Letters to the Editor
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 27, 2005
Berkley's letter too narrowly focused
I was somewhat disappointed to see that you chose to print names as contained in the harsh letter written by Weave Corp. President Roger Berkley (see "China conducting 'no-holds-barred assault' on U.S. textile industry," Feb. 28, page 38). That the letter appeared to focus on Jack Cobb and American Decorative Fabrics as the prime example of why U.S. mills currently are suffering confirms some basic human nature: It is easier to blame others.
Berkley vented his frustration at a well-known individual and company as opposed to simply at "those Chinese mills," which does not permit any clear focus for one's hostility. We appear to need a clear and distinct target, since shooting blindly into a forest just does not satisfy.
Chinese imports have undermined the U.S. (and the rest of the world's) textile industry, but Cobb is as American as apple pie, with a long history within the industry working for a U.S. mill. American Decorative Fabrics is managed by Americans, employs American staff, operates from a U.S. warehouse, faces U.S. costs and pays U.S. taxes. They are an American company.
Where a company sources its goods has no bearing on whether or not the company is American. We do not refer to other importers, such as Morgan, Gum Tree, Diversitex, KasLen, Barrow, Bartson, Covington, Kravet, Robert Allen, etc. as "Chinese" (or other country) companies, yet I believe they all import from that part of the world. A few do not run any U.S.-made goods in their line, and haven't for some time. Berkley's letter focused on one person and one company only, without justification or thought about all the other companies doing exactly what ADF is "guilty" of doing. He would have to include a few of his customers in his attack.
Perhaps the problem is that ADF is clearly focused and has demonstrated measurable success. Let us remember that ADF was not an instant overnight success, and has taken many years of struggling, commitment and dedication to arrive at where they are today. I recall sitting with Mr. Li many years ago in his booth beneath the now-gone escalators, reviewing his then-humble line. Things have certainly changed.
I recall discussing with Cobb many years ago that the giant U.S. textile mills were in fact marketing companies, and need not sell only what they produce. If the mill industry had taken this approach, the recent onslaught of imported microdenier suedes and other fabrics would not have created such a dent in their business. They could have supplied these goods themselves, rather than allow other, smaller companies, such as ADF, to fill the demand and grow.
Any major mill could have allocated sufficient capital and human resources to have done exactly this instead of banging away making more of the same to offer every six months, year after year, at lower and lower prices. Had they done so, they would still be healthy businesses today, enjoying the best of both worlds.
The steadfast adherence to the way things were, resisting pressures to change, created today's new world order, and has affected virtually every major mill worldwide. This inability to change corporate thinking and direction is what got every company into its current dilemma. Had the large U.S. mills embraced the opportunity Chinese goods offered, as others did, they would have prevented companies such as ADF from gaining any strong foothold, for these large mills had the customers and credit facilities to supply any quantities as the market demanded.
They chose not to do so, and are now paying dearly for their oversight. Berkley has this option, for the Chinese weavers have learned their craft well.
Ray Lenauskas
vice president
Ex-Fab Ltd.
'A bad decision made in the dark'
I read Jack Cobb's response to my letter (Furniture/Today, March 14, page 65) with amusement. Let me deal with the ad hominem attack at the end of his letter briefly. We do import 100% silk upholstery from China. We say so openly, unlike Cobb's company, which masquerades under the banner "American" Decorative Fabrics. Weave Corp. is an American mill, weaving in Pennsylvania, owned by an American family that has been weaving in the U.S. since 1910. Let the shame fall where it will, Jack, but it won't be on me.
Now, to the meat of the argument. Cobb says, "If our customers want Showtime to occur in December and June..." Jack, your original statement was that the overwhelming majority of ITMA members want Showtime moved; you said nothing about customers.
In fact, even that statement is a lie. According to statistics given to me by ITMA, only 56% of the member companies voted. So it turns out that 43% of the total membership approved of the change, not the 70% touted by ITMA, while 57% either voted no, "other" (2%) or didn't vote at all. Hardly a ringing endorsement, is it?
My customers are not happy about having to move up their development schedules by a whole month. In fact, one client pointed out that his company, if it decides to keep visiting us and our competitors in New York, will now have to visit New York within a week or two of the market. None of our customers are happy about that. Some don't see how they can fit New York visits into their schedules, and some are evaluating the worth of Showtime.
All in all, it's a bad decision that apparently was made in the dark, no matter what Jack Cobb claims.
Roger L. Berkley
president
Weave Corp.
A preferred list of High Point hotels?
I applaud what Tupelo Market President Bill Cleveland is doing to encourage hotels and motels in that area to keep their rates reasonable during markets. Reading the story ("High hotel rates anger Tupelo visitors," March 7, page 1) made me think how great it would be if the High Point Market Authority could devise a way to encourage hotels to keep their rates within reason during markets.
What about creating and supporting a "preferred list" of hotels in the area? These would be hotels and motels that are willing to keep their market rates reasonable — under $125 per night, for example — and then allow their rates to be published so that marketgoers can choose to patronize those who recognize the importance of this market to all of us who make our living here.
This could work if everyone with a vested interest in the ongoing success of the International Home Furnishings Market participated — everybody from Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. and the International Textile Market Assn. to the Southern Home Furnishings Assn. and the International Home Furnishings Center.
This would only enhance what was started by Joe Patterson years ago and is continued today by Judy Mendenhall's wonderful efforts.
Allen Kearns III
fabric sales representative
High Point
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