Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance Announce Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and the Retailer of the Year Awards

Furniture World News Desk on 2/11/2018

The Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance recently announced the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Retailer of the Year Award. This year the Retailer of the Year Award will go to a recipient from Eastern and Western Canada.

The awards gala will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018. This is the day before the opening of the Canadian Furniture Show which runs from Friday, May 25th to Sunday, May 27th.

The Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance (CHFA) will honour Rick Ripoli, President, Dennis Ripoli, Vice President, Sales and Marketing and Derrick Barichello, Vice President of Production for Stylus Made To Order Sofas with the 2018 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. The CHFA established the award to recognize those individuals who over their career have made exemplary and sustained contributions to the Canadian home furnishings industry and their communities.

Stylus Sofas had its beginnings in 1977 under the name of Atlantic Furniture. It was started by Philip Ripoli, Eugene Barichello and Nino Barichello. A short while later Rick Ripoli the oldest son of Philip joined the company. In 1987, Dennis Ripoli, Philips youngest son began working full-time with the business and in 1991 Derek Barichello, Nino's son decided to join the family business. Rick, Dennis and Derek changed the name of the company in 1992 to Stylus Made To Order Sofas.

Today with all the original owners retired Rick, Dennis and Derek operate and manage Stylus. They take pride in running the family business. Under their leadership the company supplies product around the world to both the residential and hospitality industries. Stylus operates two locations in greater Vancouver with showrooms located in Vancouver and Las Vegas. The company employs 200 people.

Rick, Dennis and Derek are involved with a number of charities whether its raising funds to build a new school, working at a homeless shelter, loading trucks at the local food bank or coaching youth sports teams. They are also involved in raising funds for a local Cancer charity.

The RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD is dedicated to recognizing exemplary models of excellence and community service by Canadian furniture businesses. The first recipient of the 2018 Retailer of the Year Award from Eastern Canada is Germain Lariviere.

The first Germain Lariviere store opened in 1957 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. The 1960's was dedicated to establishing the company's roots by ensuring an adequate supply of merchandise, obtaining capital financing and hiring the right employees to manage the marketing operations of the store. The next decade saw continued growth with new departments and the emergence of television and radio advertising. After a fire ravaged the store in 1990 Germain Lariviere with the support of his team decided to push forward to rebuild his store. With a total of 90 employees and redoubled efforts the company's growth increased exponetially.

With the arrival of the new millenium a second store was opened in Laval, Quebec followed by a third store in Brossard, Quebec which operates in 80,000 square feet. Today Germain Lariviere employees 200 individuals.

Germain Lariviere supports a number of charities including La Maison Victor Gadbois which offers palliative care to patients suffering from terminal cancer. Another favourite charity of Germain Lariviere is Fondation Aline Letendra, a foundation that gives a better quality of life to the residents of short and long-term care facilities.

The second recipient of the 2018 Retailer of the Year Award from Western Canada is City Furniture.

City Furniture opened its first store in Prince George, B.C. in 1976. The strong values, respect, trust and honestly of the Kandola family have allowed City Furniture to grow to 20 stores in British Columbia. The stores are all owner-operated by family which has been the key to their success.

The success of the City Furniture Group is attributed to three factors: friendship, family and community. Developing strong relationships and friendships with suppliers and staff has been critical to the success of the organization. Fostering these friendships has allowed for growth and expansion. A solid family base, the firm belief in family first and its morals and values was instrumental in the success of the business. It is the strength of the family that has carried the Kandola family and City Furniture into its 3rd generation.

In each city where individual store operators live and work ties are strong and they take pride in giving back to that community by supporting local charities and sports teams. The City Furniture Group sponsors an annual charity golf tournament which is now in it 20th year. The tournament is hosted by a different franchise city every year and raises funds for causes such as hospitals, food banks, Boys & Girls clubs and sports teams.

On behalf of the CHFA Board of Directors and the Events Committee I would like to congratulate Rick Ripoli, Dennis Ripoli and Derek Barichello recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations to the recipients of the Retailer of the Year Award Germain Lariviere for Eastern Canada and City Furniture for Western Canada. I look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Canadian Home Furnishings Awards. Please encourage your colleagues to attend this important industry event.

The awards gala will be held at the Universal Event Space which is located at 6250 Highway 7 & 27, Vaughan, Ontario. The facility is located on the north west corner of Highways 7 and 27. You can enter the parking lot from Highway 27. The gala will be held in Studios 1 and 2 which are on the main floor. A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. and the awards presentation at 8:00 p.m.

Within walking distance of the Universal Event Space there are two hotels: Element By Westin and Holiday Inn Express & Suites

You may now register on-line or contact Murray Vaughan directly at 905-678-4678 or murray@chfaweb.ca to purchase tickets to the Canadian Home Furnishings Awards and Golf Tournament. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Once you click on the SUBMIT button you will receive an order/acknowledgement via e-mail with the message that an e-mail confirmation will be sent once the order/registration has been processed.

More about the CHFA: The Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance is a duly-incorporated not-for-profit trade association representing manufacturers, importers and distributors of furniture, furnishings, fixtures, accessories and suppliers to the industry headquartered at the Toronto International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Originally founded during 1890 as the Furniture Manufacturers' Association, the furniture industry trade association has changed its identity while growing and maturing to keep abreast with the rapidly changing needs of the industry in the Province of Ontario.

For more information, visit www.chfawards.ca.