Meet our judges
Our prestigious panel of judges are truly international and are made up of the best buyers, retailers and experts in the tabletop industry.
Sam Hood,
founder and creative director of Amara, UK www.amara.com
Parousiasi
Mary Sarafidis, managing director of Parousiasi, a chain of 39 luxury tabletop and giftware stores in Greece. www.parousiasi.gr
Owned by the Sarafidis Group, which has the largest chain of retail stores in Greece, Parousiasi (Presentation) is a group of award-winning luxury tabletop and gift stores located throughout Greece, and was the first chain in the country to gather leading homeware brands under one roof. Today, Parousiasi offer more than 40 international tableware brands, including Villeroy & Boch, Lenox, Rosenthal and Wedgewood among others. The retailer also produces its own lifestyle magazine and runs a successful loyalty programme as part of their goal to provide customers with an enjoyable experience with substantial benefits.
Since launching leading online luxury interiors etailer, Amara, in 2005, Sam Hood has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. From casual dining to barware to serveware, Amara offers a wide selection of products from over 300 unique and iconic brands. Still very much a hands-on buyer, Sam is keen to champion the best emerging talent and share it with Amara’s customers. Sam says: “The knowledge I’ve picked up along the way has enabled me to have a deep understanding of the industry and the many brands available.”
Dom Farfora
Elena Sokolova, commercial director and buyer, Dom Farfora, Russia www.domfarfora.ru
The 56-year-old Dom Farfora (House of Porcelain) is the Russian distributor for several global tableware brands, including Moser and Herend, and further owns a chain of multi-brand retail stores across Russia, selling premium tableware and giftware from global brands, including Lenox, Rosenthal and Alessi. The company is a tablesetting trendsetter in Russia, delivering regular in-store events and workshops and producing its own magazine.
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