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Industry News
CALL FOR ENTRIES: WCAA PRODUCT INNOVATION
AWARDS
The entry deadline for the Window Covering Manufacturers Association’s
(WCMA) Product Innovation Awards is February 4, 2005. The Product
Innovation Awards program is open to all manufacturers and suppliers
of window covering products in the United States and Canada. This
year marks the 14th year for the awards (see D&WC, April 2004,
page 20).
Companies will be honored for design creativity, technical advancement
and overall innovation in the products and services of the window
covering industry during the past year.
Entries will be judged in 11 product categories, which include alternative
shading products, cellular shades, curtains and draperies, horizontal
blinds, motorization, pleated and roller shades and shutters. In
each product category, awards will be presented for best new technical
innovation, best new style concept, most innovative overall design
and best safety innovation. There are two overall categories: Product
of the Year and Rising Star.
The WCMA Product Innovation Awards presentation program will be
held on April 7, 2005, in conjunction with the International Window
Coverings Expo in the Atlanta, GA, area. In addition, all entries
will be displayed on the exhibit floor and the WCMA Web site with
a link to the winning companies’ home pages.
For more information or to submit an entry contact Suprena Millet
at WCMA, (212) 297-2122.
TOP SPRINGS DEALERS DOUBLE WINNERS
Debbie and Ron Hall recently returned from a five-day/four-night complimentary
trip to the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino & Resort in the Bahamas,
courtesy of Springs Window Fashions LP, Middleton, WI, and Blynco,
Las Vegas, NV.
The trip was awarded to the Halls for being among the top dealers
of Graber® brand window treatments for 2004. The Halls also were
winners of $1,000 awarded in a special drawing held during the trip.
Springs Window Fashions is a leading supplier of window treatments
and is a subsidiary of Springs Industries, Inc., a major manufacturer
and marketer of home furnishings based in Ft. Mill, SC. Springs Window
Fashions manufacturers Graber®, Bali® and Nanik® brands.
WINDOW FASHIONS, INC. HOSTS SHUTTER
PRESENTATIONS
Window Fashions, Inc., Cheswick, PA, in September was host to Doug
Kober, regional sales representative for Norman Shutters, for a presentation
at the Hampton Inn in Lees Summit, MO.
The presentation included a brief history of the Norman Shutter company,
shutters in the marketplace, Norman Shutters’ sales advantage
and measuring and installation methods. Several companies attended
the seminar and found it a great success, according to a company statement.
A second presentation was held at the Window Fashions, Inc. plant
in Pittsburgh in late October.
NEW FABRICS, E-COMMERCE SITE LAUNCHED
Curtain & Drapery Fashions, Inc., Lowell, NC, has added 50 new
fabrics to its existing line of 500 fabrics, and has launched a
new consumer Web site, www.curtainanddrapery.com,
where consumers can purchase fabrics online.
The company offers 81 coordinated hanging samples from which end-consumers
can choose the face, lining and trim using a menu of items that
Curtain & Drapery Fashions then produces into window and bed
coverings in two to four weeks.
On the Web site visitors can view a variety of products the company
manufactures as well as see photographs of its retail store, meet
the company’s staff and see excess sewing equipment it has
for sale.
In addition, the company has added five new styles of drapery panels:
Slouch Panels, Reverse Panels, Tapered Valance over Ring Panels,
Banded Panels and Valance Panels. It also has added the option of
ordering longer lengths on drapery panels, pinch pleated draperies
and tab panels. These are offered in set lengths and by-the-inch
lengths.
For retailers, the company has built free fabric samples into its
prices so that retailers buying $10,000 or more a year get samples
free. A new all-color brochure is available in prepacks of 100,
which can be used as a mass mailer or cash register hand out.
GILMORE EXPANDS DURING 25TH ANNIVERSARY
YEAR
Gilmore Enterprises, Chatsworth, CA, is celebrating the beginning
of its 25th anniversary year. In addition, the company is expanding
operations for its new basswood shutter and cellular shade programs
into a new 60,000-square-foot facility.
All manufacturing, distribution and administrative operations will
now be in one building for more efficiency. Only the street address
has changed to 9453 Owensmouth Ave. All staff, phone numbers/extensions
and even its ZIP code will be the same; www.gilmoreenterprises.com.
OMEGA INTRODUCES TREATMENT FOR HALF-CIRCLE
WINDOWS
High-tech paper converting machinery manufacture, Omega Mfg. Corp.,
Two Rivers, WI, has entered the window treatments industry with the
introduction of a patent pending operable product for 60- to 120-inch
half-circle windows.
The company’s Adjust-A-View was designed and engineered to offer
consumers optimal use of large half-circle windows in a most elegant
way. Omega’s unique design consists of two shades, each independently
operated by a cord loop. This allows adjustment for either shade from
open and parallel to the sill to completely closed. The shades attach
to a track system installed inside the window frame and sill structure.
