Chalkboard China Attends the 23rd Annual ARTS Awards

What an event, what an evening! What an honor for Chalkboard China to be a finalist for Tabletop Manufacturer of the Year at the 23rd Annual ARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards, presented each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, is the premier awards program for the decorative accessory industry and recognizes excellence from retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and designers.

I can not tell you what an honor it was for myself and our company to be recognized, we have a ton of people to thank for helping Chalkboard China get to where it is today and those that will continue to help us keep up with the adventure. I first want to thank God for His amazing ways and His guidance in my life. He continue to open really cool doors for Chalkboard China and I give Him all the glory for all the talents He has given all of us. As for everyone that was in the room that night at the ARTS Awards, I was honored to be amongst you. As I listened to your acceptance speeches I began to feel like part of the family. By hearing your stories of 25 years of hard work and talks of ups and downs, you inspired me.

Allan Palecek was honored with the Academy of Achievement Award for his significant impact on the home décor and decorative accessories industry and I appreciated his comments about “Texas business women” and enjoyed hearing his words of wisdom about the industry and tales of his success. Cheers to you, Allan Palecek.

I want to thank the Dallas Market Center for everything you have done and all we will do together. Chalkboard China was born on the last row, back corner of the F!NDS temporaries just 3 1/2 years ago, proving there is not a bad piece of real estate to be found in the building. We could not be in business today without our retail partners nationwide and our showroom partners nationwide.

Thank you to John Walker for being one of the first to discover us on day one of our launch and to embrace us and represent us.

ARTS team and judges, we can not thank you enough for this honor and for taking the time to find out that we are passionate about giving everyone an opportunity to express from their hearts, from personalizing wine glasses and entertaining pieces, to a special message through art, all in chalk.

I want to thank my team, you know who you are, thank you all for going above and beyond for me and for Chalkboard China. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to the blog world and media as well as all of our fans and followers – thank you for loving to get creative with chalk.

Lastly, but most dear to my heart, my wonderful family. My husband, Ben, who is my secret weapon. He is the real reason Chalkboard China is where it is today. He has touched and perfected every ounce of this business. His ad agency, Agency Entourage has been amazing. They have built our entire following with their expertise in strategy and all things digital and social. Thank you to my sweet babies, Austin and Addison, who, at 3 and 2, can say “chalk-board chi-na” very clearly. I was 8 months pregnant with Austin when I launched the line, so we have all been in this together from day one.

Also, thank you to my parents for being an example of Godly business people and for passing on their entrepreneurial spirit that I can not ignore. I am thankful for my mother and grandmothers for passing on to me the heart for southern hospitality and an obsession for all things tabletop! My father and grandfathers for passing on their passion for business, manufacturing and marketing.

Chalkboard China has so many more people to thank! Follow us on Twitter @chalkboardchina as we continue to thank you for all you have done so far. We love you all. Cheers to being the Most Happening Hostess on Your Block and the Most Gabbed about Gift Giver!

Congrats to all of the 23rd ARTS Awards winners:

Manufacturers

Accent Furniture
Phillips Collection, High Point, N.C.

Area Rugs
Jaipur Rugs, Norcross, Ga.

Decorative Accessories
Creative Co-Op, Memphis, Tenn.

Home Textiles
Pom Pom at Home,Hollywood, Calif.

Lighting Fixtures
Corbett Lighting, City of Industry, Calif.

Outdoor Living
Loloi Rugs, Dallas

Permanent Floral
NDI, Brewton, Ala.

Portable Lamps
Currey & Company, Atlanta

Tabletop
Beatriz Ball Collection, Harvey, La.

Wall Décor
Leftbank Art, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Green Manufacturer
Guildmaster, Springfield, Mo.
Tag Chicago

Sales Representative

East/Atlantic
Jennifer Jackson, J Douglas

Midwest/Southwest
Derrick Ricketts, Codarus

West
Michelle Korthuis, Elements in Décor

National/Key Accounts
Heather Steeley, Taylors on Ten

Product Designer
Randal Weeks, Aidan Gray Home

Retailers

International Retailer
Spectro Lighting Group, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Rising Star Retailer
The Mercantile, Atlanta

Furniture Store
Seaside Home, Coronado, Calif.

Home Accent Store

East/Atlantic
The French Basket, Florence, Ala.

Midwest/Southwest
MECOX, Dallas

West
Jak Home, San Francisco

Lighting Showroom

East/Atlantic
Elements-Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings, Carle Place, N.Y.

Midwest/Southwest
Southern Lights, Burnsville, Minn.

West
Valley Light Gallery, Scottsdale, Ariz.

-Candace Jean