some of the marketing expenses incurred by its dealers, such as those of postcard mailings in the summer that remind customers to service their stoves and stock up on wood pellets.

WoodPellets.com’s public-relations agency, Racepoint Group (Boston, Massachusetts), currently is working with WoodPellets.com’s affiliate retailers to help them generate press coverage in their communities. As the public continues to seek information about the environment, the press is attracted to stories about eco-friendly products, such as wood-pellet–burning heating systems. Company executives have also participated in lobbying efforts to promote the industry. In November 2009, Strimling, on behalf of the Biomass Thermal Energy Council, briefed members of Congress on the benefits of biomass heating solutions.

To ensure customer satisfaction, WoodPellets.com offers test data on its wood pellets. The company independently tests all the products that it sells, checking them regularly by selecting random samples from its production stream. It tests for several variables, including ash content, heating value, pellet fines content, durability, diameter, length, ash-fusion temperature, and chloride levels. WoodPellets.com is currently the only vendor in the United States to test its wood pellets so rigidly and to report the results publicly.

The company’s comprehensive outreach program has contributed to its impressive growth during the past two years. WoodPellets.com experienced more than fivefold revenue growth in 2008, and it is currently experiencing a fourfold increase in sales.
Although the weak economy and a drop in oil prices have caused a slight decrease in its growth in 2009, Strimling is optimistic about the future. “People who have pellet heating systems are continuing to use them, and they need a source for wood pellets,” he says. “In addition, increasing numbers of people are buying these systems because they want to use a fuel that is cost effective and good for the environment.”

Jamie Campfield Bates and her husband, James Edward Bates, of Daddy's BBQ

Daddy’s BBQ Wins Two Hot Pepper Awards
Gulfport, Mississippi-based Daddy’s BBQ is pleased to announce that its barbecue sauce and rub received two Hot Pepper Awards, which were distributed during an annual barbecue competition in New York, New York. Daddy’s BBQ’s Sweet Love original rub received first place in the dry-rub category, and its Sweet and Spicy BBQ sauce received second place in the barbecue-sauce category.

Daddy’s BBQ’s sauces and rubs are made from an old family recipe that uses a unique blend of spices to give just the right bite. These products are available in specialty retail stores around the country. For more information about adding these unique sauces and rubs to your barbecue offerings, visit www.daddysbbqsauce.com or call (888) 9-DADDYS.

Three Birds Casual’s Ciera line of all-weather wicker

Three Birds Casual Celebrates 10 Years of Business
Three Birds Casual (Columbia City, Indiana) is celebrating 10 years of business in the casual-furniture industry. Three Birds Casual specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of premium-grade casual-living products. The company was founded in the summer of 1999 by Tad Varga, Victor Lewis, and Kim (Lewis) Varga.

During the past 10 years, Three Birds Casual has grown from being a small, regional teak-furniture supplier to become a well-known and respected brand name in the casual-furniture industry. Tad Varga, president, says, “We decided, early on, to focus on providing a product of very high quality at a price where both dealers and consumers find great value. More important, we go beyond our customers’ expectations of customer service and support to make sure that every detail is attended to; these simple (but very important) focus points have helped us to expand and flourish over the past 10 years.”

Three Birds Casual added the Ciera line of all-weather wicker to its teak product mix in 2008 to give the company the ability to appeal to a broader consumer market. In 2010, it is expanding the Ciera line to include dining armchairs and side chairs so that it can offer products that consumers can use in all design settings and configurations.
Three Birds Casual’s main office is in Northern Indiana, and its manufacturing office is in Indonesia. The company also has permanent showrooms at the Merchandise Mart (Chicago, Illinois) and AmericasMart (Atlanta, Georgia).

Rod Wilcoxen

Rod Wilcoxen Named OW Lee’s Sales Representative of the Year
Rod Wilcoxen was recently named OW Lee’s Salesman of the Year for 2009. Wil­coxen has been selling OW Lee products since 1999, and he has successfully developed a strong OW Lee product market in Iowa, Nebraska, Kan­sas, Minnesota, Miss­ouri, and South Dakota. In addition, Rod manages contract sales for the same territory, as well as for Colorado. According to OW Lee executives, Wilcoxen is a dedicated and service-oriented pro­fessional with a can-do attitude.

