Window Covering Products Singled Out for Style, Design and Technical Innovation

The 2014 WCMA Product Awards, recognizing the best of the window covering industry’s products and merchandising programs, were selected in New York City on June 19, 2014 when industry judges convened to review all new product and merchandising entries.

Standout products were recognized for their technical achievements and breakout designs across categories that include cellular shades; drapery hardware; “green” products; motorization; Roman, roller, and pleated shades; shadings and sheers; shutters; specialty applications; verticals and panel tracks and wood and faux wood blinds. The WCMA Product Awards panel of judges also considered the year’s top merchandising programs for acknowledgments.

The 2014 WCMA Product Awards recognized nominated products from: Comfortex Window Fashions; Hunter Douglas; Insolroll Window Shading Systems, Inc.; LEADER BLINDS; Maxxmar Window Fashions; Newell Rubbermaid – Levolor; Norman Window Fashions; Ona Drapery

Hardware Co., Inc.; Orion Ornamental Iron, Inc.; QMotion Advanced Shading Systems; Safe-TShade, llc and Somfy Systems, Inc.

WCMA’s judges chose 2014 Heritance® Hardwood Shutters Collection from Hunter Douglas as the 2014 WCMA Product of the Year. The panel of judges deemed the 2014 Heritance collection as an energizer for the manufacturer’s existing line of shutters and for the shutters category in general – with refreshed colors and updated frame designs that complement window trim. The Handcrafted Series features on-trend techniques that are found in high-end wood floors, cabinetry and furniture.

Design community experts serving as the 2014 judges were Courtney Cachet, celebrity designer recognized from frequent appearances on The Today Show, HSN, Open House NY and VH1; Bruce Heyman, president of Fabricland and Metropolitan Window Fashions and past president of both the Window Coverings Association of America and the National Independent Textile Retail Organization; Susan Hirsh, décor consultant and industry expert who served as North

American Manager for decorative programs, Benjamin Moore & Co and is National Chair of the International Furnishing and Design Foundation’s Educational Foundation; and Kimberly Scappaticci, design director, Wallauer's Design Center, a Westchester County, NY-based chain of home decorating stores.

“The WCMA Product Awards judges seek out products with technical innovations and a design impact that will register with end-users”, said Ralph Vasami, executive director of WCMA. “Delivering technical improvements and new decorating and style choices to consumers requires that manufacturers’ engineering and design teams continuously raise the bar – and the 2014 nominations were no exception.”

2014 WCMA Product Awards
Product Awards Winner

“Green” Products: Energy Efficiency

Best New Style Concept

T Screen with KOOLBLACK™ Technology

Mermet USA

All entries are also featured on the WCMA Web site throughout the year, www.wcmanet.org.