DALLAS–Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team (ART) held their 23rd annual ARTS Awards gala event on Saturday evening, which was attended by approximately 650 people. Held for the first time at the Hilton Anatole hotel, the ceremony recognized ARTS Awards recipients in 26 different categories, as well as honored Allan Palecek, founder, CEO and lead designer of Palecek, who received the Academy of Achievement Award for his significant impact on the home décor and decorative accessories industry.
Award presenters included Donna Moss, interior designer, owner of That’s Haute and star of HGTV’s “Donna Decorates Dallas;” Dann Foley, lifestyle expert and principal of Dann Inc.; Steve Crowder, president and CEO of GuildMaster and ART president; Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center; Cindy Morris, chief operating officer, Dallas Market Center; and Sharon Davis, executive director, ART. This year’s event also included sparkly decorative elements courtesy of Swarovski Elements, including a custom curtain lining the stage and two crystal-embellished podiums.
The 2012 ARTS awards winners are:
For manufacturers, The Phillips Collection won in the accent furniture category; Jaipur Rugs in area rugs; Creative Co-op in decorative accessories; Pom Pom at Home in home textiles; Corbett Lighting in lighting fixtures, Loloi Rugs in outdoor living, NDI in permanent floral, Currey & Co. in portable lamps, Beatriz Ball Collection in tabletop and Leftbank Art in wall decor. For green manufacturer, there was a tie between GuildMaster and tag.
For sales representatives: Jennifer Jackson of jdouglas won in the East/Atlantic category, Derrick Ricketts of Codarus in the Midwest/Southwest, Michelle Korthuis of Elements in Decor for the West; and Heather Steeley of Taylors on Ten for national/key accounts.
Randal Weeks of Aidan Gray Home won the product designer award.
For the retailer awards, in the home accent store category, The French Basket won for the East/Atlantic division, Mecox in the Midwest/Southwest division and Jak Home in the West division. In the lighting showroom category, Elements-Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings won in the East/Atlantic division, Southern Lights in the Midwest/Southwest division and Valley Light Gallery in the West division. In the furniture store category, Seaside Home won. Spectro Lighting Group of the Dominican Republic won in the international retailer category and The Mercantile won as the rising star retailer.