D&WCnews : March, 2002

INDUSTRY NEWS

-- March, 2002 --

TECHNIKU, INC.; TECHNIKU HOLLAND, BV; HARMONIC DESIGN SETTLE LAWSUIT

Techniku, Inc.; Techniku Holding, BV; and Harmonic Design, Inc. have reached a settlement of their litigation concerning Techniku’s line of battery-powered motorization components for window coverings.

The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, but include a license of Harmonic Design’s patents to Techniku.

Techniku, Inc. and Techniku Holding, BV, headquartered in Denver, CO, and the Netherlands, are leading manufacturers of hard-wired and battery-operated motorization systems for window coverings. Harmonic Design, headquartered in Valencia, CA, is a leading manufacturer of battery operated motorization systems for window coverings.

AVENO CAMPAIGN RAISES FUNDS FOR RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF

At the close of business on January 31, 2002, the owners and employees of Aveno® Window Fashions, Inc., Atlanta, GA, smiled as the accounting department cut an unusually large check: $55,049 to the American Red Cross.

The check, issued in January, was the culmination of a fundraising campaign spanning the past four months. From October 1, 2001, to January 31, 2002, Aveno donated a portion of proceeds from each unit sold to its regular dealer base to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. (See D&WC, November 2001, page 14.)

“Even in the window fashions industry, it’s very important to recognize the impact that world events carry in our lives. We were all touched by the heartbreak of September 11. We immediately asked ourselves, ‘What can we do?’ And today we are proud to be able to make this donation,” said Moe Rouzati, president and CEO.

Todd Lockwood, MIS/PIC manager at Aveno was instrumental in helping to launch the American Red Cross fundraising campaign. The company also provided special certificates of recognition to dealers whose orders were processed during the fundraising campaign.

HOUSE OF EATHAN SIGNS WITH KENSINGTON

House of Eathan, Spartanburg, SC, has signed on as a licensed independent wholesale fabricator for Kensington Window Expressions, Suwanee, GA. Kensington manufactures and markets a new streamlined brand of window fashions supported by color-coordinated, easy-to-use sampling targeted exclusively to independent retailers and design professionals.

House of Eathan presently has 30 employees and a new 25,000-square-foot facility. The company had been supplying its Southeast customer base with a smaller offering of window coverings, and now the Kensington line will be able to offer shades, blinds, wood treatments and horizontal and vertical window shadings in a full range of colors, textures, fabrics and hardware systems.

SOLATECH, AVENO ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE

Solatech, High Point, NC, and Aveno® Window Fashions, Atlanta, GA, have announced a strategic alliance to provide Aveno’s product information to the retail window coverings industry through the Solatech retail window covering software products, thus allowing Aveno’s products to be ordered directly by users of the Solatech software.

Under the agreement, Solatech, with a customer base spread across the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii as well as Canada, will market, develop and support the Aveno product line information for the users of the Solatech window covering software products. This partnership will allow Aveno customers to use computerized pricing, apply discounts and generate quotes, order confirmations, invoices, purchase orders and open order as well as generate sales reports. Solatech plans to make product information available by March 24, 2002.

By joining the Solatech Partnership Alliance, Aveno joins the ranks of other notable companies such as Comfortex Window Fashions.

Solatech (www.solatech.com) under the management of Ray Soltis has been selling custom software packages for the window fashions industry since 2001. The Solatech team has been providing software to the custom window coverings industry since 1992 and has more than 25 years of software development experience and more than 20 years of window coverings industry experience.

Aveno Window Fashions, Inc., a family operated business focusing on quality craftsmanship and superior customer service, is a leading manufacturer of more than 10 different lines of window coverings.

GILMORE DEBUTS BASSWOOD SHUTTER BLIND SLAT

Gilmore Enterprises, Chatsworth, CA, will debut a patent-pending 2 1/2-inch domestic basswood shutter blind slat material at the International Window Coverings Expo in Baltimore, MD.

The slat will be beveled on all four corners to create a softness reserved for larger shutter louver shapes without the associated bulk and weight. The flat top and bottom surfaces ensures consistent traditional fabrication techniques while creating the pinnacle in closure. The shutter blind is part of a new CountryView Basswood Collection that includes 12 colors of two-inch slat material and various valance and bottomrail shapes.