Z-Flex Donates to Sheet-metal Workers’ Apprentice Program
Z-Flex recently helped a sheet-metal workers’ training program in the Chicago, Illinois, area by donating a number of the company’s highly sought-after Z-Flex gas liner finder slide-rule calculators and catalogs for the students to use.

Tim Donovan, a full-time instructor for the apprentices’ residential installation program, as well as for a residential retrofit technician program at Sheet Metal Workers Local 265 in Carol Stream, shares a common belief with Z-Flex in that “chimney liners are becoming more important than ever, especially with the sale of more and more high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, and I’m trying to incorporate more training here concerning them. This is a subject that needs more attention,” he says.

Donovan’s request was for Z-Flex to provide the students with the current Z-Flex chimney- and venting-solutions catalog and with slide charts for gas applications. He says, “The pictures I’ve seen in your catalog are terrific for visuals, and the slide chart should help the students determine proper sizing and application.”

Z-Flex jumped at the chance to support the local training and education of sheet-metal workers on the benefits of chimney liners, along with their associated safe installation. Local 265 offers a five-year apprenticeship program for both sheet-metal workers and service technicians, as well as continuing-education programs for approximately 2,400 journeyman members.

Lennox Hearth Products to Relocate Headquarters to Tennessee
Lennox Hearth Products recently announced plans to relocate its Orange, California-based hearth-products administrative and fireplace-related research/development operations to Nashville, Tennessee, and to consolidate both customer- and technical-service departments in Union City, Tennessee.

This relocation will reduce costs and increase operating efficiencies by positioning product development and research/development personnel closer to fireplace-manufacturing operations in Union City. Lennox Hearth Products manufactures and markets Lennox®, Superior®, and Security® brands of factory-built fireplaces, stoves, and other hearth products and accessories for residential new-construction and remodeling markets.

The consolidation will be a phased process, and its completion is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2010. Wendy Howells, vice president and general manager, Lennox Hearth Products, says that the company’s top priorities during the transition are “to minimize any disruption to our customers and to assist our affected employees in making the transition either to our Nashville or Union City locations or to other future opportunities.”

Quintessential Outdoor Living’s award-winning Q series wood-fired oven

Quintessential Outdoor Living Continues to Attract Attention
Quintessential Outdoor Living Company, a pioneer in the outdoor wood-fired cooking category, recently launched a new customer-focused Web site, www. indoors2OUT.com, designed by Darrell Williams of Cow Dog Design (Cincinnati, Ohio). The new Quint­essential site features a dealer-locator search by ZIP code, a complete dealer list, images and specifications for each oven model, recipes, industry news, frequently asked questions, and an e-news sign-up option, all designed with the customer’s needs in mind.

William Montgomery, vice president of Quint­essential ­Outdoor Living, says, “We are thrilled to launch this new site, which highlights the unique features and benefits of our wood-fired ovens while remaining very user friendly. Our tag line—Bringing the indoors out in style! ™—is really a way of life for us. Our goal is to enhance our customers’ outdoor-living experience by offering innovative, consumer-friendly products and outdoor-living concepts, and I believe our new site reflects that.”

In March 2009, Quintessential Outdoor Living won two industry awards for its Q series wood-fired ovens at the HPBExpo in Reno, Nevada. The Vesta Awards recognize and honor companies and products in the hearth and outdoor-living industries for innovative design and/or technology.

Often regarded as pizza ovens, Quintessential Outdoor Living’s Q series ovens are great for preparing a wide variety of foods, such as breads, meats, vegetables, and (of course) pizza. The cooking stone situated on the top shelf above the fire chamber and the open sides within the chamber allow the wood smoke to impart wonderful wood flavors, enhancing the culinary experience.

Quintessential Outdoor Living offers several different models of wood-fired oven to suit any space at a much lower cost than that of traditional built-in wood-fired ovens. While three of the Q series models can also be built in, every model is perfectly suited to standing alone, giving homeowners the flexibility to move the ovens around as needed or to take the ovens along if they relocate.  

Suncoast Expands Showroom Space at Merchandise Mart
Suncoast Furniture Inc. has signed a long-term lease for additional space at the Chicago Merchandise Mart through July 2017. Suncoast acquired the space vacated by Pride Family Brands when it moved in September 2009. According to Rick Baker, national sales manager, “We are excited to have the additional space needed to showcase our extensive product offerings. We simply outgrew our old space, which has served us well over the past 10 years.”

