Jan 22

Jan 22 29th ARTS AWARDS

Dare we say that being Cubs fans has surely prepared us for this moment: We did NOT win the 29th Annual ARTS Award for Home Accents. To be perfectly honest, we'd be lying if we said we were not disappointed. However, at the risk of sounding cliche, it truly is an honor to be nominated. Out of hundreds of Home Accent manufacturers, you chose us as one of your favorites! And from that list, the Accessory Resource Team chose us as 1 of 5 finalists. To be recognized with the best of the best fills us with pride and determination to continue on this path of continued success.

For those of us that couldn't be there, let me tell you about this fabulous evening. The ARTs Award Gala can easily be described as the Academy Awards of the Home Furnishings Industry. This black tie event gave us the opportunity to get all dolled up and feel like celebrities.

HEC President, Brian Berk & his lovely wife Davi

left: Cheryl Bever, HEC Marketing right: Colleen Daly, HEC Vice President — left: Cheryl Bever, HEC Marketing
right: Colleen Daly, HEC Vice President

The Hilton Anatole Hotel hosted this event in a truly spectacular fashion. The cocktail hour was held in an atrium setting where we hobnobed with HGTV & interior designer celebrities like Libby Langdon, the press and more! Ladies looked elegant in formal gowns and the gents looked dashing in suits and ties. From here we moved to a hallway adorned with the names of finalists of each category. The grand ballroom was filled with tables for the guests. Large video screens flanked the stage with graphics of the ART logo and visuals that let you know you just walked into something special.

We wined and dined like celebrities, sitting with our friends at KAS Rugs, Rizzy Home & Libby Langdon herself. Then it was time for the awards themselves. Lovely & inspiring speeches were made by the winners (the full list of winners can be viewed here: ARTs Award Winners >).

Then came the Lifetime Achievement Award which was introduced by perhaps the best presentation ever! A kitschy and hilarious skit of the iconic CBK bags. To say you had to be there to experience this would be an understatement. You just HAD to. Randy Eller was much deserving of this award and the most memorable introduction ever.

ART Lifetime Achievement Award Introduction

The Home Accents category was announced and the video of nominees shown. Our hearts were racing. We worked so hard on this presentation to make sure everything was perfect. It all rested on this one moment.

Then.......our name was not read from the pretty white card in the presenter's hand.........

Now that the shock and disappointment has subsided, we have resolved to turn lemons into lemonade. We see this as an opportuinity to continue to evole and improve. We see the positive that HEC is considered as one of the leasers in the Home Furnishings Industry. This alone provides us with the incentive and drive to contiue to push the bar higher than we ever have.

Congratulations to all of the winners. You have proven that you stand out from the rest.

And..........