In addition, Gilmore will debut a pre-finished basswood shutter component program.

MINUTES MATTER ADDS NEW MEASURING FORMS

Minutes Matter, Hendersonville, TN, has added two new forms to its Minutes Matter Measuring System. A bay window measuring form and a corner window measuring form were created due to the many requests from the industry, according to the company.

These additional forms will be added in the Specialty section of the Minutes Matter Measuring System. The debut of these forms is scheduled for the International Window Coverings Expo in Baltimore, MD.

Minutes Matter is the creator of organizational products and services for the interior design and window treatment industry.

AVENO INTRODUCES 2002 PRODUCT CATALOG, NEW WOVENS LINE

Aveno® Window Fashions, Inc., Atlanta, GA, will introduce its Tropical Wovens™ collection of woven wood shades and Thermowood™ shutters at the International Window Coverings Expo in Baltimore, MD.

Inspired by the tropical climates where the fibers, woods and reeds originate, Tropical Wovens makes a timely return to the world of window fashion. They will be available in 31 different styles and color combinations.

The line will be fabricated at the company’s Atlanta plant, ensuring quick delivery. A Roman shade and roll-up style are two choices that can be ordered with several features including multiple shade headrails, optional edge banding and privacy liners.

Thermowood shutters offer an alternative to traditional wood window coverings with solid component construction that insulates the home up to three times more effectively than natural wood. The solid component construction is also moisture and fire resistant, providing greater longevity for the shutters and increased safety for homeowners.

Aveno also introduces its 2002 Product Catalog, its most expansive effort to date. The catalog provides comprehensive information on product specifications, customization, ordering, company policies, e-commerce and its limited lifetime warranty, according to a company statement.

The new product catalog features information on the company’s wood and poly shutters; aluminum, poly, wood and faux wood blinds; vertical blinds; cellular shades; window shadings; and decorative cornices. Each offering also has easy-to-use sampling for presentations.

LASSEN CHANGES NAME, INTRODUCES DRESS WOOD

Lassen Windoware, Inc., Anaheim, CA, has changed its name to Lassen Window Fashions, Inc., although the management, structure and company profile remain unchanged.

Lassen also introduces real wood blind slats called Dress Wood with a revolutionary coating technique that offers authentic wood color and grain to match its natural appeal, according to a company statement. All slats are 100 percent hardwood with UV-protected finishes. The slats are guaranteed to remain color consistent and free of warps.

Lassen specializes in two-inch basswood, ramin wood and faux wood slats and components.

HUNTER DOUGLAS PRODUCTS SET THE TABLE AT L.A. DESIGN EVENT

Hunter Douglas window fashions reached the epitome of style at the 2001 “Dining by Design” gala event in Los Angeles, CA. The event, which benefited the local chapter of the national organization, Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA), enlisted top Los Angeles designers to create dramatic, over-the-top table settings for the benefit dinner.

Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, Upper Saddle River, NJ, sponsored a table and partnered with one of Los Angeles’ hottest designers, Vanessa Abaunza of Paston Rawleigh, who used a variety of Hunter Douglas products in her whimsical design, including Brilliance® pleated shades used as a canopy, Reflections Wood Blinds® as chair backs and fabrics from Vignette® window shadings for the table cloth and napkins.

SPRINGS TO ACQUIRE BEAULIEU’S ACCENT RUG BUSINESS

Beaulieu Group, LLC and Springs Industries, Inc. announced they have signed a letter of intent for the sale of Beaulieu’s rug division to Springs. The purchase would include manufacturing and related assets in Dalton, GA, and Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

The rug division of Beaulieu manufactures woven area and accent rugs and tufted bath rugs. “Adding Beaulieu rugs will enable Springs to expand into a new product line and fits our strategy of offering fashionable products for every room in the home,” said Crandall C. Bowles, Springs chairman and chief executive officer.

The purchase by Springs of Beaulieu has received federal antitrust clearance in the United States and is also subject to antitrust approval in Canada. The transaction was expected to close in February. The purchase price was not disclosed.

| NEWSarchive |