In 2006, Suncoast expanded its product offerings to include several collections available by direct container from China while developing new product from its facility in Fort Myers, Florida. “Our CEO and company president, Paul Varshney, has made a long-term commitment to our dedicated dealers and to the patio-furniture industry for years to come. It shows we are ready to meet the challenges ahead by being a strong, stable, and reliable company to do business with,” Baker says.

Suncoast, based in Fort Myers, has manufactured fine-quality aluminum furniture for the past 27 years. For more information about the Suncoast product line, visit www.suncoasfurniture.com or call (239) 267-8300.

Big Green Egg Names Georgia Distributor
Lou West, sales manager for Big Green Egg Company, has announced the appointment of Georgia Hearth Sales and Distribution LLC as the distributor of Big Green Egg products for the state of Georgia. “Our company was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, 35 years ago, and today, we have our international headquarters in Tucker,” West says, “so this is an especially important market for us. We are delighted to have a respected, successful distribution company join our team.”

Georgia Hearth and Sales Distribution, located in Macon, is owned by Mike and Kathy Garris. The company occupies 25,000 square feet of warehouse space in Macon, with room to expand to 50,000 square feet. In addition, it has a satellite 6,000–square-foot warehouse in Norcross, which can be expanded to 30,000 square feet as needed.

Morsø’s Web site includes an interactive online tool for consumers.

Morsø NA Web Site Now Includes Virtual Living Room
To make the stove-selection process easier, Scandinavian stove manufacturer Morsø has incorporated an interactive virtual living room into its Web site. This new, high-tech imagery tool allows homeowners, architects, and interior designers to see different stove styles, forms, and sizes in the actual living space.

“Holding up a brochure or magazine picture to see if it’s the right design is totally different from seeing the stove in your room,” Craig Shankster, Morsø US president, explains. “Morsø wants to make it easier for homeowners to narrow down their choices and really see how Morsø cast-iron stoves look in their homes.”

To access the virtual living room, go to www.morsona.com and click on the orange box labeled “See the Stove in Your Home” or visit www.morsoeusa.com/ The-stove-in-your-home-555.aspx. Then, follow these steps: First, upload your image. Take a digital picture of the area where you plan to install the new stove. For best results, set your camera on landscape mode. If you don’t have a digital image handy, Morsø has a choice of six inspirational room images.

Second, choose your favorite Morsø stove. Find your favorite stove and play with the size and location. Just click on a stove and drag it into your room image. To adjust size, click the scale box above the room and slide the bar to make the stove larger or smaller. Third, save or print the image. You can save the image on your computer or print it. If you want to change backgrounds, just click on the background box to be brought back to the six room choices provided.

Texas Tech students Lance Roberts and Andrew Taylor install a stove chimney for the Morsø 3142 in a sustainable cabin.

Students Install Morsø Stove in Sustainable Cabin
The College of Archi­tecture at Texas Tech University in Lubbock is hammering home the importance of sustainable design and construction through a green research project that teaches archi­tecture students how to use sustainable technology. The project involves the construction of a prefabricated self-sustaining cabin, complete with a Morsø wood stove, to be used as a laboratory to test and quantify sustainable architectural concepts, and to help future architects make key design decisions.

Urs Peter Flueckiger, associate professor, specifically asked Morsø to participate in this experiential learning opportunity because he had experienced Morsø’s energy-efficient performance firsthand—in his home, where a Morsø 8140 stove warms his family.

“Morsø donated a wood stove to this educational initiative because it teaches ‘thinking-green’ values and demonstrates natural energy alternatives to the next generation of architects,” Craig Shankster, Morsø US president, explains. “As with all our stoves, our 3142 model is made from high-grade cast iron using 98% recycled material—with energy-efficient combustion technology built-in—and it is perfectly sized and physically appropriate for the Texas Tech self-sustaining cabin.”

The project is supported by a grant from the Texas Tech University Research Enrichment Fund and through the generosity of Fred Koch of the Pease River Foundation, along with numerous product sponsors, including Danish stove manufacturer Morsø.

