Serving Colorado & Surrounding Areas
Open 7 Days a Week
Monday-Friday:10-6, Sat:10-6, Sun:11-5
6795 W 88th Ave, Westminster, Colorado
303-449-9551

Colorado's Largest Patio Furniture Store

Hearth & Home Article

February 26th, 2019 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on Hearth & Home Article

https://www.hearthandhome.com/news/2020-01-20/maydew_to_chair_2019_icfa_retail_council.html

http://www.icfanet.org/news/icfa-introduces-mary-fruehauf-retail-genius-award

November 18th, 2018 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on http://www.icfanet.org/news/icfa-introduces-mary-fruehauf-retail-genius-award

Fruehauf’s Moves After 40 Years in Boulder Daily Camera Article

November 11th, 2018 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on Fruehauf’s Moves After 40 Years in Boulder Daily Camera Article

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-business/ci_31594979/boulders-fruehaufs-patio-store-leaving-town-site-be

Fruehauf’s Patio: Outdoor Furnishings Store Wins National Recognition with ICFA Apollo Award

October 7th, 2011 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on Fruehauf’s Patio: Outdoor Furnishings Store Wins National Recognition with ICFA Apollo Award

Fruehauf’s Patio: Outdoor Furnishings Store Wins National Recognition with ICFA Apollo Award

Posted by on Friday, October 7, 2011 ·

Mary Fruehauf accepts Apollo Award at International Casual Furnishing Association’s Award Ceremony Held in Chicago

 When Mary Fruehauf, president and owner of Fruehauf’s in Boulder, found out that her store had been selected by the International Casual Furnishings Association to receive their annual Apollo Award, “I was texting everyone as fast as I could to tell them the news, it was so exciting!”

Recipients of the Apollo Award are chosen by manufacturers, sales representatives and other retailers in the casual furnishings industry to recognize businesses that have shown excellence in retail sales and marketing and a commitment to outstanding customer service. Fruehauf’s was chosen as the winner in the Single Store category.

This was the first time a store in Colorado had won the award, which made the recognition even more special, Fruehauf says. “Typically, this award is won by stores in larger markets, like Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas. They tend to be big stores and more people know about them.’

To go toe-to-toe with the big stores, Fruehauf’s, which was opened in 1978 by Mary Fruehauf’s parents, had to really stand out. “Our store looks different,” she explains. “It’s not just a box in a strip mall, it’s visually interesting. It was designed by a local architect and complements the neighborhood. We have wonderful employees who stay with us for a long time and we work hard on our customer service. We try to improve all the time.”

“As a store in Boulder, we are fortunate with a community where people really enjoy the active, outdoor lifestyle. It’s beautiful here. I don’t think we’re ever going to hear someone say ‘Oh, let’s just stay inside this season. Let’s not sit outside on the patio or cook on the barbecue.’ We went to Chicago to pick up the award for everybody, really. It was our store, our employees and our community who won this award. This has been a difficult year for many businesses, and yet we have had one of our best years ever. We are very thankful.”
The 52nd annual awards event was held in Chicago’s historic Field Museum. “It was a little scary to go up on stage and speak to the huge audience in this very elegant setting,” Fruehauf says. “I hadn’t really written an acceptance speech, but I had a few things that I wanted to say. It wasn’t as hard as I thought, actually. Our general manager, Mariah Maydew thanked our peers for their recognition, and I wanted to tell everyone how lucky we are to be in this great outdoor industry. Outdoor furnishings have improved so much, from the old easy-to-break plastic chairs and such, to today’s comfortable recliners in new materials.”

Fruehauf’s annual Holiday Open House, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m., is a great way to kick off the holiday season. The event started in their first year, as a way to thank all the builders, plumbers, contractors and neighbors who had helped the store to get started. “Now, it’s a chance to thank our customers, and for people to get in the holiday mood and start thinking about decorating their homes. We have over 200 Christmas trees decorated in just about every theme possible, and the whole store has lots of holiday lighting. Sometimes I think you must be able to see us from outer space,” Fruehauf says with a laugh. “People tell us that they have been coming to our open house since they were little kids.”

