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Industry News
VERDICT REACHED IN BLIND MAKER VS. SPRINGS
Further motions and a possible appeal are expected following a jury verdict in
February, which found in favor of The Blind Maker, Austin, TX, against Springs
Window Fashions Division, Inc., Middleton, WI. A meeting with a judge was schedule
for late April to review the verdict and to hear any possible motions and appeals.
A jury in the 201st District Court of Austin, Travis County, TX, found that Springs
had defrauded The Blind Maker in conjunction with events during the time The
Blind Maker was a part of Springs’ Preferred Fabricator Program and related
to certain matters therewith. The jury awarded The Blind Maker $5.1 million in
actual damages, and $2 million in punitive or exemplary damages. The jury also
awarded Springs $2 million as a setoff for disputed amounts owed by The Blind
Maker to Springs on inventory at issue.
The Blind Maker ended a 20-year relationship with Springs Window Fashions when
it terminated its exclusive fabrication arrangement in November 2000 after notifying
Springs of its decision to do so in July 2000 (see D&WC, August 2000, page
14).
WHOLESALE CUSTOM ROMAN SHADE DIVISION LAUNCHED BY SUPERIOR WINDOW COVERINGS
California based Superior Window Coverings, Inc. debuted its new wholesale line
of custom Roman shades at the 2003 International Window Coverings Expo in Baltimore,
MD, this month. The new division, Superior Roman Shades, has released its first
two lines: The Classic Collection featuring over 200 SKUs of silks, linens and
cottons; and the Natural Collection featuring 20 SKUs of 100 percent cotton fabrics.
Superior will initially concentrate on the four most popular style Roman shades:
flat, soft flat, pleated and soft pleated.
After 24 years as a Roman shade workroom, Superior has refined its fabrication
techniques and technologies, allowing it to offer traditional custom, handmade
Roman shades to designers and retailers.
“We felt that the marketplace lacked a major supplier of Roman shades with
the same custom quality and attention to detail found in a local workroom,” said
Marco Bonilla, operations manager.
BEAD CHAIN COMPLETES MOVE TO NEW FACILITY
Bead Chain, a division of Bead Industries, has announced it has relocated its
sales, distribution, customer service and management offices to Milford, CT.
The firm recently consolidated all chain manufacturing operations into its United
Kingdom subsidiary, Sturge Industries.
“Here in Milford, we maintain a significant inventory of chain and have
the capability to produce custom assemblies very quickly,” said Ron Andreoli,
general manager. “The Sturge production facility can continue to pursue
additional operational efficiencies.”
The company, which was recently ISO 9001:2000 certified, has made the authentic
Bead Chain® for window treatments since 1914.
CUSTEMERS.COM RELEASES UPDATED MARKETING SYSTEM
CustEmers.com, Bethesda, MD, has announced the newest version of its CustomerTouch
Marketing System, which features an affordable Web site and e-mail newsletter
in addition to a customer management database.
The latest version of CustomerTouch offers a complete marketing system including
customized Web site, customer mail lists for postal mailings and e-mail follow-up
for leads garnered from networking, home shows, realtors and past customers,
according to Steven C. Bursten, president.
“Over 80 percent of home owners with $75,000 incomes have Internet access
and use e-mail. These are typically homes valued in the $250,000 to $400,000
range, the core market for custom draperies and window fashions products and
service,” Bursten notes.
DSC ADDS NEW CITIES TO SEMINAR PROGRAM
DSC Window Fashions, Inc., Arvada, CO, has added new cities to its Four-tune
Focus Seminar program (See D&WC, March 2003, page 19). DSC will bring four
training seminars to Bend, OR, in April, to Grand Junction, CO, in May and to
Bozeman, MT, in June. The seminars cover motorization, troubleshooting techniques,
Vinylbilt Shutters and selling DSC.
DSC’s Four-tune Focus Seminars are open to the resale industry. If you
would like further information, contact Melissa Conners at (800) 873-0000, ext.
137.
LAS VEGAS SHOW DRAWS BIGGER ATTENDANCE
The 20th annual Pacific Home Fashion Fair and Paint & Decorating Show held
in Las Vegas, NV, in January attracted 87 exhibiting companies and 1,944 participants
were registered for the co-located shows‚ according to the show’s
producers.
Participants at the two events represented 49 states and 21 countries including
Australia, Belgium, Canada, India and Mexico.
Following exhibitor feedback from the previous year, the shows seminar program
was timed to have only limited overlap with show hours, allowing attendees maximum
time to explore the exhibit floor.
The combined events addressed the needs of decorators, designers, retailers,
fabricators and specifiers. Messe Frankfurt, Inc. and Window Fashions magazine
produced the Pacific Home Fashion Fair. The Paint & Decorating Show held
concurrently was hosted by the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association (PDRA)
The dates, times and location for next year’s Pacific Home Fashion Fair
and Paint & Decorating Show are expected to be announced soon.
FSC PLANS EIGHTH LEARNING CONFERENCE
FSC Wallcoverings, New York, NY, has slated its eighth annual Learning Conference
for July 17 to 19 at the Lowes Philadelphia Hotel, Philadelphia, PA. “We
are planning a new format to provide the progressive retailers in the Waverly
Place program with innovative ideas, information and inspiration,” said
Susan Walker, FSC director of marketing.
New wallpapers for Waverly, Village, Gramercy, Greeff and Schumacher will make
their debuts at the conference. Retailers also will see new home fashions and
licensed products. The keynote speaker will be management consultant Jon Schallert,
formerly with Hallmark Cards where he developed marketing techniques adapted
by card stores across the country.
HESTER DECORATING LAUNCHES COMMERCIAL DIVISION
Hester Decorating, Skokie, IL, is launching its newest division, Hester Commercial
Painting, to better serve its commercial customers. Hester Commercial Painting
will offer high-quality general painting services, while also providing exclusive
faux finishing and specialty finishing services for lobbies and other high-traffic
building areas.
John Jacob, Hester Commercial Painting commercial sales manager, will head the
new division. He brings more than 15 years of industry experience to the company
and its customers.
Hester Decorating’s past notable commercial projects include the dining
room at Spiaggia and the artistic salon at Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Salon & Spa
on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, as well as the grand lobby of the Hyatt
Regency Chicago Ballroom.
Family-owned and operated, Hester Decorating is regarded as a leader in the fields
of painting, faux finishing and wall covering installation. It has been providing
homes and high-profile commercial establishments in the Chicago area with high-end
decorating services since 1968.
THIBAUT DEBUTS WEB SITE
Thibaut, Newark, NJ, has entered cyberspace with the introduction of its Web
site: www.thibautdesign.com. With this new site, visitors can browse through
descriptions and pattern swatches from a multitude of collections and view decorated
rooms.
The site also includes information about the company’s newest collections
as well as helpful decorating tips. There is a place for designers to find local
showrooms and see feedback from other design professionals as to what’s
needed and what’s selling.
A “Where To Buy” section enables consumers to find designers and
retailers carrying Thibaut in their local areas. |
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