Furnishings industry honors Allan H. Palecek

Allan H. Palecek to Receive Academy of Achievement Honor at 23rd Annual ARTS Awards

DALLAS – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, today announced that Allan H. Palecek, founder/CEO and lead designer of Palecek, will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 23rd annual ARTS Awards taking place on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

“Allan’s dedication to design, function and craftsmanship have led his brand to become one of the most recognized and well-respected in the industry,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “His contribution to the home décor industry is immeasurable and we are pleased to recognize his nearly 35 years of excellence with this honor.”

The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry. The Academy of Achievement honor is awarded each year to recognize companies and/or individuals that have made significant contributions to the industry. The award will be presented at the ARTS Awards new location, the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

Allan H. Palecek was born in 1944 to Eddie and Laverne Palecek in Munden, Kan. Eddie and Laverne raised Allan and younger sister Patricia on the family’s wheat and cattle farm; instilling in them a deep respect for hard work. Allan’s education began in a one-room country school house and he went on to graduate from Emporia State University with a degree in business. After college, Allan joined the Air Force and spent six years as a pilot. Following flying missions in Vietnam, Allan was stationed near San Francisco, Calif., where the idea for Palecek first came to him while waiting for a job as an airline pilot. The Bay Area has been home ever since for him and his wife Nancy, whom he met in 1973. The following year, Palecek was first introduced to the industry at the San Francisco Gift Show on the bottom shelf of another vendor’s display. Despite the placement of the product Allan had an incredibly successful show and set up shipping from his garage. He received his first shipment from Asia in 1974, one box of baskets that fit into the back of a borrowed pickup truck. After landing his first major customer, Bloomingdales, in 1975, Palecek moved to a 3,000-square-foot basement without windows, plumbing or an elevator.

After two years of traveling the globe looking for beautiful items, it became evident to Allan that there was a need for the design of accessories focusing on function, beauty and style. Designing products soon became a passion for Allan. By 1979, he had designed extensive furniture, lamp and gift lines. Today, in-house custom lamp production, furniture finishing, custom upholstery and a hospitality division make Palecek unique in the industry. Allan has designed collections of home furnishings that blend old world inspired designs, modern flair and a traditional aesthetic with a commitment to natural and sustainable fibers and handcrafted elegance.

Residing in the heart of San Francisco, Calif. for seven years, Palecek headquarters then moved to Richmond, Calif., where the brand became one of the largest employers in the area; at one point occupying five separate warehouses. Today, Palecek occupies a 220,000-square-foot facility, housing all departments as well as corporate offices. There are now seven Palecek showrooms and numerous designer trade showrooms across the country.

Some of Allan’s numerous charitable contributions include: Habitat for Humanity, Hospice, Red Cross disaster relief, Build the Cure Dream House, Children in Crisis, Child Haven, Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief, New York Lower East Side Settlement, Neighborhood House, El Cerrito/Richmond Police and Firefighters, the Bay Area Rescue Mission, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, as well as local schools and womens’ shelters.

Allan and wife Nancy are parents to son, Andrew, and daughter, Karey, both of which have spent time as Palecek designers. Andrew Palecek currently serves as the company’s vice president and Karey now works for Ralph Lauren Home. Nancy acts as the general merchandise manager and director of marketing and merchandising for Palecek.

The 23rd annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by Contract Lighting, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, HFN, Home Accents Today, Home Fashion & Hospitality, Home Lighting & Accessories, Overcoffee, Residential Lighting and the Sustainable Furnishings Council. Reservations to attend the ARTS Awards will be available online in November 2011.

The Accessories Resource Team (ART) is the association representing accessorymanufacturers, retailers, representatives and other industry individuals and companiesinterested in promoting the decorative home accessories industry. The association’s goal is toenhance the market position of decorative home accessories. Each year ART sponsorsprograms such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars and the ARTS Awards. See the Accessories Resource Team website.

About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program dedicated to the home decorative accessories industry. Twenty-six categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star, Green Design and Academy of Achievement. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Paragon, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.

Source: Dallas Market Center