|
DWC Home | Magazine | Back Issues | May 2006 | Industry News |
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. |
