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Caroline Hipple to Receive Academy of Achievement Honor at the ARTS Awards

Norwalk Furniture president to accept industry’s highest accolade at 32nd awards event in Dallas this January.

9/27/2021
portrait of executive Caroline Hipple
Caroline Hipple, Norwalk Furniture

DALLAS – Caroline Hipple, the president of Norwalk Furniture and industry leader for more than three decades, will receive the Academy of Achievement honor at the 32nd ARTS Awards, taking place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas on Friday, January 7, 2022.

The ARTS Awards, presented annually during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, acknowledges preeminent manufacturers, retailers, interior designers, product designers, and sales representatives. The Academy of Achievement, the industry’s highest accolade, recognizes extraordinary contributions to the industry.

The 2022 edition of the ARTS Awards is a return to its usual format after a one-year change. Last year’s ARTS Awards was replaced by a one-time special event, the HEARTS Awards, held in partnership and solidarity with twelve leading industry organizations to honor companies and individuals that have shown outstanding leadership, empathy, and service during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Caroline is a worthy honoree not simply because of her decades of inspired leadership but because of her deeply positive impact on our industry and the lives of so many people,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “She has led with purpose, passion, and selflessness. We look forward to celebrating her achievements.”

“I don’t know anyone as driven, determined, caring, smart, and selfless as Caroline,” said Sharon Davis, executive director of ART. “She is such a rare combination of the best values of our industry and of humankind. It’s truly an honor to present the Academy of Achievement honor to someone so respected and beloved.”

Caroline Hipple has served as president of Norwalk Furniture since 2016. The privately held Norwalk, Ohio company manufactures upholstered furniture in its 440,000 square foot facility. In September 2021, the company announced a transition in ownership to an employee stock ownership plan funded entirely by the company.

Hipple, before joining Norwalk, worked closely with the company as a partner in HB2 Resources, a home furnishings consultancy based in Atlanta she co-founded with Dixon Bartlett. She also served as president of retailer Storehouse Furniture Co., a division of Rowe Furniture Co., which had 72 stores. She began her career and held multiple positions with retailer This End Up, beginning her career with the company as a sales associate and advancing to executive vice president of sales, marketing and merchandising. At its height, This End Up had 250 stores.

She has long been an active supporter of non-profits, professional organizations and educational causes. Hipple served in leadership positions with associations including WithIt (Women in the Home Furnishing Industry Today), AHFA (American Home Furnishings Association), the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame and the Bienenstock Home Furnishings library. In addition, she served for 7 years as a member of the board of governors at St. Catherine’s School and on the board for the Atlanta Girls School.

Her leadership has not gone unnoticed. Hipple has also been recognized with accolades including ARTS Awards, WithIt’s Legacy Award and Education Award, the Person to Watch and Inspirational Women in 2019 Awards from leading industry publications, and a HEARTS Award in 2021 for leadership during the pandemic.

The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected each year by the ARTS Awards Committee in order to recognize significant contributions to the industry. The committee serves one year and their duties include a review of the process and selecting the Academy of Achievement honoree. The 32nd ARTS Awards committee members are: Amir Loloi, Loloi; Brian Kleinberg, Elements, and Doug Self, j douglas.

Reservations for the ARTS Awards will open October 1, 2021. Tickets are $145 for ART members and $170 for non-members. Tables are also available.

Sponsors for the 32nd ARTS Awards include Aspire Design & Home; Business of Home; Designers Today; D Home; Furniture, Lighting & Décor; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Home Accents Today; Home Textiles Today; Interior Design Society, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For more information, visit the ARTS Awards. Keep up-to-date with Dallas Market Center events and happenings on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and use #ARTSAwards to stay connected.

To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center and Lightovation Apps. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the DMC Blog.

About the ARTS Awards

The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to the home industry. Up to 28 categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Interior Designer, Sales Representative, Green Award, and other specialty honors. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants, and other industry officials. Companies that have won an ARTS Award five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Current Hall of Fame members are: Arteriors Home, Beatriz Ball, Bella Casa, BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Elements at Home, Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, HW Home, Loloi Rugs, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Paragon, Phillips Collection, Robb & Stucky, Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, Seasonal Living, and Vietri.

About ART

ART is the creative home furnishings network representing manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other individuals and companies interested in promoting and enhancing the market position of the home furnishings industry. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars, the ART card, and the ARTS Awards. The ART website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.

About Dallas Market Center

Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in home décor, furniture, gifts, lighting and fashion. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the world’s largest western marketplace, opening in 2021; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. The marketplace is located in the strongest economic zone in the country. In addition, more than 80 percent of Dallas Market Center buyers report that they do not shop other market centers. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center and Lightovation Apps. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the Dallas Market Center blog.
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