Tropitone's New Basta Sole Product Line-Up

To Include a New "Dressed Up" Umbrella

Irvine, Calif., April 12, 2004 - Tropitone Furniture Co., a leading manufacturer of fine casual furniture, continues to "dress up" its Basta Sole product offerings with the introduction of a new, uniquely shaped umbrella planned for launch in summer 2005.

According to Michael Echolds, chief executive officer of Tropitone, the soon-to-be debuted Bella, umbrella borrows both from the contemporary and sleek "market umbrella" popularized by Basta Sole, as well as the more conventional, dome-shaped umbrella. The Bella, as well as the Savoy, umbrella, which Tropitone debuted in August 2004, were designed by Victoria Dawson.

"The Bella umbrella has a beautiful, bell shape - just as its Italian name suggests -- with graceful, full curves in the canopy that descend into a playful, slightly flared up edge. In contrast, the Savoy, with its scalloped valence and coordinating tassels, has a whimsical elegance. Both umbrellas have chic and irresistible silhouettes that set them apart from any other umbrella in today's market," Echolds said.

It is the uniqueness of the Bella and Savoy umbrellas that Tropitone believes will appeal to both specialty retailers and their customers. According to Echolds, these customers are looking for unique and practical solutions to create intimate, comfortable and stylish outdoor spaces where they can relax quietly or enjoy a gracious evening entertaining family and friends. In response, specialty retailers need distinctive products that differentiate their showrooms from the mass market retailers and that are more tailored to their customer's preferences and needs.

"Since coming to Tropitone in early 2003, Victoria Dawson has played an important role in our strategy to offer specialty retailers more imaginative and customized alternatives to the umbrellas currently available from other manufacturers," he said.

Dawson, who is a designer with significant experience in the casual furniture industry, says her inspiration for the Bella came from working several years in lighting where she designed lampshades. "Umbrellas can be designed with a variety of different and creative shapes in much the same way as lampshades. Designing such an umbrella with an entirely distinctive shape led me to the idea of an umbrella with a bell shape -- the Bella umbrella," Dawson said.

The Bella umbrella features a tubular aluminum pole, arm and rib construction and an auto tilt to provide the maximum shade regardless of the location of the sun. It will be available during summer 2005 in a 9-ft hexagon size and offered in all of the Basta Sole fabrics as well as all of the Tropitone aluminum frame and base finishes.

With the acquisition 10 years ago of the powerful Basta Sole brand and its dramatic and colorful European-inspired market umbrellas, Tropitone established a broad-based presence in the umbrella product category. The company has continued to offer innovative, high-quality shade solutions over the years, including both wood and aluminum garden pavilions, which create protected, yet intimate and elegant outdoor spaces. Such garden pavilions are frequently the central design element in today's sophisticated and stylish "outdoor rooms".

Founded in 1954, Tropitone is based in Irvine, California, and is recognized throughout the casual furniture marketplace for its design leadership as well as its commitment to service and value. The company sells its products to retailers, designers and the hospitality trade under the Tropitone and Basta Sole trademarks. In additional to its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Irvine, the company operates a manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida. For more information visit the company's website at www.tropitone.com.