Southern Hearth & Patio Invited Into Morsø Dealer Network
Danish manufacturer Morsø has selected Chat­tanooga-based Southern Hearth & Patio to be a new Morsø Tennessee dealership. A full-service, National Fireplace Institute certified hearth and patio business operated by Clay Dennis, Southern Hearth & Patio will be retailing many Morsø cast-iron stove models, along with hearth pads and hearth accessories.

“Dennis is an industry leader; he’s all about education, energy efficiency, and customer service,” Craig Shankster, Morsø US president, explains. “Morsø dealers like Dennis understand that the green movement is motivating new wood-stove buyers seeking zone-heating options from companies with environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.”

Jeff Dorough, vice president, sales and marketing, Shademaker

Shademaker Announces Sales-representative Appointments
Jeff Dorough, vice president, sales and marketing, for Shademaker (Baldwin Park, California), proudly announces the following contract/hospitality sales-representative appointments for the U.S. and Canadian markets:

• Christine Wasmer, Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada;
• John Villani, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas;
• Dave Digirolamo & Associates, Northern California; Reno, Nevada; and Hawaii;
• Mike Biscan and Stephanie Fishel, metropolitan Chicago;
• Ron and Jo Edmondson, Colorado and special accounts;
• Tom Durden, Central states;
• John Berry, Canada;
• Roy Hinze, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia; and
• John Kenney & Associates, Florida and the Caribbean.

For over a decade, Shademaker has been the premier architectural shade collection for fine restaurants, resorts, and country clubs worldwide. For more information, call (626) 338.8810 or visit www.shade makercontract.com.

Shuford Mills’ new sample book, “The Encore Collection.”

Shuford Mills Introduces New Sample Book
Shuford Mills, manufacturer of 100% solution-dyed–acrylic Outdura, announces the debut of its new sample book, entitled “The Encore Collection.” The book features 160 styles, highlighting the best of the 2009 and 2010 lines. All styles are available in one-piece minimums directly through Shuford Mills or in cut yardage stocked by several distributors.

As Natalie Scott, vice president of sales and marketing for casual furniture, explains, “‘The Encore Collection’ is a timely follow-up to its predecessor, ‘The Premier Book.’ Carefully merchandised by color stories and pattern type, the sample book is a great sales tool for our manufacturers and retail customers,” she says. More information about “The Encore Collection” can be found on the Outdura Web site, www.outdura.com, or through the Outdura customer-service department, (866) OUTDURA.

Onward Manufacturing Company Opens Facility in Indiana
Onward Manufacturing Company (OMC), Canada’s leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality outdoor-grilling products, recently opened its newest manufacturing facility in Huntington, Indiana.

The newly renovated 400,000–square-foot production facility, a first for OMC in the United States, will produce a new line of high-performance gas grills under the brand names Broil King®, Huntington Forge™, and Broil-Mate™. The new facility, opened in response to the growing demand for high-quality gas grills made in North America, will employ approximately 300 people by 2011.

Ted Witzel, CEO of Onward Manufacturing Company, states, “We are very confident about the benefits provided by manufacturing in the United States. A highly skilled workforce, efficient production practices, and access to high-quality materials will enable us to provide our U.S. customers with a high-quality product while maintaining competitive prices. We are proud to support the North American workforce and look forward to working with the Huntington community.”

Apollo Award Winners Announced
The leading retailers in the casual-furnishings industry were honored at the 2009 Apollo Awards during the Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™. Winners were announced at the Apollo Awards banquet held at Union Station on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA). Regarded as the highest honor among casual-furniture retailers, the Apollo Awards celebrate the influential contributions made by industry icons. Winners are selected from hundreds of retailers throughout the country.

This year, the selection for the Apollo Awards began with ICFA members nominating other ICFA members. All current members were eligible for nomination. The top five finalists in the two categories (single store and multistore) were then selected by a vote of ICFA manufacturer/importer members. After the top five stores in each category had been selected, the ICFA Board of Directors then submitted its votes online to name an Apollo Award winner in each category.

In addition to the Apollo Awards, Richard Frinier and Art Thompson were each honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awards were presented by ICFA and are reserved for individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the casual-furnishings industry and to their communities. The Lillian B. Winchester Award was also announced at The Design Excellence Awards, considered the highest recognition for new-product design in the casual-furniture industry.

2009 APOLLO AWARDS WINNERS
Single-store Winner:
Williams All Seasons

Multistore Winner:
Fishel’s, Inc.

