New York, NY (April 25, 2012) – The 2012 WCMA Product Awards, the window coverings industry’s annual competition calling out the year’s standout products and merchandising programs, were presented at a reception on April 25 during VISION 12 (IWCE - International Window Coverings Expo) at McCormick Place. Products and marketing programs were honored for their technical innovations and enhancements, style concepts and overall designs.The presentation culminated with the presentation of the 2012 WCMA Product of the Year, awarded to Silhouette® window shadings with the LiteRise® lifting system from Hunter Douglas Inc. The winning window covering design lived up to its promise to maintain light control while providing a clean, uncluttered.
WCMA’s panel of design community experts reviewed manufacturers’ submissions across an array of product categories, including: cellular shades; drapery hardware; “green” products; motorization; Roman, roller, and pleated shades; shadings and sheers; shutters; specialty and miscellaneous products and applications; and vertical and panel tracks. Merchandising and marketing category awards were also honored with Hunter Douglas Inc. accepting a nod from the judges for the ongoing excellence of their merchandising teams for programs directed at consumers and the industry.
“WCMA applauds each of this year’s engineering and design teams for their technical and style achievements.” said Ralph Vasami, executive director of WCMA. Entries singled out for the 2012 WCMA Product Awards include: Comfortex Window Fashions; Golden Champion Industrial Ltd; Hartmann&Forbes; HomeRun Holdings Inc.; Hunter Douglas Inc.; Leader Blinds; Levolor Kirsch; Lutron Electronics; Maxxmar Window Fashions; Norman Window Fashions; Ona Drapery Hardware Co., Inc.; Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc; Pleat Pin Drapes; RollEase; Somfy Systems, Inc. and Springs Window Fashions.
The Window Covering Manufacturers Association‘s highly-regarded annual awards program is capped off by a champagne reception for all participating companies during Vision 12 (IWCE), the industry’s national trade show and educational conference. Grace McNamara, Inc., trade show organizer, co-sponsored the event. All of
the 2012 entries and winners are featured on the WCMA Web site www.wcmanet.org. The list of award winners is attached.
The 2012 judges were Susan Hirsh, North American Manager for decorative programs, Benjamin Moore & Co; Susan Huckvale Arann, Interior designer and President, American & International Designs, Inc.; Colette Scanlon Ortiz, Design Editor, This Old House; andKimberly Scappaticci, Design Director, Wallauer's Design Center.
Note to Editor: Product information and images are available upon request. Please contact: 212.297.2108.
WINDOW COVERING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
2012 WCMA PRODUCT AWARDS WINNERS
PRODUCT AWARDS
Cellular shades
Best New Style Concept
Miro Diamond Cellular Shade
Golden Champion Industrial Ltd
Best Enhancement
Enhancements to Duette® and Applause® honeycomb shades
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention
Best New Technical Innovation
Serena Remote Controlled Shades
Lutron Electronics
Best New Technical Innovation
Most Innovative Overall Concept
SmartFit system
Norman Window Fashions
Drapery hardware
Honorable Mention
Best New Style Concept
One Way Draw System for Wood Poles
Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc
Best New Style Concept
Design Art Inlay Design Rod with Inlay Design Finial
Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc
Honorable Mention
Best New Technical Innovation
Pleat Pin
Pleat Pin Drapes
Best New Technical Innovation
ONAVERSE Iron Cord Traverse Rod
Ona Drapery Hardware Co., Inc.
Most Innovative Overall Concept
3D Drapery Hardware
Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc
"Green" products - Energy efficiency
Best New Style Concept
Enhancements to Duette® Architella® honeycomb shade fabrics
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best New Technical Innovation
TaHomA®
Somfy Systems, Inc.
Most Innovative Overall Concept
TaHomA®
Somfy Systems, Inc.
"Green" products - Health and environmental safety
Most Innovative Overall Concept
Silhouette® window shadings with the LiteRise® lifting system
Hunter Douglas Inc.
