by Brianna Crandall — July 21, 2014—Facilities managers who are in the market for window coverings will want to peruse some of the innovative products recently honored by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA). The 2014 WCMA Product Awards, recognizing the best of the window covering industry’s products and merchandising programs, were selected in New York City in June.
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 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-T-Shade, 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.
For the 19th consecutive year, Hunter Douglas won more awards than any other company in the WCMA Product Awards. This year the window fashions leader once again outdid itself, capturing 30 honors out of the 56 conferred and earning the coveted Product of the Year for the 14th year. In addition, Hunter Douglas swept three product categories: “Green Products: Energy Efficiency,” “Green Products: Sustainability,” and “Verticals and Panel Tracks,” and won 10 out of 12 Merchandising Awards.