Best in Show Lillian B. Winchester Award:
Kettler, Sereno barrel back chair

In addition to the winners, single-store nominees included Authenteak Outdoor Furniture, Fruehauf’s Patio and Garden, Sunnyland Furniture, and The Pool & Patio Center; multistore nominees included Absco Fireplace & Patio, Carls Patio Inc., Greenhouse Mall, and Patios Plus.

Simpson Dura-Vent Announces Sales and Distribution Organizational Changes
Stephen P. Eberhard, president and CEO of Simpson Dura-Vent, has announced details of the company’s recent reorganization of its sales and distribution departments. According to Eberhard, two major reasons brought about these changes: the acquisition of ProTech Systems (PTS) in Albany, New York, and the cessation of manufacturing operations at the company’s Vicksburg, Mississippi, facility.

Eberhard says that the acquisition of PTS enables the company to offer a complete line of chimney and venting systems to the heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC); plumbing; and specialty hearth markets. The addition of the PTS FasNSeal® (special gas vent) for category II, III, and IV appliances rounds out the company’s offering to the plumbing/HVAC market. FasNSeal’s reputation as a high-quality, innovative product is firmly entrenched in this market.

In addition, Ventinox® (a welded-seam, stainless-steel, flexible liner) is a well-respected, established trade name in the masonry-chimney relining market, and it completes the company’s chimney-relining offering to the specialty hearth market.
The cessation of manufacturing operations in Vicks­burg enabled the company to consolidate manufacturing in Vacaville, California, and in Albany. According to Eberhard, this results in a leaner, more responsive manufacturing organization. The Vicksburg facility now serves as the company’s Midwest distribution center. Other distribution facilities are located in California, New York, and Minnesota. Vacaville and Albany now serve as headquarters for the company’s Eastern and Western divisions.

Each division manages its own manufacturing, engineering, and sales efforts. Martin Wawrla, the former owner of PTS, is the vice president and general manager of the Eastern division. James Molloy is the Eastern division’s director of sales. The Eastern division is responsible for sales and distribution in New England, the Mid-Atlantic States, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. This division is also responsible for the company’s commercial product sales.

In addition to being the president and CEO, Eberhard manages the Western division. Michael Bruce is the vice president of manufacturing, and Todd Lampey is the national sales manager.

Eberhard says that new sales and distribution organization puts sales management closer to the customer. The company’s distribution centers put inventory closer to the markets. Each division has its own customer-service and order-entry departments. Eberhard points out that these changes will result in unexcelled customer service. Marketing and finance are centralized at the home office in Vacaville.

Jason McClintock (left), senior director of product management, Coleman Spas, and Casey Loyd, president, LMS

Coleman Spas to Be Manufactured by LMS, Inc.,
Corporate Parent of Cal Spas LMS, Inc., the corporation that manages Cal Spas, OC Hot Tubs, Cal Flame, Cal Heat, Cal Designs, and Cal Patio, recently announced that it will begin manufacturing and distributing spas under the Coleman Spas brand, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Coleman history. Plans are already underway to launch an all-new 2010 lineup and an interactive Web site for Coleman Spas. The addition of the Coleman Spa line to the already strong collection of home-resort product brands from LMS secures the company’s position as the manufacturing leader in spas and hot tubs.

“Coleman is the number-one brand in outdoor recreation, with more than 85% brand awareness among all consumers,” according to Casey Loyd, LMS president. “Coleman is a brand that consumers know and trust. We are proud to carry on that legacy with an all-new Coleman Spas lineup that is quality built and backed by our national service network.”

Sam A. Solomon, Coleman president and CEO, says, “Coleman and LMS are a natural fit. We each make it easy and fun for people to enjoy each other in the great outdoors. LMS is a natural choice for Coleman Spas. It is the number-one brand in home-resort products and our preferred partner.”

Hart & Cooley Achieves GREENGUARD Certification
Hart & Cooley, Inc., an industry leader in flexible air-duct products, has achieved GREENGUARD Children & Schools certification. Every flexible duct product in the Hart & Cooley and AMERIFLEX lines, including its new Commercial series duct products, meets the stringent certification standards of the GREENGUARD Environ­mental Institute (GEI), improving indoor air quality and helping to create healthier indoor environments.

