1981-1985  The Defining Year

It was a time of firsts. In 1981, the first woman, Sandra Day O'Conner, was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court; IBM started making personal computers; and the first designer automobile, the DMC DeLorean, rolled off the assembly line. The first issue of Draperies & Window Coverings was printed mid-year 1981 with a mission to provide news, information and advice to help the drapery and window coverings dealer operate more successfully. The following years saw the first annual Directory & Buyer's Guide (1982), the first World of Window Coverings™ trade show (1983), and the introduction of columns and features that remain stables of the magazine today including Portfolio and Industry Profile.

1981			January:	Ronald Reagan is sworn in as president. Iranian revolutionaries free 53 Americans held hostage for 444 days.
			April:	The first U.S. space shuttle, Columbia,lifts off from Cape Canaveral.
			May:	Hunter Douglas, Inc. announces the development of a traveling seminar on window coverings.
			July:	His Royal Highness Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, marries the Lady Diana Frances Spencer.
			October:	The Industrial Fabrics Association sponsors the first Window Energy Show in Las Vegas, NV.
			December:	Jerry Fuchs is named president of Hunter Douglas Window Products Division.

1982			January:	The National Curtain, Drapery and Allied Products Association changes its name to Home Fashion Products Association.
			April-June:	British overcome Argentina in the Falklands.
			June:	Alexander Haig Jr. resigns as Secretary of State. Equal Rights Amendment fails ratification.
			August	Charles E. Kirsch, president of Kirsch Co., announces his retirement.

1983			April:	The first annual World of Window Coverings Expo '83 is held at the Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA.
			June:	Sally Ride becomes the first U.S. woman astronaut aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
			August:	The American Rolling Insulating Security Shutter Association is formed.
			September:	Superior Shades breaks ground for Phase 1 of a plant expansion program in Pompano Beach, FL. U.S. invades Grenada.
			October:	Terrorist explosion kills 237 U.S. Marines in Beirut. U.S. invades Grenada.
			November:	Hunter Douglas, Inc. and Custom Bilt Products announce joint partnership.

1984			January:	Bell System broken up by court order.
			March:	Second annual World of Window Coverings Show is held at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside and Towers, New Orleans, LA.
			May:	Soviet Union boycotts summer Olympic games.
			July:	Democratic National Convention nominates Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro. Marathon Carey-McFall Co. introduces the Bali® MicroBlind™
			August:	Republican National Convention renominates Ronald Reagan and George Bush.
			September:	World of Window Coverings-West show debuts at the Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA.
			November:	Kirsch introduces Continental II curtain rod.

1985			March:	Soviet leader Chernenko dies and is replaced by Mikhail Gorbachev who introduces the words glasnost and perestroika into our vernacular. The World of Window Coverings show opens at the Rivergate Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. A group of leading manufacturers of Venetian and vertical blinds and pleated shades agrees to form the American Window Coverings Manufacturers Association (AWCMA).
			April:	Hunter Douglas, Inc. acquires Thermal Technology Corp. of Aspen, Inc., holder of a patent that eventually led to the Duette® shade.
			August:	On its 35th anniversary, Lafayette Venetian Blind, Inc. opens new manufacturing facility.

Also of note:

Michael Jackson releases "Thriller" (1982) John Belushi dies of drug overdose (1982) Vinyl recordings begin steep decline with the introduction of compact dics (1983) "The Cosby Show" debuts on NBC (1984) Apple introduces Macintosh personal computer (1984) Rock Hudson dies of AIDS (1985) Coca-Cola introduces "New Coke" (1985)

1986-1990  Building on Success

It was at time to try new things: Eastern Europe and Russia try capitalism as the Berlin Wall crumbles and Romania overthrows its leaders, Fox enters the market as the fourth television network, and the first World Wide Web browser is developed at CERN. As Draperies & Window Coverings entered its second five-year stretch, it builds on its early success and grows along with the industry it covers. Reader surveys queried readers on sales compensation, contract markets, direct mail and customer preferences. Market reports analyzed prices, fashions and what's hot in major U.S. markets. The success of the World of Window Coverings trade shows and seminar programs lead to the creation of an educational division. With both the World of Window Coverings and the Western World of Window Coverings in full swing, the magazine looks north to host its first Canadian show in 1990. At the same time the magazine's first Canadian edition rolls off the presses.

