Tropitone to Introduce Two New Relax Plus Cushion Groups in Chicago Next Month

Featuring A Soft Look And Sink-In Feel

Irvine, Calif., June 23, 2006 - Tropitone Furniture Co., a leading manufacturer of fine casual furniture, announced today that it is debuting two additional cushion seating collections - Radiance and Ovation -- featuring the company's Relax Plus cushions which are designed to offer superior support, comfort, and durability, as well as a soft look and sink-in feel not typically found in outdoor cushions.

According to Michael Echolds, Tropitone's chief executive officer, with these two new cushion seating collections, the company has expanded its Relax Plus cushion program to a total of five collections which include Lakeside, Montreux, and Lodge, as well as the new Radiance and Ovation collections

"Consumers increasingly want the seating in their outdoor rooms to measure up to the quality, style and comfort of upholstered, indoor furniture. Our goal with Tropitone's Relax Plus cushion program and the new Radiance and Ovation seating collections is to meet these expectations by offering consumers the highest quality cushion seating in the casual furniture marketplace," Echolds said.

Radiance, with its graceful and delicate lines, was initially introduced as a sling seating collection in 2005. A small scroll which accents the front and back of each arm creates a historical reference to the leisurely and gracious lifestyle of a traditional Mediterranean village.

"With the addition of the cushion to Radiance, the overall scale of the collection changes as it takes on a grander and more sumptuous and soft presence," said John Caldwell, who designed the Radiance seating for Tropitone. The Radiance cushion collection includes a dining chair, swivel rocker with a high back, ottoman, chaise lounge, action lounger, love seat, sofa, lounge chair, and double glider.

Tropitone's other new seating collection, Ovation, is being launched this year both as sling and cushion seating. Designed by Frederic Doughty, the Ovation frame has a formal yet simple elegance with its long, gently curved legs and dramatic, well-defined oval castings on its wide, slightly crowned-shaped arms. One of Ovation's most distinctive design features is the stretcher, or piece of the frame supporting the back of the chair. Doughty says it is an example of how he works to incorporate functional elements that have visual appeal.

"We deliberately designed this piece of the frame as well as the arms to be more than twice the width typically seen in casual furniture chair frames. The result is a chair with a beautiful and timeless silhouette that is also exceptionally strong and comfortable," Doughty said.

The Ovation cushion seating includes a dining chair, swivel rocker, action lounger, chaise lounge, ottoman, and sofa. Two unique deep-seating pieces in the collection are a generously proportioned lounge chair and a half, and an ottoman and a half.

According to Victoria Dawson, who leads the design of Tropitone's Relaxed Plus cushion program, the new Radiance cushions complement the traditional style of the collection's frame, but depending upon the colors selected for the frame and fabric, the visual impact can differ dramatically.

"For example," she said, "choosing colors for both the frame and cushions from among the earth tones in Tropitone's extensive color palette enhances Radiance's traditional design features. A more progressive design possibility would be to pair a violet or purple fabric for the Radiance cushions with a black finish on the frame. In comparison, the new Ovation collection's transitional style with its distinctive oval design features can be highlighted by choosing a pristine white fabric for the cushions to contrast with an elegant black frame," she said.

Understanding that the quality and durability of outdoor cushions are primarily determined by the specific materials used and the overall construction of the cushions were important factors when Dawson launched Tropitone's Relax Plus cushion program in June 2005. "Our Relax Plus cushions are designed to closely resemble the look and feel of upholstered indoor cushions, which not only retain their look over time but also continue to provide excellent support. To achieve this, the cushion interior is encased in a ProGuard® fabric cover, which is designed both to maintain the shape of the cushion and also to repel water and moisture," Dawson said.

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 addition to its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Irvine, the company operates a manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida. For more editorial information, contact Connie Chandler at IR Strategies; Tele: 714-573-1115 Email: connie@beknownandtrusted.com