“Our homes, schools, and office buildings are filled with products and materials that emit thousands of different pollutants into the air we breathe, posing numerous health risks to children and their developing systems,” Marilyn Black, Ph.D., founder of GEI, explains. “By certifying its air-duct products to the GREENGUARD Children & Schools standard, Hart & Cooley, Inc., is actively working to protect children and the air they breathe from hazardous chemicals and pollutants.”

Hart & Cooley’s GREENGUARD Children & Schools certified products undergo continuous testing for more than 10,000 different chemicals and meet rigorous health-based criteria for volatile organic compounds (including phthalates and formaldehyde). This certification provides consumers with certified low-emitting products that have passed rigorous and frequent testing requirements, helping to reduce environmental pollutants in indoor environments.

Hart & Cooley joins more than 200 participating manufacturers in the GREENGUARD certification program. For a complete listing of all GREENGUARD certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.

International Pool/Spa/Patio Expo Announces Show Dates
Originally scheduled to take place two weeks later, the 2010 International Pool/Spa/ Patio Expo will now be held on November 3–5, 2010, in the Bayside Halls at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The educational conference will be held October 31 through November 5. Responding to feedback from exhibitors and attendees, show management shifted the show so that the dates would not overlap those of the 2010 Piscine show in Lyon, France.

The RAIS 60 fireplace insert
RAIS 60 Fireplace Insert Recognized by
Professional Builder & Professional Remodeler
The RAIS 60 fireplace insert has been recognized as one of 2009’s 100 best new products by Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines. Danish manufacturer RAIS, Inc., has spent 36 years improving and optimizing wood-burning technologies while developing elegantly designed, high-performance stoves and inserts.
The achievement by RAIS of inclusion in the Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler 100 best new products for 2009 follows successive Vesta Award wins. For more information on RAIS and dealer locations, visit www.rais.com or contact RAIS customer service at (888) 724-7789.

Ken Burrows of  Terra Furniture Retires
Ken Burrows, a partner and president of Terra for 37 years, has retired. Burrows has been instrumental in positioning Terra as a leader in the casual-furniture industry and has enjoyed working with industry friends during his tenure. Gary Stafford, who has been his partner for 37 years, will assume the overall management of the company.

In addition, Jerry Rosengren joins Terra as vice president of sales and marketing. Rosengren has 25 years of experience in the home-furnishings industry and most recently was a partner in Huntington Advertising and Public Relations.

Biomass Thermal Energy Policy Briefing a Success
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC), the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI), and the Alliance for Green Heat briefed a combined audience of Democratic and Republican congressional staffers about the benefits and viability of biomass thermal energy. The briefing, held November 6, 2009, addressed a standing-room–only audience of individuals interested in biomass energy, including representatives from 16 congressional offices, two Senate committees and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“The goal of the briefing was to help policymakers understand biomass heating as a cost-effective way to meet our goals of energy independence and addressing issues of climate change,” Jon Strimling, president of WoodPellets.com and BTEC Government Affairs Committee chair, explains. “We are excited about the level of interest we’re seeing in utilizing clean, renewable resources for heating, and we look forward to continued progress in Washington.”

As a source of heat, biomass thermal energy, made from wood and other renewable resources, accounts for a third of the nation’s energy use. Nonetheless, according to Bruce Lisle, president, Biofuel Technologies and PFI Government Affairs Committee chair, “Biomass for heating has traditionally been overlooked. Cellulosic ethanol and biomass used for electricity generation receive the lion’s share of government assistance, even though biomass thermal energy accounts for one-third of this country’s energy use—and is more efficient than either of the two. Biomass thermal energy is the most convenient and economical form of renewable energy that consumers can take advantage of immediately, and policy makers are taking notice.”
With the appropriate public policies and tax structures, biomass—a sustainable energy—can help displace meaningful amounts of imported fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.

John Ackerly, president, Alliance for Green Heat, says, “The federal tax-credit structure for residential renewable energy is backward. It heavily subsidizes solar and geothermal energy, which wealthy families can afford, but barely subsidizes biomass stoves, which low- and middle-income families can afford. Solar and biomass systems both reduce a family’s carbon footprint by three to four tons of carbon, but the government gives about $3,000 of tax credits per ton of carbon for a solar-energy system  and only $350 per ton for a biomass system.”

