Currey & Company Highlights from Market

Lee Industries in Traditional Home Magazine

Lee Industries Expanding

Norman Coley, president of Lee Industries, announces the  $2.5 million investment to renovate a manufacturing facility and the hiring of 75 new employees in downtown Conover.

The announcement was made before a joint meeting of the Conover City Council and the Catawba County commissioners.

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Lee Industries Dining Chairs Sale **Offer Extended Thru September 2011**

Eric Brand Furniture Makes a Cameo In True Blood

As “True Blood” speeds along into Season 4, witches may have joined the cast of vampires, shape shifters, werewolves, fairies and cat people, but changes on the domestic front are what have really put design fans under a spell.

Allan H. Palecek to Receive ARTS Academy of Achievement Honor

DALLAS – July 13, 2011 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, today announced that Allan H. Palecek, founder/CEO and lead designer of PALECEK, will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 23rd annual ARTS Awards taking place on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

“Allan’s dedication to design, function and craftsmanship have led his brand to become one of the most recognized and well-respected in the industry,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “His contribution to the home décor industry is immeasurable and we are pleased to recognize his nearly 35 years of excellence with this honor.”

The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry. The Academy of Achievement honor is awarded each year to recognize significant contributors to the industry. The award will be presented at the ARTS Awards new location, the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

Allan H. Palecek was born in 1944 to Eddie and Laverne Palecek in Munden, Kan. Eddie and Laverne raised Allan and younger sister Patricia on the family’s wheat and cattle farm; instilling in them a deep respect for hard work. Allan’s education began in a one-room country school house and he went on to graduate from Emporia State University with a degree in Business. Allan Joined the Air Force after college and spent 6 years as a pilot.  After flying missions in Vietnam Allan was stationed near San Francisco.  The Bay Area has been home since then.  While waiting for an airline pilot job, the idea for PALECEK started.  Allan met his future wife Nancy in 1973. The following year, PALECEK was first introduced to the industry at the San Francisco Gift Show on the bottom shelf of another vendor’s display. Despite the placement of the product Allan had an incredibly successful show and set up shipping from his garage. He received his first shipment from Asia in 1974, one box of baskets that fit into the back of a borrowed pickup truck. After landing his first major customer, Bloomingdales in 1975, PALECEK moved to a 3,000-square-foot basement without windows, plumbing or an elevator.

After two years of traveling the globe looking for beautiful items, it became evident to Allan that there was a need for the design of new accessories focusing on function, beauty and style. Designing products soon became a passion for Allan. By 1979, he had designed extensive furniture, lamp and gift lines. Today, in-house custom lamp production, furniture finishing, custom upholstery and a hospitality division make PALECEK unique in the industry. Allan has designed collections of home furnishings that blend old world inspired designs, modern flair and a traditional aesthetic with a commitment to natural and sustainable fibers and handcrafted elegance.

Residing in the heart of San Francisco, Calif. for seven years, PALECEK headquarters then moved to Richmond, Calif., where the brand became one of the largest employers in the area; at one point occupying five separate warehouses. Today, PALECEK occupies a 220,000-square-foot facility, housing all departments as well as corporate offices. There are now seven PALECEK showrooms and numerous designer trade showrooms across the country.

Some of Allan’s numerous charitable contributions include: Habitat for Humanity, Hospice, Red Cross disaster relief, Build the Cure Dream House, Children in Crisis, Child Haven, Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief, New York Lower East Side Settlement, Neighborhood House, El Cerrito/Richmond Police and Firefighters, the Bay Area Rescue Mission, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, as well as local schools and women’s’ shelters.

Allan and wife Nancy are parents to son, Andrew, and daughter, Karey, both of which have spent time as PALECEK designers. Andrew Palecek currently serves as the company’s vice president and Karey now works for Ralph Lauren Home. Nancy acts as the general merchandise manager and director of marketing and merchandising for PALECEK.

The 23rd annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by Contract Lighting, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, HFN, Home Accents Today, Home Fashion & Hospitality, Home Lighting & Accessories, Overcoffee, Residential Lighting and the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
Reservations to attend the ARTS Awards will be available online in November 2011.
Make plans now to attend the next Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas: September 10-12, 2011. Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel®, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men’s, western, women’s and children’s apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 78 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com.

About the Accessories Resource Team
The Accessories Resource Team (ART) is the association representing accessory manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other industry individuals and companies interested in promoting the decorative home accessories industry. The association’s goal is to enhance the market position of decorative home accessories. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars and the ARTS Awards. The Accessories Resource Team website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.

About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program dedicated to the home decorative accessories industry. Twenty-six categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star, Green Design and Academy of Achievement. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Paragon, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.

Interior Design: Best Of Year 2011

Interior Design is now taking submission for your projects and products in the Best of Year 2011 competition. Entries are now submitted online!

Some FAQ’s for the submissions:

Products must have been manufactured and introduced to the market between September 2010 and August 2011.

Due to the comprehensive nature of this competition, we *do* accept products that have been awarded and/or are part of another competition.

There is no limit to the number of products entered to the competition.

Please note: product categories may be renamed, consolidated, or eliminated and products may be reassigned at the editors’ discretion.

Fees: $300/entryBest of Year Product Design finalists will be selected by interior designers and architects via an online vote in October.

Finalists will be posted at InteriorDesign.net/boyawards in November.

Winners will be chosen by editor in chief Cindy Allen and a jury of design leaders, and announced live December 1 during a celebration in New York City.

Winners will be featured in the December issue of Interior Design.

Key Dates

September 1: deadline for all submissions

October: designers will be invited to vote on their favorites during a two-week voting period in October. Exact dates are forthcoming.

November: Finalists will be posted at InteriorDesign.net/boyawardsDecember 1: Live Best of Year awards event

CR Currin Now Bejewels Witford San Francisco

Bling, bling!  Witford is excited to add the CR Currin “Jewel for the Home” collection to its family of transitional lines.  This is a Trade Only collection made in North Carolina.

CR Currin is a custom READ MORE…..>>>>

Palecek Collection at Witford Showroom

More than 35 years ago Palecek began designing distinctive rattan and wicker items with one goal in mind, to create unique pieces of art from natural fibers.

Palecek mixes an inter-national palette of naturalfibers into elegant furniture, lighting and accessories which has made Palecek a trendsetter and pioneer in the use of fast-growing hardwoods, seagrass and rattan weaves.

Their extensive line of award winning, handcrafted and eco-conscious designs are conceived in our domestic San Francisco Bay Area headquarters.

Palecek began as a basket company in the San Francisco Bay Area. The expertly woven baskets drew steady admirers, which grew into loyal customers, and an expanding product line. The entire family is now involved with all aspects of the business, with Andrew and Allan acting as the key product design team.

Witford Laguna Facebook Fan Page Announcement!

Witford Laguna would like to announce the launch of our facebook fan page!  Please take the time to join our fan page to receive up to date news on new arrivals, specials and event announcements.  It pays to be friends with WITFORD!