Omega is currently setting up dealerships to market the product.
MONIQUE'S DRAPERIES SHOWCASES ALUSTRA
DEBUT
Monique’s Draperies & Shades, Campbell, CA, has become
one of the first dealers to introduce The Alustra™ Collection
from Hunter Douglas. Recently launched, the Alustra Collection is
a complete collection of exclusive window fashions targeted to the
affordable luxury market. Monique’s Draperies and Shades provides
window treatments, shades and decorating services to Bay Area customers
and designers.
With the introduction, Monique’s Draperies in October provided
an in-depth showroom demonstration to designers as well as a discussion
of other available decorator services.
“The Alustra Collection helps customers take their homes to
the next level of style and elegance,” said Caroline Small,
senior decorator and owner, Monique’s Draperies & Shades.
It “allows us to further expand our reach to the high-style
client and designer community,” she added.
The collection includes seven product families: Silhouette®
window shadings, Luminette® Privacy Sheers, Duette® honeycomb
shades, Vignette® window shadings, Alustra Woven Textures™,
Alustra Genuine Woods and Modern Precious Metals™. The Alustra
difference in these product families includes new light transforming
luminous sheers and exclusive fabrics; brushed silver and soft gold
metallic hardware finishes; innovative lifting systems, such as
the European-inspired RetroLift™ classic pulley system; new
fabric fold dimensions; distinctive details; and upgraded features.
BLUE MOUNTAIN RENAMES OLNEY, BEAUPORT
DIVISIONS
Blue Mountain Wallcoverings, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has changed
the names of two of its divisions to Blue Mountain Wallcoverings.
The divisions are Olney Wallcoverings in the United States and Beauport
Wallcoverings in Canada. The change, effective in September, was
made to create brand identity and will be supported through an advertising
campaign set to launch in spring 2005.
“We are working hard to put Blue Mountain Wallcoverings in
front of the industry, press and, most of all, consumers by launching
a national multi-million dollar campaign. The purpose of this campaign
is to enhance the use of wall coverings and provide consumers with
ultimate design choice,” said Christopher Wood, president.
Blue Mountain Wallcoverings has established itself as a leader in
the wall coverings industry, and is one of the largest manufacturers
and distributors of wall coverings in the world claiming a 40 percent
market share in North America. The company acquired the assets of
Imperial Home Décor Group, Inc. (IHDG) earlier this year.
IFDA PRESENTS CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) in
September held its 29th annual gala at the Yale Club in New York,
NY, and seven high-profile professionals received its 2004 Circle
of Excellence award.
The Laurel Award was presented to Alfred and Aminy Audi. The couple
was responsible for “revitalizing L & JG Stickley, Inc.,
and continue to play a pivotal role in furthering the Arts and Crafts
movement in America,” according to Florence Perchuk, event
co-chair.
Chris Madden received the Circle of Excellence Award in advertising
and marketing. Author of 16 books on decorating and design and creator
of JCPenney’s landmark Turning Home into Haven collection,
she has brought the notion of easy, affordable design to literally
millions of consumers.
Donna Warner, editor-in-chief of Metropolitan Home, won in editorial
and media.
Eric Cohler was awarded the 2004 Circle of Excellence for interior
design. Cohler was one of House Beautiful’s “best of the
best” in the “next wave of designers in America.”
Lou Rena Hammond, Lou Hammond & Associates, was cited for public
relations. When the company began in 1984, there were three clients
and three employees. Today, with offices in New York, Las Vegas,
Miami and Toronto, the firm has 40 employees and 45 clients including
Hunter Douglas, Wilsonart International, Howard Miller and Michael
Graves.
The Revolutionary Retailer Award was presented to Farooq Kathwari,
who took the reins at Ethan Allen in 1988 and through innovative
merchandising and image-shaping remade that 70-year-old company.
This year was the 12th year for presenting the Circle of Excellence
awards. “Once limited to IFDA members, these awards now embrace
the entire world of furnishings and design,” said Annette Stramesi,
the event co-chair.
Founded in 1947, IFDA has some 1,500 members in 14 chapters across
the United States, plus a new and growing chapter in China. IFDA
members are executives and companies that manufacture, distribute,
design, write about or sell products that furnish and/or decorate
residences and commercial sites.
COVERINGS 2005 SET FOR MAY
Coverings 2005 will take place from May 3 to 6 at the Orange County
Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Already, 91 percent of the floor
has been committed totaling more than 435,000 net square feet of
space, according to the show’s producer National Trade Productions.
More than 29,000 industry professionals from around the world are
expected to meet at Coverings 2005 with 1,000 exhibitors.
Coverings is a comprehensive tile and stone trade show, which includes
products, tools and machinery. It provides attendees from all industry
segments with information on products, trends, materials, distribution,
installation and more.
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