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COVER STORY
1986 - 1990 / Building on Success
It was at time to try new things: Eastern Europe and Russia try
capitalism as the Berlin Wall crumbles and Romania overthrows its
leaders, Fox enters the market as the fourth television network,
and the first World Wide Web browser is developed at CERN.
As Draperies & Window Coverings entered its second five-year
stretch, it builds on its early success and grows along with the
industry it covers. Reader surveys queried readers on sales compensation,
contract markets, direct mail and customer preferences. Market reports
analyzed prices, fashions and what’s hot in major U.S. markets.
The success of the World of Window Coverings trade shows and seminar
programs lead to the creation of an educational division. With both
the World of Window Coverings and the Western World of Window Coverings
in full swing, the magazine looks north to host its first Canadian
show in 1990. At the same time the magazine’s first Canadian
edition rolls off the presses.
1986
Bill Harris founds International Trade Associates,
Inc. (ITA, Inc.) as a sales agency for a PVC extruder recognizing
untapped opportunities in the hottest product category in the industry:
vertical blinds.
ITA, Inc. opens a customer service and market support center in
St. Augustine, FL, while adding sales personnel throughout the U.S.
January: Space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly
after lift off.
Nanik acquires The Shuttery.
Memorial service is held for Harry A. Weiss, founder and board chairman
of Wesco Fabrics, Inc.
February: President Ferdinand Marcos flees Philippines.
April: A major nuclear accident is reported at
the Soviet Union’s Chernobyl plant.
The World of Window Coverings show moves to the Georgia World Congress
Center, Atlanta, GA, prompting attendance to nearly double to 7,000
attendees.
May: Hunter Douglas acquires Dixie Vertical Industries.
1987
March: The World of Window Coverings show opens
at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA.
Joanna Western Holdings, Inc. sells its consumer product lines to
CHS Industries, Inc.
June: Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
wins rare third term.
July: Oliver North testifies before Congress on
Iran-Contra operations.
September: The American Window Covering Manufacturers
Association (AWCMA) launches “Window Coverings For
a Change” consumer awareness campaign.
December: The Decorative Window Coverings Association
is formed.
1988
January: United States and Canada reach free trade
agreement (NAFTA).
April: The World of Window Coverings show is held
at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.
James S. Bugg becomes sole owner of Decorating Den Systems, Inc.
June: Levolor Lorentzen, Inc. is bought out by
the investment group Dean Witter Capital Corp.
July: Democratic National Convention nominates
Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen.
August: Republican National Convention nominates
George Bush and
Dan Quayle.
Hunter Douglas introduces Fabrette.
November: Robert M. Perkowitz, Inc. and Frontenac
Co. purchase LouverDrape, Inc.; LouverDrape Canada; and Del Mar
Window Coverings.
December: Pam-Am 747 explodes from terrorist bomb
over Lockerbie, Scotland.
F. Schumacher announces plans to celebrate its centennial in 1989.
1989
January: Graber marks its 50th anniversary.
February: Iran’s Ayatollah Komeini sentences
Salman Rushdie to death for his book “Satanic Verses.”
March: The ruptured Exxon Valdez spills 11 million
gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound.
The World of Window Coverings show opens at the Orlando Convention
Center, Orlando, FL.
April: Memorial service is held for Hubert Wulf,
founder, owner and CEO of ADO.
June: Tens of thousands of Chinese students take
over Tiananmen Square.
August: Army General Colin Powell is appointed
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
ADO celebrates its 10th anniversary.
October: D&WC announces its first International
Student Competition for Window Treatments.
November: After 28 years, the Berlin Wall comes
down.
December: Comfortex sells a minority interest to
Masco Corp.
Memorial service is held for Joe Morgan Sr., founder and chairman
of Lafayette Venetian Blind.
1990
ITA, Inc. introduces a hollow vinyl shutter
that becomes a category leader.
February: Communist Party relinquishes power in
the Soviet Union.
April: Eighth annual World of Window Coverings
show opens at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.
Chromagraphic Processing Co. joins forces with Coastal Aluminum
Rolling Mills, Inc.
June: Jim Mathews is named vice president, marketing
at Hunter Douglas.
The World of Window Coverings™ Canada debuts at the International
Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
August: Iraqi troops invade Kuwait setting off
the Persian Gulf War.
Also of Note:
* “The Oprah Winfrey Show” airs (1986)
* Ted Turner starts Turner Network Television (TNT) and buys MGM’s
film library (1988)
* Lucille Ball dies (1989)
* “Seinfeld” debuts on NBC (1990)
* The Hubble Space Telescope is launched (1990)
1991
- 1995
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