|
COVER STORY
1991 - 1995 / Going Global
Horizons were expanding: businesses begin thinking about their effects
on the global environment after an Earth Summit is held in Rio de
Janeiro; WindowPros, a group of industry professionals, goes online
in a weekly chat room; and the World Wide Web brings it all to our
desktops.
D&WC begins this period by expanding internationally, publishing
the first-ever international Directory & Buyer’s Guide
for the window coverings industry. The Canadian edition becomes
quarterly with a new logo and design (1992), eventually moving to
bi-monthly by 1994 and becoming Décor & Window Coverings.
The ninth annual World of Window Coverings™ show adds the
word “International” to its name.
The magazine celebrates its 10th anniversary in May 1991. With its
people-photo cover well established, a new logo debuts with the
November 1991 issue along will new graphics, type and layout designs
throughout the magazine.
An East Coast show is added to the industry calendar when D&WC
teams with the Boston Curtain & Drapery Club to present the
45th annual Boston Curtain and Drapery show (1992).
1991
Vista launches a designer line of window
films.
April: Cease–fire ends Persian Gulf war.
The ninth annual International World of Window Coverings show at
the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, features the show’s
first fashion show.
The American Window Covering Manufacturers Association (AWCMA) presents
its first Product Innovation Awards.
June: South African Parliament repeals apartheid.
Thomas Mullaney is named chairman of Levolor Corp.
August: Boris Yeltsin become first freely elected
president of Russian Republic.
October: Anita Hill accuses Judge Clarence Thomas
of sexual harassment during Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
LouverDrape debuts Carousel cellular shades.
1992
February: Springs Industries announces the consolidation
of Graber Industries and Carey-McFall, Inc. into Springs Window
Fashions Division, Inc.
March: The International World of Window Coverings
show opens at the New Orleans Convention Center, New Orleans, LA.
April: Riots are set off in Los Angeles, CA, when
four police officers are acquitted of beating Rodney King.
May: Springs Window Fashions Division is awarded
the Decorative Window Coverings Association’s (DWCA) first
Manufacturer of the Year award.
July: Democratic National Convention nominates
Bill Clinton and Al Gore.
August: Republican National Convention renominates
George Bush and Dan Quayle.
October: The American Window Covering Manufacturers
Association (AWCMA) changes its name to the Window Covering Manufacturers
Association.
1993
March: World Trade Center is bombed in New York.
April: The International World of Window Coverings
show returns to the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA.
The Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA) leaves the National
Decorating Products Association to form independent organization.
May: Federal agents besiege Branch Davidian cult
headquarters in
Waco, TX.
Newell Co. announces acquisition of Levolor Corp.
June: Joseph Berghold is appointed CEO of Home
Fashions, Inc., parent company of LouverDrape, Del Mar and Seco
Supply.
October: Home Fashions, Inc. sells the assets of
Seco Supply.
November: Britain’s House of Commons approves
the European unity pact, creating the European Union.
1994
Sun Glow partners with Phifer Inc, as their
first Canadian distributor of interior/exterior sun control fabric.
January: Marv Hopkins is named President and Chief
Operating Officer of Hunter Douglas.
February: Conso Co. completes acquisition of British
Trimmings.
April: The International World of Window Coverings
show encores at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA.
May: President Clinton is accused of sexual harassment
while governor of Arkansas.
August: Major league baseball players go on strike.
Geoffrey Spark is named president of Kirsch.
September: Lance Devereaux is appointed president
of Springs Window Fashions Division.
October: The Window Covering Safety Council and
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Council initiate safety program
to reduce accidental strangulation deaths from window coverings
cords.
November: Newell Co. consolidates Levolor, Home
Fashions Inc., LouverDrape and Del Mar as Levolor Home Fashions.
1995
FUA sends first order to U.S., opening the
door to the establishment of FUA Window Coverings, New Braunfels,
TX.
January: The American Floorcovering Association
and the Western Floor Covering Association merge to form the World
Floor Covering Association.
February: Marv Hopkins becomes CEO of Hunter Douglas.
March: The International World of Window Coverings
shows opens at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.
April: Superior Shades celebrates 100 years in
business.
July: Springs Window Fashions Division acquires
Nanik.
October: O.J. Simpson found not guilty on murder
charges.
November: Royal Plastics Group acquires Novo Industries.
December: Croscill Home Fashions celebrates 50th
anniversary.
Also of Note:
* Led by Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls win the first of what
will be six NBA Championships (1991)
* Gopher, the first user-friendly Internet interface, is created
at the University of Minnesota (1991)
* Johnny Carson hosts “The Tonight Show” for the last
time (1992)
* The first human cells are grown in vitro and develop up to 32-cell
stage before being destroyed, proving humans can be cloned (1993)
* Ninety-five million viewers watch O.J. Simpson and Al Cowlings
in low-speed chase along LA freeway (1994)
* Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum opens in Cleveland, OH (1995)
* Jerry Garcia dies (1995)
1996
- 2001
|
