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INDUSTRYNEWS
RM COCO ACQUIRES KIRSCH FABRICS
RM COCO, Cape Girardeau, MO, has purchased Kirsch Fabrics. With
an extensive upholstery line, the addition of the Kirsch Fabrics’
inventory will add SKUs and a significant number of new customers
to RM COCO’s rapidly expanding business.
“After the recent purchase of Steven Fabrics’ cut order
division, we had the opportunity to acquire Kirsch Fabrics. We welcomed
the chance to further build our customer base and broaden our upholstery
fabric selection,” said Jim Rust, president.
For more than 36 years, RM COCO has provided designers and decorators
with fabric, trim and custom hardware. The Kirsch Fabrics purchase
is the third distributor RM COCO has bought in as many years (see
D&WC, November 2005, page 14).
Beginning in December 2005, customers calling Kirsch Fabrics to
place an order will be handled by the RM COCO customer service department.
RM COCO is a wholesale distributor/converter of exclusive decorative
drapery and upholstery fabrics, trim and custom hardware serving
the residential and commercial markets. Custom Creations, a division
of RM COCO, specializes in custom top treatments, bedspreads, cornices
and drapery.
HANES FABRICS ACQUIRES SANI-LINE SALES
Hanes Fabrics Co., Conover, NC, has acquired Sani-Line Sales, Carrollton,
GA. Sani-Line is a converter and distributor of drapery linings
and drapery products with national distribution. The addition of
the Sani-Line business offers Hanes the opportunity to broaden both
its product line and customer base.
The Sani-Line product line consists of traditional drapery lining
products and offers some diversity from Hanes traditional line with
two color programs that can be used as linings or face fabrics.
“The addition of Sani-Line Sales strengthens Hanes Fabrics’
core drapery linings business,” said Rod Poole, president
of Hanes Industries. “David Bentley has been converting and
selling drapery linings for nearly 20 years, and we are excited
about the additional products and sources this acquisition brings
to our lineup. Sani-Line represents our fourth acquisition of a
drapery linings business. I believe this is a strong statement of
our commitment to the market both now and into the future.”
Hanes Fabrics is one of America’s leading finishers, converters
and distributors of woven construction fabrics for the home textile
and hospitality industries. It serves the global market from 15
sales and distribution centers located across North America, South
America and Europe.
Hanes Fabrics is a division of Leggett & Platt a diversified
manufacturer that conceives, designs and produces a broad variety
of engineered components and products. Leggett & Platt is a
Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol LEG.
WPM NAMED 2005 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE
YEAR
Window Products Management (WPM), Ventura, CA, was selected as the
2005 Small Business of the Year by the Ventura California Chamber
of Commerce.
WPM was recognized in an awards ceremony held at the Ventura California
Marriott on December 13, 2005, where owners Donna Buice, Jeff Erbeck
and John Edwards collected their award.
WPM owns and operates two retail businesses, Arjay’s Window
Fashions and Mr. B’s Shutters & Blinds, both located in
Ventura (see D&WC, May 2005, page 20). Aside from being recognized
for their growth and good service in providing window coverings
to their community, they also were recognized for their civic contributions.
Buice said after receiving her award, “We love what we do
and we love doing it here in Ventura, it is an added bonus to be
recognized for doing something you take such pleasure in.”
THE BLIND SPOT NEWEST VINYLBILT FABRICATOR
Vinylbilt Shutter Systems, Suwanee, GA, has added The Blind Spot,
Woodstock, GA, as its newest fabricator.
The Blind Spot has been in business for more than six years and
currently has three locations servicing northern and southern Georgia
and Nashville, TN. The Blind Spot’s owner, Mike Bare, says
“We believe that the Vinylbilt shutter fits nicely into our
business. We have built our business on our people, service and
exceptional products. Vinylbilt is a great addition to our product
offering.” The Blind Spot has partnered with Georgian Plantation
Shutter Co. to service the wholesale market.
A Vinylbilt dealer training seminar was held at The Blind Spot in
early November to kick off the program.
NEW COMFORTEX MARKETING CAMPAIGN HELP
DEALERS PROMOTE ENERGY SAVING
Comfortex Corp., Maplewood, NY, has developed an Energy Smart marketing
material campaign kit for dealers to use to promote the use of window
coverings to maintaining a warm, comfortable living space with lower
utility costs.
Materials in the kit include a report providing the statistical
analysis of the energy saving properties of Comfortex Symphony®
Cellular Shades with ComforTrack™ Energy Saving SideTrack
System. The report also provides an estimated amount of money consumers
can save by installing these treatments on their windows in major
U.S. cities. These insulated honeycomb window treatments run along
plastic tracks that attach to the inside of the window molding,
creating a solid barrier between the frame and the fabric. This
system helps reduce window heat loss up to 50 percent.
“Installing energy efficient cellular shades, cellular verticals
and sunscreens window treatments is a proven solution to insulating
windows,” said Comfortex Executive Vice President John Fitzgerald,
noting that the Comfortex Symphony Energy Smart Insulating Cellular
Shades with the ComforTrack Energy Saving Sidetrack System also
provide an easy, affordable alternative to replacing all windows
with the latest double pane, double glazed variety.
Other materials in the kit include guides for consumers for insulating
their homes and windows, advertising and showroom materials like
static stickers, shade wobblers and digital advertising slicks.
DSC WINDOW FASHIONS CREATES NEW HI-TECH
FABRIC SHADE STYLE
DSC Window Fashions, Inc., Arvada, CO, has released a new Roman
shade style for its signature product the Hi-Tech Shade. The new
style, called the Variett, was created by two company employees
and has been named in their honor: Valerie Robertson and Harriet
Rutkowska.
This new style adds another dimension to the flat Roman style, the
Galaxy, by utilizing vertical tailored pleats. DSC presents the
Variett in its newest Hi-Tech Sample Book—Vol. VII, which
is the largest volume of fabric offerings for Hi-Tech Shades since
the programs’ inception 14 years ago, the company states.
MERLIN MFG. LAUNCHES WEB SITE
Merlin Mfg., Inc., Barberton, OH, has launched its new Web site,
www.merlinmfg.com, with expanded information and resources for the
hospitality and retail industries.
The new site features product care and cleaning instructions, an
extensive section for technical questions and answers, and client
case studies. It also highlights the latest in textile technology—such
as bedding that adjusts with body temperature, and fabrics that
take smoke out of the air and prevent the spread of bacteria.
“Our clients look to us for technical expertise, innovative
ideas, and first-rate service,” said Michael Ligas, president.
“The expanded Web site is one more way of showing our clients
we care about the success of their business and we’re committed
to meeting their needs.”
Merlin Mfg. creates custom window treatments and bedding programs
for national hotel, restaurant and retail chains. The recent upgrade
is the first phase in Merlin Mfg.’s Web strategy. Future phases
will bring more interactive features for its customers, as well
as special areas of the site for designers, material vendors and
installation teams.
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