You are invited to come enjoy free refreshments, the a cappella sounds of New Wizard Oil Combination, the holiday exhibits, and tour the Dream Backyard to see the collection of complementary products from local suppliers that you can choose to create your very own perfect outdoor living space. “It’s kind of like a year-round home and garden show that changes with each season,” Mary Fruehauf says.

For more information, visit Fruehauf’s at 1665 33rd Street. in Boulder, Fruehaufs.com or call 303.449.9551. Fruehauf’s is open seven days a week.

Article written by L.L. Charles for At Home

ICFA presents Apollo Awards to Fruehauf’s, Summer House

September 21st, 2011 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on ICFA presents Apollo Awards to Fruehauf’s, Summer House

ICFA presents Apollo Awards to Summer House, Fruehauf’s

Recognizes Lifetime Achievement recipient

Cinde W. Ingram — Casual Living, 9/16/2011 11:53:44 AM

CHICAGO — The International Casual Furnishings Association celebrated its brightest stars in retailing and paid tribute to the year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree Wednesday night at the 52nd annual Apollo Awards banquet and alfresco fashion show. For a second year, the event took place inside the historic Field Museum.

Apollo Awards

The Apollo Awards recognize retail excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings.
Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and commitment to customer service. Winners in two categories, single store and multi-store, were selected through an online ballot.

 
 

Summer House of Tukwila, Wash., was named the multi-store category winner. President Todd Patterson recognized the four other nominated retailers as well as hundreds of other casual furniture stores as he accepted the award for the family-owned business. Being a first-time nominee brought back memories of many dedicated employees and great friendships developed at the stores over more than 30 years, Patterson said. “It’s nice to stop the day-to-day and go back to think about it,” he said, speaking for his Seattle-area stores and his sisters Kim Benford and Diane Patterson. “Our dad passed away a little over a year ago but he loved this event and the combined relationships that make this go.

Fruehauf’s Patio & Garden Center of Boulder, Colo., was named the single store winner. Mary Fruehauf, president and owner of Fruehauf’s, took the time to thank all her manufacturer suppliers and other retail friends as she accepted the award. “Many of the other retailers in the industry we now consider our very best friends,” she said.

Lifetime Achievement

Bob Vanderminden Sr. received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, reserved for individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the casual furniture industry and to their individual communities.

Born in Brooklyn in 1927 and still designing products for Telescope Casual Furniture, Vanderminden was characteristically humble as he accepted the award. “I want to thank you all for what you’ve done for me and my company,” he said. “I’ve always kind of stayed in the background all my life. My greatest achievement is my family.

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bob Vanderminden Sr.His daughter, current Telescope CEO Kathy Juckett, described her father as “very intense, very creative and always looking for a better mousetrap.” His son Bill Vanderminden, now executive vice president, has continued his father’s direction with innovative designs of products, some of which were being introduced at the market. Another son, Robert Vanderminden Jr., is senior vice president, information systems. His nephew, Henry Vanderminden IV, is president.

Highlights of Bob Vanderminden’s many credits include:

+ 1953 – Redesigned the director’s chair with a slot system that made the seat and back fabrics removable, meaning customers could easily customize and change the colors. The popularity of the chairs exploded.
+ 1956 – Developed Telescope’s aluminum business with a small budget and a few thousand square feet of manufacturing space. Bought all used equipment and created “production centers” consisting of five people. With the new “cell” production process, each five-person team could produce 1,000 chairs per shift. In the late 50s, he began designing all of the product as well as the equipment to make it.
+ 1977 – Introduced the Gardenella Sling Collection, the first collection in the industry to feature the dowelled sling in a groove design. The design is now an industry standard.
+ 1980 – During gas rationing, he designed and built a waste wood burning system to heat the entire plant. The same system is in use today.
+ 2008 – Vanderminden’s designs helped the company win many awards over the years, but the 2008 Design Excellence Award for his popular Windward Sling Collection design is worth special note since the designer was not only in his 80s, but was also suffering from macular degeneration, a disease that now renders him legally blind.

Vanderminden was named to Telescope’s Board of Directors in 1967 and became executive vice president of the company in 1971. He served as the CEO from 1989 until 2001, when he was named chairman of the board.