"Green" products – Sustainability
Honorable Mention
Best Use of Sustainable Materials
Duette® Architella® Batiste Bamboo opaque fabric
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Use of Sustainable Materials
Sussex Shutters featuring NormanTeak™
Norman Window Fashions
Best Use of Recycled Materials
Cotton fabric for Pirouette® window shadings
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Miscellaneous Products and Specialty Applications
Honorable Mention
Best New Technical Innovation
Continuous Cord-Loop Tension Device
Springs Window Fashions
Best New Technical Innovation
Silhouette® window shadings with the LiteRise® lifting system
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Most Innovative Overall Concept
Winjam
Norman Window Fashions
Motorization
Honorable Mention
Best New Technical Innovation
Enhancements to Duette® and Applause® PowerRise® 2.0 with Platinum™ Technology
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best New Technical Innovation
Qmotion Advanced Battery Powered Roller Shade
HomeRun Holdings Inc.
Roman, roller and pleated shades
Best Enhancement
2012 Vignette® Modern Roman Shades Collection
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best New Style Concept
Natural Rollershades
Hartmann&Forbes
Honorable Mention
Best New Technical Innovation
Centerpiece Roman Shades featuring AeroLite cordless system
Norman Window Fashions
Best New Technical Innovation
G400 Spring Assist
RollEase
Best New Roller Shade Hospitality Industry
Farmboy Fine Arts Collection for Hunter Douglas Hospitality
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Shadings and sheers
Best Enhancement
2012 Pirouette® window shadings Collection
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention
Best New Style Concept
Perfect SunSet
Maxxmar Window Fashions
Best New Style Concept
Opera Dual Shade
Maxxmar Window Fashions
Shutters
Best Enhancement
Honorable Mention
WoodShield™ Advance Finish
Norman Window Fashions
Best Enhancement
Enhancements to Palm Beach™ polysatin shutters
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Verticals and panel tracks
Best Style Concept
Levolor Vertical Blinds and Perceptions
Levolor Kirsch
Most Innovative Overall Concept
Provenance® Woven Wood Vertical Drapery
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Wood and faux wood blinds
Best New Style Concept
2012 EverWood® Collection of alternative wood blinds
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Technical innovation
Cordless One Touch S-Shape Blind
Leader Blinds
MERCHANDISING AWARDS
Best Consumer Advertising Campaign
Hunter Douglas The Art of Window Dressing™ :30 TV Commercial
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention Best Consumer Education
iCM Auto Email System and Promotional Emails
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Consumer Education
Hunter Douglas Facebook Page: facebook.com/HunterDouglas
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention Best Trade Education
Hunter Douglas Reference Guide Finder
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Trade Education
Premieres SM Spring 2012
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Trade Advertising Campaign
2011 Hunter Douglas Promotional Programs
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention Best New Marketing Technology
The Comfortex On Demand Sales Support Library
Comfortex Window Fashions
Honorable Mention Best New Marketing Technology
Levolor Smart Machine
Levolor Kirsch
Best Marketing Technology
"The Art of Window Dressing" iPad App
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention Best Sampling Program
2012 Pirouette® window shadings Sample Book
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Sampling Program
Designer Roller and Skyline® Gliding Window Panels 2011 Sample Book
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Honorable Mention Best Point of Sale Display
Designer Roller and Skyline® Gliding Window Panels Mini Point of Display Sign
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Best Point of Sale Display
Luminette® Privacy Sheers and Modern Draperies Hardware Sampling Kit
Hunter Douglas Inc.
Judges' Award
For excellence in enhancement, innovation and social media marketing of overall merchandising
to the end-user and to the industry.
Hunter Douglas Inc.
2012 WCMA Product of the Year
Silhouette® window shadings with the LiteRise® lifting system
Hunter Douglas Inc.
About the WCMA Product Awards For the past 21 years, the WCMA Product Awards Program has bestowed over 500 awards. For more information about WCMA and its Product Awards Program, contact Ralph Vasami at 212.297.2125.
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 organization’s annual Product Innovation Awards recognize significant product advancements in the window covering industry and help to highlight the important services and products it provides. For more information, visit www.wcmanet.org.
##
