This year’s Showroom of the Year Awards were announced last week by Dallas Market Center and Residential Lighting on the opening night of Lightovation: Dallas International Lighting Show.
A panel of judges included Lori Dennis, interior designer, author, co-founder of Design Campus and star of HGTV’s Real Designing Women; Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, author and founder/publisher of Retail Minded magazine; and Bob Phibbs, business strategist, author, speaker and owner of consulting firm The Retail Doctor. They named one Showroom of the Year in each of three cost categories (annual revenue under $2 million, revenue under $5 million, and $5 million and up) from a roster of up to 10 finalists in each category. All finalists were also eligible for specialty awards, including Outstanding Merchandising Display, Exceptional Community Involvement, and Social Media Star.
Progressive Lighting of Atlanta won Showroom of the Year in the revenue under $2 million category. Accent Lighting of Lake Oswego, Oregon, won in the under $5 million category; and Lightology of Chicago won for $5 million and over.
“Evolving technologies and new channels of distribution are challenging lighting retailers to be better than ever, and these stores have certainly risen to the occasion,” says Laura Van Zeyl, publisher and editorial director of Residential Lighting magazine. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to recognize them at the industry’s premier buying event in partnership with Dallas Market Center.”
Design Lighting of Surrey, British Columbia, won for Outstanding Merchandising Display; Park Lighting of Edmonton, Alberta, won for Exceptional Community Involvement (the company donates one day’s sales, four times yearly, to charity causes); and Montreal Lighting & Hardware won Social Media Star.
“We are pleased to recognize these world-class retailers,” says Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “The June edition of Lightovation is the perfect setting for this event, and we are pleased to spotlight well-deserving Showroom of the Year recipients.”
