This issue marks the 10th year of the Merchandising Excellence Awards, created to recognize those manufacturers who are setting a high bar with their visual merchandising. It takes a great deal of thought, time and creativity to put together a showroom that not only is pleasing to the eye, but is also organized to sell.

Only one of this year’s winners has won before, and that’s Gloster. This is its third win and adds to the many laurels it has won this year, among which were the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” award for its Voyager Rechargeable Lantern, and the new “Lilly” award for its Bay Lounge Chair.

The Merchandising Excellence Awards were sponsored by Hearth & Home, the International Casual Furnishings Association and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., and were given in four categories; winners are listed on the following pages.

JANUS et Cie Permanent Showroom Over 5,000 Sq. Ft. Designer: Vanderbyl Design ABOVE: L to R: Kelsey Tracy, Marketing Coordinator, Vornado; Roberta Jacobs, Sales Manager for JANUS et Cie; Wendy Mollett, Retailer Sales for JANUS et Cie.

Gloster Permanent Showroom Under 5,000 Sq. Ft. Designer: Henrik Pedersen ABOVE: L to R: Kelsey Tracy with Eric Parsons, President, Gloster Furniture.

VONDOM Temporary Exhibitor – Furniture Designers: Toni Esteve and Germán Rubio ABOVE: L to R: Kelsey Tracy with Toni Esteve, CEO, Vondom; Germán Rubio, Sales Associate, Vondom; Julia Chappell, Managing Director for the Design Center division, Vornado.

Surya Outdoor Temporary Exhibitor – Accessories Designers: Shane Evans and Erin Bishop ABOVE: Jim Levine, Vice President of Sales, Surya Outdoor.