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Industry News
CUSTOM CONCEPTS BUYS NORMAN INTERNATIONAL
SHUTTER DIVISION
Custom Concepts, Orlando, FL, has purchased the Norman International
Shutter Division of The Blind Factory, Lakeland, FL.
Taking on the Norman International shutter line will provide Custom
Concepts’ customers with a full range of faux wood, vinyl and
basswood shutters, according to a company statement. Custom Concepts
is a preferred Graber fabricator offering a full complement of Graber
products, Soleil and Phifer sunshades and ShutterSmart vinyl-clad
shutters.
“Shutters are a large part of our business and partnering with
Custom Concepts for both our local retail and growing Internet business
is exciting for everyone involved,” said Brad Hall, president
and CEO, The Bind Factory.
SM AUTOMATIC COMPLETES BELLAGIO RENOVATION
SM Automatic, Culver City, CA, is completing the extensive luxury
renovation of the Five Diamond Award-winning Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas,
NV. Bellagio Las Vegas becomes the first hotel of its size to feature
motorized draperies in every guest room, raising the standard for
luxury amenities.
After the current renovation is completed, which is expected early
this year, there will be nearly 8,000 drapery motors incorporated
into Bellagio’s luxurious accommodations. SM Automatic was part
of the resort’s original project, which included more than 2,000
drapery motors installed at its opening in 1998.
SM Automatic offers a complete line of technologically advanced motors
and controls for virtually all forms of interior window coverings.
NEW REPORT RELEASED ON U.S. WINDOW TREATMENT,
WALL COVERING MARKETS
U.S. demand for window treatments strengthened between 2001 and 2003
as declining interest rates stimulated demand for new home construction
and existing home resales. Demand increased the sharpest for cloth
and plastic shades, wood blinds, curtains and draperies and drapery
hardware. That information is found in the 204-page “Catalina
Report on Window Treatments and Wallcoverings” released by Catalina
Research Inc., Boca Raton, FL.
The report, released in January 2004, provides information on window
shades and blinds, curtains and draperies, drapery hardware and wall
coverings, according to a written release.
The report is available printed on paper and in an e-mail version
for $2,495 and $2,995, respectively. The report’s complete Table
of Contents is available at the firm’s Web site: www.catalina
reports.com.
M'FAY RELEASES NEWEST SUPPLEMENT
M’Fay® Patterns, Matthews, NC, has released Supplement 4
to its “Designer’s Digest and Work-room Manual.” The
latest supplement features new cover sheets with yardage, additional
designs created by mixing patterns, Italian stringing instructions
and custom cut out returns for poles.
In addition, M’Fay has included instructions for arch window
swag patterns and even more workroom help.
HUNTER DOUGLAS VIDEO WINS GALAXY BRONZE
A videotape developed by Hunter Douglas, Inc., Upper Saddle River,
NJ, to introduce its newest window coverings product garnered a
bronze award at the 14th Annual Galaxy 2003 Awards Competition honoring
excellence in product and service marketing. The video, “Imagination,”
promotes the company’s Alouette™ Light Louvers.
This year’s Galaxy Awards had more than 400 entries from 14
countries. Judging was conducted by top marketing consultant firms
and corporate marketing departments across the United States and
Canada. The awards are sponsored by MerrComm, Ossining-on-Hudson,
NJ, an independent organization dedicated to defining standards
in the marketing communications field. “The winners are considered
by peers in the industry as the leaders in their filed,” said
Reni L. Witt, MerrComm president.
SUPERIOR EXPANDS LINE, SELECTS ONTHANK
AS DISTRIBUTOR
Superior Roman Shades™, has named Des Moines, IA-based Onthank
Co. as a distributor for its custom Roman shades. Onthank serves Iowa
and Nebraska as well as southeastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota
and western Illinois.
“After meeting with potential distributors, we determined that
Onthank could best represent our product in areas where they have
a strong presence,” says Marco Bonilla of Superior. “Their
strong reputation and 60 years in the industry gives them the experience
and network to bring our custom Roman shades to their market.”
In a separate statement, Superior announces it has increased its line
of traditional Roman-shade styles from six to more than 20. The new
styles are in response to requests from its dealers, the company says.
The expanded line features many new flat, pleated, soft folding and
balloon styles and are featured in its new reference guide.
POLYDESIGN OFFERS SHUTTER ACE SOFTWARE
PolyDesign Shutters, Tarrant, AL, has introduced its new Shutter
ACE Software. This new software package is being offered free to
the company’s fabricators and is state-of-the-art and high-speed
Internet compatible for continual, automatic updates.
This program was 14 months in its design and conception, according
to the company, and offers fabricators an edge in shutter fabrication
due to its simplicity. Blind fabrication software also is included.
The package features design and build capabilities for all shutter
combinations as well as track shutters, and single-screen order
entry that prints multiple cut tickets and labels for shutter panels
and blind head rails.
NEW WEB SITE PRESENTS DECORATE NOW PATTERNS
Decorate Now Patterns announces the launch of a new Web site,
www.decoratenowpatterns.com,
which introduces a professional line of custom window treatment
patterns for the designer or workroom.
This pattern line offers a selection of classic styles, Decorate
Now originals and contemporary looks for the professional workroom
or designer. Each full-sized pattern is printed on heavy paper,
comes with complete step-by-step instructions, has detailed graphics
and includes supply and yardage requirements. Each pattern is based
on decades of workroom experience and is tested in a professional
drapery workroom, the company says.
Unique to Decorate Now Patterns are its two-part instructions. Each
pattern comes with Instructions at a Glance, a summary of the steps
involved in creating the window treatment, as well as very detailed
full instructions.
TECHNIKU OFFERS LATEST TILTING AUTOMATION
Techniku, Broomfield, CO, introduces the TH950 for tilting two-,
2 5/8- and three-inch horizontal blinds with standard ladders or
cloth tapes.
Designed to meet the requirements of the fabricator, dealer, installer
and user, the TH950 integrates into most standard headrails without
changing the appearance or installation of the blind. Combining
strength and flexibility, the powerful TH950 tilts the largest blinds
while only requiring a four-inch rout space providing a fabrication
and retrofit solution.
The TH950 comes fully assembled with the specific rail and gearbox
installed at the factory. Combined with a simple receiver (IR or
RF) and six-volt power connections (battery or low voltage), the
TH950 can be installed at the fabrication facility or on the job
site.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
A photograph caption in the Portfolio section of the February
2004 issue of D&WC (“Remember When,” page 30) incorrectly
stated “designers continue to find new benefits and uses of
1 1/8-inch seamless fabrics” available from ADO. The statement
should have read “118-inch seamless fabrics.” We regret
the error.
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