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INDUSTRYNEWS
GILMARTIN REACHES AGREEMENT IN COVINGTON ACQUISITION
Roger Gilmartin, executive vice president and COO of Covington Industries, Inc.,
New York, NY, has reached an agreement with Abby Gilmore, Covington chairman
and CEO, to acquire Covington’s assets under a letter of intent executed
in mid-October. The agreement culminates a process begun in 1996 when Gilmartin
joined the company as president during its transition from Gilmore family ownership.
Covington is scheduled to move to new space in New York City’s Midtown
South area by year-end, and it is expected that the transaction will close prior
to the move. “We are thrilled with the new prospects that further investment
will bring to the business. The management team is set to hit the ground running
as we move to new office space and begin a new era for Covington,” Gilmartin
said.
Under the agreement, the Gilmore family will continue to have an interest in
Covington and Abby Gilmore will continue to serve in an advisory capacity.
CACO CORRECTS ERRORS IN PRICE BOOK GUIDE
CACO, Inc. Window Fashions, Johnson City, TN, is correcting two errors it discovered
in its recently distributed price book guide. Both errors are important and should
be noted, the company states.
CACO’s toll free phone number was inserted incorrectly and should be (800)
552-5278. In addition, on page 10 the Avalon Faux Wood Embossed Finish was incorrectly
listed under Stain Finish Braided Ladder and should be included with the standard
smooth finish in the first grid.
HUNTER DOUGLAS CONTRIBUTES $800,000 TO HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF EFFORT
Hunter Douglas Inc, Upper Saddle River, NJ, announces that it has donated a total
of $800,000 to two charities, AmeriCares Foundation, Inc. and America’s
Second Harvest, in response to the urgent special needs of those people most
directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Each charity received $400,000. Hunter
Douglas has matched all contributions from its employees and independent fabricator
partners and Hunter Douglas Window Fashions Gallery® retail dealers.
AmeriCares and America’s Second Harvest are two highly rated U.S.-based
charitable organizations, and they have committed to absorbing 100 percent of
their own administrative costs associated with the donations for the Hurricane
Katrina disaster so that all the money Hunter Douglas contributed will be used
for the direct benefit of those in need.
F. SCHUMACHER RESTRUCTURES, CREATES NEW DIVISION
F. Schumacher & Co., New York, NY, is restructuring and creating a new entity,
Waverly Lifestyle/FSC, a combination of Waverly Lifestyle Group and FSC Wall
Covering. Daniel J. Bonini has been named president, general manager and will
head the new division. The move was made to align the organization to meet the
needs of the retail market, according to a company statement.
Waverly Lifestyle/FSC will focus on design, marketing and licensing for its various
brands, which include Waverly, Village and Gramercy. In addition, it will continue
to design and provide fabric and wall coverings to its retail partners.
RENAISSANCE JOINS SOLATECH PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE
California-based Renaissance Window Fashions has joined the Solatech Partnership
Alliance created by Solatech, Inc., High Point, NC.
Initially, Renaissance product information will be provided through the Solatech
retail window covering software products, allowing its products to be ordered
directly by the users of Solatech window covering software. The partnership will
allow Renaissance customers to use computerized pricing, apply discounts and
generate quotes, order confirmations, invoices, purchase orders and open order
reports as well as generate sales reports.
Under the mutually beneficial agreement, Solatech will market, develop and support
Renaissance’s product line throughout the Solatech customer base in the
continental United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Solatech
will assist and support Renaissance customers using the Solatech software.
“The Solatech Partnership Alliance (SPA) was created to define, nurture
and lead a communication and technology revolution in the window fashion industry,” said
Ray Soltis, Solatech CEO. SPA is a business alliance that works to advance communication
and business opportunity within the often fragmented and diverse market of window
coverings. Solatech created the SPA after years of experience in the industry
helped identify a need to overcome the traditionally low-tech procedures between
customer, retailer and manufacturer through standardization, automation and business
management tools.
KIRSCH EXPANDS TWO-INCH WOOD TRENDS LINE
Kirsch Window Fashions, High Point, NC, has expanded its Two-inch Wood Trends
decorative drapery hardware line with eight new hand-crafted finial designs and
three new finishes that compliment the wood finishes found in homes.
“Our trend team identified new designs and finishes that will help coordinate
windows with other wood furnishings seen in homes today,” said Elizabeth
Ambrose, marketing manager.
The new finials are handcrafted and intricate in detail for a classic and elegant
look, the company states. The expanded program features high-end finishes with
three new additions: Walnut, Sandblasted Black and Heirloom Pewter.