Recent federal legislation created a consumer tax credit of 30% (up to $1,500) toward the purchase and installation of a biomass-burning stove. For more information on the tax credit, go to www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/taxCredit.html.

Rich Sinistore Appointed Sales Manager for Hart & Cooley
Rich Sinistore has been appointed sales manager for Hart & Cooley Inc.’s Hearth and OEM businesses, which include the Selkirk and American Metal Products brands. Sinistore replaces Fred Pierce. Sinistore started with HeatFab over 16 years ago and has progressed steadily through a number of positions. Most recently, he was the sales manager for Hart & Cooley’s OEM division, where he developed strong relationships with premier boiler and tankless–water-heater manufacturers.

Big Woods Hearth Products Appoints Glenn Swenson
Glenn Swenson has joined the Big Woods Hearth Products team as chief technical advisor to engineering. Glenn will leverage his extensive industry experience and warm optimism to enhance the product-development process, ensuring optimal installation and service aspects of product design. 

Koverton Launches New Web Site
Koverton, a manufacturer of modern and contemporary casual furniture, has launched a new Web site, www.koverton.com. The Web site will be used as an information portal, showcasing Koverton’s nine collections. Koverton plans to add a business-to-business portal that will feature supply-chain–management functions, and there will be other additions, such as video, to enhance the consumer experience.

Before the launch, the company recently changed its name from Koverton Classics to Koverton. As Yan Wijaya, vice president of sales, explains, “We want to be known for our progressive thinking and fashion-forward designs. While classic things are timeless, we did not want to be tied to a specific time frame. With hard work and perseverance, Koverton is going to be synonymous with the future of this industry.”

Koverton is based in City of Industry, California, and brings a fresh perspective to the world of casual furniture through innovative designs and concepts. Working with seasoned and up-and-coming design talents, Koverton manufactures products in cast and tubular aluminum, synthetic wicker, and stainless steel for interior and exterior applications for retailers, designers, and the hospitality industry.

Lloyd/Flanders Introduces Coastal Living Collections
Lloyd/Flanders®, manufacturer of the original all-weather wicker, and Coastal Living, a national magazine that celebrates life along the coast, announce the introduction of the Coastal Living collection of casual furniture for all outdoor environments. Lloyd/Flanders will feature these new product lines at the Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ in September 2010.

Lou Rosebrock, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Lloyd/Flanders, says, “The lifestyle presented in Coastal Living magazine embodies the dreams and aspirations of all Americans. In today’s frenetic world, we want to kick our shoes off, slip our feet in the water, and experience the tranquility of life along the coast. Our new Coastal Living collections will enhance the outdoor-living experience with furniture for all outdoor environments.”

As the originator of all-weather wicker, Lloyd/Flanders has been a leader in the casual-furniture industry for over 25 years. Headquartered in Menominee, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the company was acquired in 1983 by industry veteran Don Flanders as the Lloyd Manufacturing Company. At that time, Lloyd manufactured a long-running line of outdoor patio furniture using its proprietary Lloyd Loom® wicker on steel framing.

Don Flanders created a new company, Lloyd/Flanders, and soon after, he introduced the Heirloom collection, the industry’s first all-weather wicker. Lloyd/Flanders continues to carry on the tradition with a comprehensive line of all-weather wicker that remains the only wicker completely manufactured in the United States.

Dormont Manufactures the Company’s 100-millionth Gas Connector
On September 15, 2009, 180 employees at Dor­mont Manufacturing celebrated the manufacture of the company’s 100-millionth gas connector. Dormont, based in Export, Pennsylvania, has more than 35 years of experience manufacturing high-quality, stainless-steel gas connectors for the residential, commercial, and food-service industries.

Dormont was the first to introduce the Supr-Safe™ stainless-steel gas connector for the domestic residential marketplace. Dormont is also the inventor of the Snap-Fast™ one-handed quick-disconnect coupling and the blue hose for the commercial and food-service industries. Today, Dormont, a wholly owned subsidiary of Watts Water Technologies, North Andover, Massachusetts (NYSE: WTS), has the broadest family of gas connectors, installation kits, and accessory products in the industry.
Employees of Dormont Manufacturing celebrate the manufacture of the company’s 100-millionth gas connector.

PHPR November/December 2009

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