Loomcraft launches higher-price division
By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, March 24, 2002
GREENSBORO, N.C. — GREENSBORO, N.C. — Loomcraft Textiles, for more than 50 years a specialist in promotional decorative and automotive fabrics, has launched a new division offering mid- to high-end European goods to furniture manufacturers, jobbers and retailers.
Italian textile veteran Franco Nannucci, president of the new Loomcraft Textiles International division, has partnered with Ron Frankel, chief executive officer of Loomcraft, in the venture.
Nannucci, who has relocated to Greensboro, was formerly director of sales for Italian mill Mario Sirtori and before that managed his family's fabric weaving business, Vellutex.
"We consider ourselves very fortunate that Nannucci would choose to do this venture with us," said Frankel.
The new division's line, not yet named, will be primarily imported from Italy, Spain and Turkey, with some promotionally priced volume goods from the Far East.
"One key to the new business," Nannucci said, "is that we aren't afraid to stock. We want to provide real service and real goods in the warehouse ready to be delivered."
Loomcraft routinely keeps about 10 million yards of fabric under one roof at its 420,000-square-foot facility here, with an option to double the space if needed.
Loomcraft will increase its sales force to support the new division, and Nannucci is setting up an on-site design studio. "Being a converter-distributor gives us the flexibility to look to the trends more easily," he said.
Although still in the very early stages, the company has placements for the April furniture market, especially with a traditional Jacobean chenille pattern called Verona.
Nannucci also is experimenting with less-than-traditional constructions such as leather and chenille weaves, steel fibers, pure linen flocked chenille yarns and lampasso on chenille.
"You have to open a new niche," he said, "and there's a huge market growing daily for innovative, high-tech fabrics.
"Although the market in the United States is mostly traditional," Nannucci said, "I am interested in developing contemporary European fabrics that are more about clean looks and more about color than about price."
| Nannucci |
| Loomcraft's offerings include Verona, a traditional Jacobean floral pattern in a chenille construction, which has earned several placements at the April market. |
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