It is with great pleasure to share some exciting news from our recent trip to the 2022 Casual Market Chicago. Elegant Outdoor Living received this year’s Apollo Award presented by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA). Being a part of the ICFA, this award is the highest achievement for any retailer, especially after EOL has been nominated 11 times. This award is personal and a huge win for our family business as two of the original founders of the casual furniture industry and association, Tom and Debbie Stegman (pictured above).
About the Apollo Award from ICFA
Each year, outdoor furniture manufacturers and retailers vote for the best in class outside their business. Consideration for this award is based upon innovative merchandising and marketing, sales management, annual growth, sales training program, credit history, and achievement of goals.
The Apollo Award is the highest honor a casual furniture retailer can receive in the United States, and it is something that Elegant Outdoor Living co-founders Tom and Debbie Stegman have been striving for after 11 nominations over the past two decades. Finally, being recognized as the country’s No. 1 multi-store outdoor furniture retailer is an incredible feeling, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication at Elegant Outdoor Living. We are proud to bring stylish, high-quality outdoor furniture and accessories to our customers at affordable prices, and we will continue to do our best to provide them with the best possible shopping experience. Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way; we could not have done it without you!
“This is the last year this show is in Chicago before it moves to Atlanta. Winning the Apollo Award is a big deal because this is an end to an era. It really means a lot to us all,” said Stephanie Stegman, Buyer at Elegant Outdoor Living.
We want to thank everyone who nominated us and our customers who allow us to serve them with outdoor furniture from the top brands in the market.
Award-Winning Brands We Carry in Our Showrooms
Designing exquisite furniture is not an easy task. You have to consider the target audience, what they like, and how you can make your design stand out from others for success! Another award presented at the Casual Industry Gala Celebration was the Design Excellence competition, which recognizes products in 10 categories. Each product is considered based on design, imaginative use of materials, innovation, color, construction, and marketability. To make things even more interesting, designs must have been introduced onto the marketplace within last year’s time frame to be eligible.
We are proud to carry the following six brands in our Southwest Florida showrooms that won the Design Excellence Awards.
- Alfresco Home won in the Lounge Seating without Cushion category for the Luc Lounge, designed by Sako Wijma.
- Castelle Furniture won in the Dining Bar Chair category for the Berkley Sling, designed by Curtis Bulleman.
- Jensen Outdoor won in the Lounge Seating with Cushion category for the Tempo-All Weather Loung Chair, designed by Edi and Paolo Ciani.
- Outdura, won in the Fabric category for the Correlation of Sherwood Taupe and Bark Taupe, designed by Mariia Elizrova.
- Ratana won in the Complementary Casual Products/Furnishings category for the Roca Stool, designed by the Ratana design group.
- TUUCI won the Complementary Casual Products/Accents category for the Ocean Master Mega Max, designed by Dougan Clarke.
Shop for Elegant Outdoor Furniture in Bonita Springs, Naples, and Sarasota
Our design sales consultants can help you figure out the best plan for your outdoor space. All three of our showrooms in Southwest Florida have fabric books, frame swatches, and manufacturer catalogs, so we can easily guide our customers through their options. Contact our team if you have questions or stop in one of our locations to design your fun and casual outdoor living area.
