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INDUSTRY NEWS
HUNTER DOUGLAS ACQUIRES PARIS TEXAS HARDWARE
Hunter Douglas, Upper Saddle River, NJ, has acquired Paris Texas
Hardware, Dallas, TX, a manufacturer and marketer of branded decorative
drapery hardware products. Terms were not disclosed.
Paris Texas Hardware will continue to operate under the current
management and will maintain its present focus on supplying innovative
products of superior quality and design for the American consumer.
The company will join the Hunter Douglas Design Products Group of
companies, which are headed by Ron Kass, group president.
Kerri Green, president, founded Paris Texas Hardware in 1992 to
capitalize on the emerging demand for more elegant drapery hardware.
Her study of art and architecture in Paris, France, in the early
1980s provided the inspiration and design direction for the company
and its products.
“The creative spirit and growth of Paris Texas Hardware will
be enhanced through the additional resources and dynamic leadership
of our new corporate parent,” said Green. “I’m very
excited to be part of the Hunter Douglas family of companies.”
“Paris Texas Hardware has been an impressive and appealing
entrepreneurial success story,” remarked Marv Hopkins, president
and CEO of Hunter Douglas Inc. “The company is widely recognized
within the window coverings industry and the home décor markets
for its design excellence.”
GILMORE ENTERPRISES RENAMED GILMORE WINDOW
FASHIONS
Gilmore Enterprises, Chatsworth, CA, has recently changed its name
to Gilmore Window Fashions to more accurately represent its current
business focus. Gilmore Enterprises was founded in 1980, with alternative
window fashions components and hardware as its core business. In
the past few years, the company has increasingly focused on consumer-directed
window fashions.
“Quite simply, the name Gilmore Window Fashions better reflects
our fashion-forward focus as we progress into the future as a style-oriented,
consumer products company,” said John Gilmore, vice president.
“We’re not changing any of the positive aspects of our
company and our dedicated staff, just our company name to better
reflect our new emphasis,” continued Ken Gilmore, president.
Gilmore products include SoftView® Cellular Shades, SoftView®
Venetian Shades, the CountryView® Collection, All Pro vertical
blind systems, FabriTech PVC, two-inch and low-profile component
systems.
LEVOLOR LAUNCHES NEW CONSUMER INTERACTIVE WEB
SITE
Levolor Window Fashions, High Point, NC, launched its new interactive
Web site, www.levolor.com, February 1, 2005. The site offers advice
along with a tip of the week for decorating projects, a virtual
room decorator and a sneak peek at new products in window blinds
and drapery hardware. The Web site also provides tips on how to
incorporate the latest design trends into a home’s decor.
The site’s new sections and enhancements were created with
today’s homeowner in mind. “With fun features, weekly
tips for decorating, helpful how-to’s, new product sneak previews
and frequent contests to win Levolor products, we are confident
that today’s D-I-Yer will return to the site often,” said
Elizabeth Ambrose, Levolor marketing manager.
HUNTER DOUGLAS MAKES SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION
TOWARD TSUNAMI RELIEF
Hunter Douglas Inc, Upper Saddle River, NJ, announced that it has
donated more than $660,000 to AmeriCares Foundation, Inc. for tsunami
relief. Hunter Douglas matched all contributions from its employees
and independent fabricator partners on a two-for-one basis.
AmeriCares is one of the most highly rated U.S.-based charitable
organizations and one that has pledged to absorb 100 percent of
the administrative costs associated with tsunami relief donations.
Donations to AmeriCares will be used for water purification and
medicine/medical equipment for tsunami survivors.
Hunter Douglas President and CEO Marv Hopkins presented the check
on March 11 to Elizabeth Furst Frank, an AmeriCares board member.
“With its donation, Hunter Douglas is helping the people of
southern Asia, who have suffered tremendous loss of family, friends,
neighbors and property, rebuild their lives. The situation is getting
better, but there is much, much more work to be done,” said
Frank.
“The tsunami that struck southern Asia resulted in a human
catastrophe of unprecedented proportions,” said Hopkins. “I
am deeply touched and most grateful to each and everyone who contributed
to this vital effort. Our results evidence the extraordinary compassion,
decency and generosity of our employees and our customers, as we
received contributions from more than 2,000 individuals.”
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