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Face to Face
It
Begins with Quality
As a manufacturer and a distributor, Draperies.com controls
its business from start to finish.
D&WC: How long has Draperies.com
been in business?
Charles Cai, President:
The manufacturing end of our business in China is 20 years old.
The drapery hardware company has been in business in the United
States more than four years. We extrude aluminum and PVC as well
as do our mold injections.
When we started, we carried a more limited amount of products. Today
we offer a larger amount and a wider array of products and inventory.
D&WC: What best describes
your niche in the marketplace?
Cai: We are in the
hospitality end of the business as well as health care products.
D&WC: Who are your customers?
What parts of the country do you service?
Cai: Our customers
are workrooms, drapery hardware distributors and providers to the
health care and hospitality/hotel trade.
We currently have four salespeople to service this business.
D&WC: Is there one product
or line that stands out above the rest?
Cai: All of our product
lines stand out!
D&WC: How have sales been?
Cai: In the four-year
period we have been operating in the United States we have seen
a steady increase in sales. And, we continue to climb.
D&WC: What are your strengths
in the marketplace?
Cai: We have control
over our products from start to finish. We own our own factories.
We don’t use recycled PVC in our plastics. We use virgin material
and UV inhibitor.
D&WC: What are some of
the key factors involved in your growth and success?
Cai: It all begins
with the quality—customer service and quality of our products.
These have always been important parts of our success and growth.
We also are committed to our employees. We take care that they work
in a very safe environment and nice surroundings. When you travel
to our facilities in China you will see basketball courts. Our employees
have formed teams that play against one another. This is a people-oriented
company. It is a family atmosphere. We prefer to employ more people
to get the job done then to install robotic equipment. Our employees
take pride in their company and products and we are proud of our
workers. This feeling is carried through to our customers. Customer
service is our No. 1 priority. We like to invite our customers to
visit any of our facilities throughout China as well as our warehouse
in Covina.
D&WC:
Is your business computerized? Do you have a company Web site, and
how is it used to communicate with customers?
Cai: We are completely
up-to-date in all forms of computerization. Do we have a Web site?
We are Draperies.com!
We communicate with customers at all levels: e-mails, telephone
and personal visits.
D&WC: Do you educate or
assist your customers?
Cai: We offer our
customers all the assistance they need to help increase their knowledge
of products and the window coverings business.
D&WC: What distinguishes
you from the competition?
Cai: We are the manufacture,
not just a distributor of products.
D&WC: How has your segment
of the industry changed since you first began?
Cai: In many important
customer service aspects we haven’t changed, while many other
businesses have. For example, we have always offered same-day service.
When you call, you get a live person instead of voice mail.
D&WC: Do you offer any
products other than window coverings?
Cai: Yes we do! Our
10 factories also manufacture doors.
D&WC: Do you offer other
home furnishings products or services?
Cai: Not at this time,
but we are looking into other avenues.
D&WC: Where do you see
yourself and your company five years from now? Are there additional
areas within the industry that you would like to get involved in?
Cai: I see us in other
areas of the drapery hardware segment of the industry, offering
the new and improved versions of present-day products along with
a multitude of new innovative items.
Draperies.com
1411 N. Grand Ave., Ste. 200
Covina, CA 91724
(626) 331-3868
(888) 266-5693
fax: (626) 331-8831 |
