Photo from Dimplex.
This year, the annual Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo took place March 5-8 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The HPBExpo is a chance for brands to showcase their new products, for trends to be discussed, and for honors to be awarded to those products that outshine all the rest.
The Vesta Awards, sponsored by Hearth & Home Magazine, are presented every year for the best in product innovation and excellence. The new Opti-V™ electric fireplace by Dimplex stole the show and took home the 2014 Vesta Award in the Electric Products category.
What Makes the Opti-V™ Special?
Photo from Dimplex.
The Opti-V™ is an electric fireplace composed of a high-definition LCD screen and three-dimensional LED inner-glow logs. Real fire footage and audio of crackling logs combine for a realistic flame effect, and the results are dazzling.
“We’re really starting to blur the lines between illusion and reality with Opti-V™ and opening up the possibilities for interesting and creative applications,” said Jane Laurie, the director of marketing at Dimplex.
Not only did the Opti-V™ win a Vesta Award, but it also earned the title of Product of the Year in 2013 at the Hearth & Home Awards.
Outdoor Entertaining is Trending
Photo by Flickr user FoodBankCENC.
According to the global market research firm Mintel, the outdoor grill market is expected to grow by at least 4% over the next four years. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association reports that 49% of grill-owners view their outdoor kitchen area as an extension of their home and a functional cooking space. In addition, 29% say it is a great place for entertaining and 23% see it as a spot for relaxation.
All this goes to say that outdoor living has experienced a surge in popularity. “One of the keys to outdoor living is bringing all the comforts of indoor living to the outdoors, beginning with an outdoor kitchen complete with appliances and storage solutions for cooking, preparing and storing food,” said Gina Lathrum, the brand marketing manager for DCS by Fisher & Paykel.
This is why new products such as dry pantries, beverage chillers, and even trash & recycle bins meant for outdoor use were displayed prominently at the HPBExpo.
More About the Vesta Awards
Photo from Vesta Awards.
The Vesta Awards were created in 2001 by Hearth & Home Magazine. There are 17 different categories, including hearth products, outdoor room products, and retailer awards. Click here to view this year’s winners.
The panel of judges that select the winners of this prestigious award are industry experts such as laboratory scientists, designers, distributors, retailers, distributors, and affiliate leaders.
Weigh in: Do you have an outdoor living area? What is its primary purpose – cooking, relaxing, or entertaining?
