BusinessWeek Logo
Champagne Chairs Contest

Champagne Chairs Contest

Jessie Scanlon

Modern furniture retailer Design Within Reach launched its annual Champagne Chair contest in 2002. The challenge: to create a miniature chair using some or all of the materials—the cork, wire, and label, but not the glass—from no more than two champagne bottles (glue is allowed.) In recent years, close to 1,000 people have submitted entries, according to DWR's Erin Brown, who runs the program. "Every year we get a toilet and an electric chair," says Brown. "I guess people think it's novel, but we're looking for something more innovative." This slide show highlights the most creative, interesting, and skillful submissions of the last few years. Feel inspired? The current competition's deadline is Jan. 9, 2009.