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Decorators and designers
are well aware of the difference their designs make to a client’s
home. They also know the difference the right piece of hardware can make
to their designs. Whether an essential drapery rod or an accessory piece
of decoration, hardware in any one of a number of shapes, collections
and materials from resin to hand-forged iron is a mark of distinction
in a competitive window coverings market.
A survey of some of the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers
tells us what’s ahead and how to meet demand.
FORMAL TREND
Richard Holmes
Worldwide Window Treatments/Gould
We see a significant increase in the demand for wood traverse sets. It
appears that the trend is for a more traditional/formal look, and the
wood traverse sets afford that along with a more functional means of opening
and closing the draperies.
I believe that the
better the quality of our hardware, the easier and quicker it will
install, which in turn minimizes chances for future problems.
CHRIS SCARANO
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GETTING IT RIGHT
Chris Scarano
Le Fer Forge
As a drapery hardware manufacturer, Le Fer Forge prides itself in innovation
as opposed to jumping onto the bandwagon of trends. I am always trying
to get into my customers’ heads to find out their needs, their wants
or, for example, how we can design our products better for the installer.
I believe that the better the quality of our hardware, the easier and
quicker it will install, which in turn minimizes chances for future problems.
It all equals savings for my customers.
I enjoy thinking ahead. My personality has always been “how can we
put out the fire before it happens? Let’s get the order right the
first time, so that our customers will consider us for their future projects.”
We like to joke around here about changing our name to Deadlines-R-Us.
We at Le Fer Forge Drapery Hardware feel that it’s important to coordinate
our schedule around our customers’ deadlines, not to coordinate our
customers’ orders around our production schedule. If I’m making
my customer wait four to six weeks, then I must be doing something wrong.
Our drapery hardware needs to be in our customers’ hands when they
need it, or else we are not doing our job. Those famous words apply: If
we fail to plan, then we plan to fail.
It’s so satisfying for me to receive positive, enthusiastic calls
from my customers, yet it is vital for me to hear their criticisms also.
How successful would any of us be without facing our failures?
Let us all join together, work towards a better future and appreciate
all of the opportunities and freedoms that our beautiful America has to
offer.
HIGH-END CUSTOM
Roberto Lobos
Orion Ornamental Iron
Iron Art is a unique drapery hardware business that offers both hand-forged
and cast iron products. What makes our company unique is that we make
all our products in our own blacksmith shop, and we specialize in custom
orders with fast reliable delivery.
We are a company that is always creating new and innovative high-end products
that are yet affordable such as the One Way Draw System that always seems
to surprise our industry and satisfy our customers. Iron Art’s newest
lines are the Rosina Collection, a beautiful resin wood and iron combination.
Also, we offer the new Classic Italian collection, a modern brushed nickel
finish that has become a favorite. Iron Art is also very proud to offer
a variety of iron traverse rods with fascia for both single- and double-traverse
systems, a must see.
Finally Iron Art is one of the only companies in our industry to offer
more than 23 different custom finishes from rusty to antique crackle and
many more.
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