The updated Two-inch Wood Trends line became available in October.
SOMFY OFFERS CORD TAKE-UP MOTOR DESIGNED TO AUTOMATE CELLULAR,
PLEATED SHADES
Somfy Systems, Inc., Cranbury, NJ, has introduced a battery-powered cord take-up
motor with built-in radio control designed to automate cellular and pleated shades.
The CT32-RT motor is compatible with its full range of Radio Technology Somfy™ (RTS)
accessories including the Telis handheld transmitter, Decora wireless wall switch,
Chronis programmable timer and Mult-Link controls for home automation.
With a compact design, the CT32-RT motor is hidden inside the headrail for a
clean look. It has been engineered to maximize performance with patented power
saving technology that enhances the average battery life of motorized pleated
and cellular shades. Installation is wire free, the company states.
“With the new CT32-RT motor, Somfy will continue to bring the consumer
home to life by creating movement for all window openings,” said Michael
Lee, president and CEO.
HELSER BROTHERS JOINS ARIZONA DESIGN CENTER WITH TO-THE-TRADE SHOWROOM
Helser Brothers Inc., Chandler, AZ, in October celebrated the grand opening of
its first to-the-trade showroom at the Arizona Design Center in Scottsdale.
As a part of Pacific Resources Group LLC, Helser partnered with a group of Arizona-based
businesses to present a full-line showroom with flooring, wall finishing, furniture,
lighting, home theatre, custom home furnishing fabrics/fabrication and shutters.
Helser Brothers’ entire Artigiani custom drapery hardware line as well
as the Tableaux motifs are on display at the Pacific Resources Group showroom
in Suite 120.
QUICKBOOKS ‘SURVIVAL GUIDE’ RELEASED
Evan Marsh Designs, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, announces the release of a new book “The
Designer’s Survival Guide to QuickBooks” by LeeAnn Reed.
Written specifically for designers by a designer who is also a Certified QuickBooks
Pro-Advisor this book is intended to be a helpful resource. The book and CD complement
the DreamDraper® Quick Quote™ system and contain many tips and timesaving
suggestions to help designers close out 2005 and launch their accounting for
the next year.
3 BLIND MICE BECOMES ASID INDUSTRY PARTNER
3 Blind Mice Window Coverings, Inc., San Diego, CA, has been granted membership
as an industry partner of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
ASID Industry Partners provide opportunities for interaction between interior
designers and the interior furnishings industry that supplies services and manufactured
products. ASID is a leading nonprofit provider of information, knowledge and
research for the interior design industry and is the largest interior design
society in the United States.
“The more we interact and work with professionals in the field, such as
the ASID, the more we can bring to the consumer,” said Scot Dietz, owner.
NGPP NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER REVISITS COASTSIDERS
This year’s charity hang event by the Northern California Chapter of the
National Guild of Professional Paperhangers (NGPP) completed a remodeling project
that began two years ago at Coastsiders, an adult day care center in Half Moon
Bay, CA. Since 1982 the center has offered a daily program of activities and
health services for local seniors including physical therapy, group activities,
occupational therapy, nutritional counseling, hot lunches and more.
This year’s hang took a little more effort to get off the ground because
the installers had to coordinate materials with what was previously installed.
The paper from the previous remodel was no longer available, but FSC Wallcoverings
was generous with a donation of 20 single rolls of Paper Illusions Torn Wallpaper
that was hung in three offices. Larry Charon, chapter president, also had some
extra fabric-backed vinyl that coordinated beautifully with the old wallpaper,
as well as the new paper chosen. With the 60 linear yards of goods, the volunteers
were able to wallpaper a hallway and a bathroom.
The chapter’s charity hang committee chair, Lauretta Jenkins, thanks the
NGPP suppliers and installers who volunteered supplies and labor for this worthwhile
event: Scotch Paints (Charles MacHarg) donated the primer; Gardner-Gibson (Frank
Nicholson) donated the adhesives; and FSC Wallcoverings (Sabeen Khan) arranged
for the wall covering donation. Individuals who volunteered labor were: Earl
Wanbaugh, Savannah Hobbs, Lauretta Jenkins, Donald Foreman and his apprentice
Sherice Brown, Larry Charon, Jean Boles, Gerri Beauvais, C.P., and Fred Crum.
The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, Dayton, OH, is the only non-profit
trade organization dedicated to professionals whose main objective is to promote
the wall covering industry.
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