1986	January:	Space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after lift off. Nanik acquires The Shuttery. Memorial service is held for Harry A. Weiss, founder and board chairman of Wesco Fabrics, Inc.
	February:	President Ferdinand Marcos flees Philippines.
	April:	A major nuclear accident is reported at the Soviet Union's Chernobyl plant. The World of Window Coverings show moves to the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA, prompting attendance to nearly double to 7,000 attendees.
	May:	Hunter Douglas acquires Dixie Vertical Industries.

1987	March:	The World of Window Coverings show opens at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA. Joanna Western Holdings, Inc. sells its consumer product lines to CHS Industries, Inc.
	June:	Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wins rare third term.
	July:	Oliver North testifies before Congress on Iran-Contra operations.
	September:	The American Window Covering Manufacturers Association (AWCMA) launches "Window Coverings For a Change" consumer awareness campaign.
	December:	The Decorative Window Coverings Association is formed.

1988	January:	United States and Canada reach free trade agreement (NAFTA).
	April:	The World of Window Coverings show is held at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. James S. Bugg becomes sole owner of Decorating Den Systems, Inc.
	June:	Levolor Lorentzen, Inc. is bought out by the investment group Dean Witter Capital Corp.
	July:	Democratic National Convention nominates Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen.
	August:	Republican National Convention nominates George Bush and Dan Quayle. Hunter Douglas introduces Fabrette.
	November:	Robert M. Perkowitz, Inc. and Frontenac Co. purchase LouverDrape, Inc.; LouverDrape Canada; and Del Mar Window Coverings.
	December:	Pam-Am 747 explodes from terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland. F. Schumacher announces plans to celebrate its centennial in 1989.

1989	January:	Graber marks its 50th anniversary.
	February:	Iran's Ayatollah Komeini sentences Salman Rushdie to death for his book "Satanic Verses."
	March:	The ruptured Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. The World of Window Coverings show opens at the Orlando Convention Center, Orlando, FL.
	April:	Memorial service is held for Hubert Wulf, founder, owner and CEO of ADO.
	June:	Tens of thousands of Chinese students take over Tiananmen Square.
	August:	Army General Colin Powell is appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ADO celebrates its 10th anniversary.
	October:	D&WC announces its first International Student Competition for Window Treatments.
	November:	After 28 years, the Berlin Wall comes down.
	December:	Comfortex sells a minority interest to Masco Corp. Memorial service is held for Joe Morgan Sr., founder and chairman of Lafayette Venetian Blind.

1990	February:	Communist Party relinquishes power in the Soviet Union.
	April:	Eighth annual World of Window Coverings show opens at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. Chromagraphic Processing Co. joins forces with Coastal Aluminum Rolling Mills, Inc.
	June:	Jim Mathews is named vice president, marketing at Hunter Douglas. The World of Window Coverings™ Canada debuts at the International Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
	August:	Iraqi troops invade Kuwait setting off the Persian Gulf War.

Also of note:

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" airs (1986) Ted Turner starts Turner Network Television (TNT) and buys MGM's film library (1988) Lucille Ball dies (1989) "Seinfeld" debuts on NBC (1990) The Hubble Space Telescope is launched (1990)

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	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 of 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	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	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  The New Millennium

First we prepared for Armageddon with the approaching Y2K bug, then we heaved a sigh of relief as nothing much happened. As the 20th century gave way to the 21st century, more Americans connected to the World Wide Web, and more window coverings retailers and suppliers met them there with Web sites in this period's ultimate expression of going global. D&WC led the way premiering its home page on the World Wide Web in 1996. Following the same lines, the annual International Directory & Buyer's Guide is added online and D&WC creates a consumer dealer locator site: BuyWindowCoverings.com. D&WC sports a new look on its cover and inside the magazine in January 1996, which is updated to its current look in August 1998. As the whole industry prepares to meets its future, a new window coverings educational conference is announced: D&WC: A Whole New World.