“He considered his greatest gift to the success of Telescope bringing up five kids with his work ethic, who then, hopefully, have passed that along to their children,” said granddaughter Greta Cosey, who now handles public relations for the company. “He never focused on titles or turf – he just got everyone pulling in the right direction to get the job done.”

Apollo Award nominees: Fruehauf’s, Boulder, Colo.

September 21st, 2011 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on Apollo Award nominees: Fruehauf’s, Boulder, Colo.

Apollo Award nominees: Fruehauf’s, Boulder, Colo.

Nominees meet their challenges head on

Kristine Ellis — Casual Living, 9/14/2011 7:07:44 AM

Fruehauf’s 2 acres of multiple showrooms and outdoor displays make it Colorado’s largest outdoor furniture retailer and a destination site for consumers throughout the region.

WHILE SOME RETAILERS HUNKER DOWN TO WAIT out bad weather and trying times, this year’s group of Apollo Award nominees stands out for their determination to create their own destinies. Their ability to adapt is exceeded only by their drive to succeed. This group sets the bar for industry excellence in today’s marketplace.
Finalists will be honored and winners announced at the Apollo Awards banquet at the Field Museum on Sept. 14, during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago.

Single store | Fruehauf’s, Boulder, Colo.

DESPITE A COLD AND RAINY START, PENT-UP demand carried the season at Fruehauf’s Patio & Garden Center this year.
“Maybe they spent more time researching it before they came in and maybe they had to talk about it longer with our staff, but people were certainly willing to purchase this season. We were thrilled,” said Mary Fruehauf, president and owner.
The lengthier selling cycle reflects consumers’ desire for the perfect blend of quality and value, a trend retailers continue to see across the country.
“Consumers aren’t going to buy something cheap just to have it. They want to make sure that their purchase counts, that they are buying what they really want,” Fruehauf said.
To help drive those sales, Fruehauf changed her advertising somewhat, replacing print-image advertising with specific product ads, a switch she believes delivered.

Also driving sales this season were the boutique gift shop within Fruehauf’s main showroom, the multiple displays throughout the 2-acre destination site and the Dream Backyard.
This was the first full season for the Dream Backyard, a year-round “home and garden show” showcasing everything a person might want in their backyard – from decking to landscaping, outdoor rooms, play sets, entertainment centers and more. Though “finished,” it will always be a work in progress as vendors continue to update and refresh their displays so that consumers continue to return in search of new ideas.
A perennial Apollo Award nominee, Fruehauf’s Patio & Garden is the largest outdoor furniture retailer in Colorado and a multiple winner of the Casual Living Merchandising Award for Best Outdoor Display in the single-store category.
Fruehauf views this season’s success as the culmination of a long-term investment. “We’ve been working so hard doing everything we could year after year, and I think this year that work paid off,” Fruehauf said. “When people were ready to purchase, they came here and did.”

ICFA ANNOUNCES APOLLO AWARD FINALISTS

June 15th, 2011 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on ICFA ANNOUNCES APOLLO AWARD FINALISTS

ICFA ANNOUNCES APOLLO AWARD FINALISTS

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The International Casual Furnishings Association announces finalists for
the 2011 Apollo Awards. The program recognizes retail excellence in the sales and marketing of
outdoor furnishings.

Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and commitment to customer service.
The ICFA membership will vote via an online ballot for a winner in each category later this
summer. Finalists will be honored and the winners announced at a gala awards banquet on
September 14, 2011, during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago.
The ICFA and MMPI are co-sponsors of the event, which will be held at Chicago’s Field
Museum. MMPI owns and operates the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, which hosts the Casual
Market.

Finalists in the 2011 competition include:

Single Store Category
Authenteak, Atlanta
Fruehauf’s, Boulder, Colo.
Ken Rash’s of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.
Leisure Living, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sunnyland Furniture, Dallas

Multi-Store Category
ABSCO Fireplace & Patio, Birmingham, Ala.
Carls Patio, Boca Raton, Fla.
Greenhouse Mall, Austin, Texas
Seasons Leisure, Inc. (dba Pool Patio & More), Atherton, Calif.
Summer House, Tukwila, Wash.

Best of Boulder

May 8th, 2011 Posted in Noteworthy | Comments Off on Best of Boulder

Thank you Boulder for once again voting us the Best Patio Furiniture Store in Boulder for 2011!