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INDUSTRYNEWS
OCTOBER NATIONAL WINDOW COVERING
SAFETY MONTH
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window
Covering Safety Council (WCSC) are joining forces again to announce
October as National Window Covering Safety Month.
The month-long, nationwide campaign is designed to increase consumer
awareness of cord safety concerns and to urge parents with young children
to replace or retrofit pre-2001 corded blinds, shades and draperies
with today’s safer products. According to information provided
by CPSC, since 1991 more than 175 infants and young children have
died from accidentally strangling in window cords.
To simplify industry participation, the “Kids, Cords, Caution”
safety slogan will again be the unifying theme for the promotional
campaign, as will the optional logo that depicts a child’s hand
grabbing the cords of a window blind.
The WCSC will carry out umbrella public relations and safety month
marketing activities on behalf of the industry. These efforts include
news releases and feature stories for the print and broadcast media,
a special safety month page on the WCSC Web site and cooperative promotional
efforts with safety, health and housing groups.
In addition, WCSC is providing artwork, ad templates and cord safety
information for reproduction and use by industry members and retailers
in promoting the safety month. Materials can be downloaded at no charge
from the Internet at www.windowcoverings.org/industry.
Access requires a user name and password. The user name is October.
The password is safety.
ITA, INC CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
ITA, Inc., Saint Augustine, FL, is celebrating 20 years as a developer,
manufacturer and marketer of window fashion products, now serving
distributors and fabricators around the world. The company’s
milestone year will be highlighted by a move into brand-new headquarters
nearing completion at One Meridian Plaza in Palm Coast, FL.
Founded in 1986, International Trade Associates was launched by seasoned
industry professionals with the confidence that an independent company
dedicated to quality and innovation and committed to the needs of
its customers could thrive in a globally competitive marketplace.
The company grew from being a sales agent for a PVC extruder to become
a full-line supplier of a growing range of window fashion products,
developing substantial capabilities in product research and development,
marketing and customer support.
The company’s most recent accomplishments include a string of
new products and line extensions including Meridian Home® NatuRail™
a patented, solid-wood headrail; Grand Pleat, a two-inch pleat width
for its Meridian Home® Pleated Shades; Meritec® Interior Design
Series shading fabrics; and new extrusion technologies and production
capabilities for LaPlaya® Shutters.
HUNTER DOUGLAS HONORED AS BEST
HUMAN RESOURCES ORGANIZATION
Hunter Douglas Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, earned first place in
the 2005 HR Services Excellence Award out of hundreds of companies
nominated across the United States. The award recognizes the best
human resources departments for the outstanding services they provide
to employees.
This year marks the second consecutive year Hunter Douglas has taken
first place and the third consecutive year it has placed in the top
three.
The HR Services Excellence Award is presented by HR Solutions Inc.,
an international management consulting firm. Winners are determined
by the results of an HR Service Excellence Survey sent to companies
nominated for the award. Employees rank their companies’ human
resources departments on 40 issues relating to service orientation,
communication, employee relations, professional knowledge and overall
performance.
3 BLIND MICE OPENS NEW SHOWROOM
San Diego, CA-based 3 Blind Mice Window Coverings, Inc, announces
the opening of it new 4,500-square-foot showroom and corporate headquarters
at 8969 Kenamar Dr. The showroom features the firm’s entire
line of window coverings including blinds, shutters, draperies, window
tinting and solar screens. Customers also will be able to view a demonstration
on how motorized window coverings are housed and operated.
“We have tried to create the place for the commercial and retail
public to shop for their entire window covering needs,” said
Scot Dietz, owner. “The showroom has been a work in progress,
and we’re excited about its completion. Our customers have commented
that they like the environment because of all the natural lighting
and electrical products.”
“The showroom adds an extra dimension to the business where
the customer can see firsthand all the quality products we offer,”
said Dietz. Three Blind Mice Window Coverings also offers complimentary
in-home consultations.
DREAMDRAPER ADDS DESIGNER TEMPLATES
Evan Marsh Designs, Bethlehem, PA, has introduced a set of 40 designer
templates to its DreamDraper‚ product suite. Available on CD,
the templates offer various DreamDraper window treatment images and
were created to add uniqueness and emotional appeal to estimates,
invoices and work order forms.
Compatible with the DreamDraper Quick Quote™ system, the forms
personalize business forms.
DRAPER TO EMPHASIZE GREEN DESIGN
Draper, Inc., Spiceland, IN, has created a new position to address
the growing interest of dealers and architects in the green design
movement. The company has announced that Clint Childress is its new
Green Building Coordinator.
According to Childress, many architects are concerned with green design
and whether their projects can be LEED certified. “Now they
have a resource to go to when it comes to answering questions about
window shades and their ability to control heat, glare and daylight,”
he said.
Childress also will be a resource for Draper dealers with questions
on where their Draper products will fit into green design projects.
“We really want to push green design,” Childress adds,
“and help people understand both the concept and how our products
fit in.”
NATIONAL WINDOW & WALLCOVERING
CREDIT GROUP HONORS HUBNER
The National Window & Wallcovering Credit Group held its first
meeting of the year in San Antonio, TX. The meeting was highlighted
by presenting an award to Al Hubner of Hunter Douglas for outstanding
service and his valuable contribution to the window fashions industry.
Hubner recently retired as the director of corporate credit and also
played an important part in the growth and success of the National
Window & Wallcovering Credit Group.
Sponsored by National Business Credit Exchange, Charlotte, NC, the
National Window & Wallcovering Credit Group is a WCAA Industry
Partner. The group comprises credit managers of industry companies
that manufacturer, fabricate or distribute window and wall covering
products sold to the retail trade. The organization provides these
credit professionals unique educational opportunities and promotes
credit security for the member’s receivables assets.
The group’s next meeting will be in Denver, CO, in September.
WA RETAINS CONSUMER PUBLIC
RELATIONS AGENCY
The Wallcoverings Association (WA), New York, NY, has retained Anne
Martin Marketing Communications (AMMC, Inc.) as its public relations
agency managing consumer communications outreach for residential wall
coverings.
“It’s time to expand our core customer base to include
a broader clientele,” says Ron Pietrzak, WA executive director.
“Most consumers are unaware of the astonishing innovations in
wall coverings in recent years, including products that install in
significantly less time and are guaranteed to remove in full strips.
We’re anxious to highlight the new technologies, extraordinary
designs and the versatility that wallpaper affords, and AMMC can help
us do that.”
The WA is a member-based non-profit organization focused on the manufacture,
distribution and overall sales of wall coverings. It serves as the
core communications vehicle among various segments of the wall coverings
industry while promoting the use of wall coverings in the marketplace.
LAS VEGAS MARKET UNVEILS NEW
WEB SITE
The World Market Center, Las Vegas, NV, has unveiled a new, streamlined
Web site that makes it easier for users to access a number of key
features and tools. It provides buyers and exhibitors with quicker
access to market planning tools such as online registration, hotel
reservations, leasing opportunities and a complete exhibitor directory
along with many other convenient options.
The new site, www.lasvegasmarket.com, integrates the style and design
from recent marketing and advertising campaigns by including graphical
elements such as show logos, headers and sidebars that users will
recognize from other marketing pieces.
July Las Vegas Market will take place July 24 to 28 at World Market
Center and Pavilions and will open July 25 at Las Vegas Convention
Center. |
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