1996	January:	Hunter Douglas acquires Allison-Dize.
	March:	Britain is alarmed by an outbreak of "Mad Cow" disease. The International World of Window Coverings show is held at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN.
	April:	FBI arrests suspected Unabomber. D&WC announces the launch of its Web site: www.DWCdesigNet.com. Conso Products Co. acquires The Claesson Co., Inc. Astrup Co. celebrates its 120th anniversary.
	June:	Eclipse Blind Systems acquires Montage, Inc.
	August:	Republican National Convention nominates Bob Dole and Jack Kemp.
	November:	Democratic National Convention renominates Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

1997	January:	Hunter Douglas acquires Shade-O-Matic.
	February:	Insolroll, Inc. acquires Superblinds of Denver, Inc.
	March:	Heaven's Gate cult members commit mass suicide in California. The International World of Window Coverings show returns to the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, Newell Co. purchases Kirsch from Cooper Industries, Inc. The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) adopts a looped cord safety standard.
	April:	A car bomb explodes outside the federal office building in Oklahoma City, OK, killing 168 persons.
	July:	U.S. spacecraft begins exploration of Mars. Stephen Thomas is named president of Kirsch
	August:	Timothy McVeigh is sentenced to death for Oklahoma City bombing.

1998	January:	President Clinton denies allegations of an affair with Monica Lewinsky.
	March:	Rowley Co. is presented the 1998 Industry Achievement Award by the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA).
	May:	Europeans agree on a single currency, the euro. Borden Decorative Products and Imperial Wallcoverings merge into the Imperial Home Decor Group.
	September:	Techniku Holland acquires Daylighting, Inc.
	October:	Cary Findlay resumes as president, CEO of Conso Products Co. Memorial services are held for Jerry Fuchs, chairman of Hunter Douglas, Inc.; and J. Reese Phifer, chairman of Phifer Wire Products, Inc
	December:	U.S. House votes to impeach President Clinton on two charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Newell Co. announces merger with Rubbermaid Inc.

1999	February:	U.S. Senate acquits President Clinton in impeachment trial and rejects censure.
	March:	Scientific Plastics, Inc. becomes part of the Eclipse Group.
	April:	Students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold open fire in Columbine High School in Littleton, CO. Royal Group Technologies acquires the U.S.-based assets of U.S. Polymers, Inc.
	June:	Nelson Mandela steps down as South African president. Hunter Douglas announces it will acquire Comfortex Window Fashions.
	July:	John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Bessette are lost at sea off Martha's Vineyard. Dian Garbarini, founder of the DraperyPro online networking forum, is appointed to head its board.
	November:	Elián González is rescued from the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Memorial service is held for Alexander "Zandy" Leaderman, founder and chairman of the board of Rockland Industries.

2000	January:	Computer calendars switch to year 00, and virtually nothing bad happens.
	April:	Microsoft loses in antitrust suit.
	July:	Douglas R. Kelly is named president and CEO of The Imperial Home Décor Group Inc.
	August:	Republican National Convention nominates George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Democratic National Convention nominates Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman.
	September:	After six years, the Whitewater inquiry into President and Mrs. Clinton ends finding no evidence that either committed crimes.
	October:	Hunter Douglas announces the acquisition of ISO-Teck Industries, Inc.
	November:	U.S. presidential election "too close to call." The Window Covering Safety Council alerts manufacturers to a new problem with horizontal blind lift cords.

2001	January:	The new millennium officially begins. U.S. presidential election confirmed by Electoral College just days before George W. Bush is sworn into office.
	February:	Hunter Douglas Group announces the formation of Tapestria, a to-the-trade international online market place for interior fabrics.
	April:	The first D&WC: A Whole New World educational conference opens at the Cobb Galleria Center, Atlanta, GA.

Also of note:

Ella Fitzgerald dies (1996) An estimated 76 million viewers watch the final episode of "Seinfeld" (1998) Frank Sinatra dies (1998) Seventy-seven-year-old Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, returns to space aboard the space shuttle Discovery (1998) Rev. Jerry Falwell "outs" Teletubby Tinky Winky as a gay role model (1999) The number of Internet users worldwide reaches 150 million (1999) Fifty-two Oscar statuettes are stolen and later recovered from a trash bin (2000)