Decorative Fabric Suppliers Primed for HD Boutique

New York – The hospitality sector continues to offer major opportunities for decorative fabrics suppliers as they look towards the HD Boutique show in Miami September 17 and 18.

Despite conversation about a possible delay in hospitality projects domestically, most suppliers to this channel see at least the next year as strong because projects under way must be completed.

Sundial from Waverly, part of P/Kaufmann’s P/K Lifestyles group is a high performance double cloth that has the look of a sand dollar.

In addition, the international boom in hospitality projects is viewed as taking up any slack that might occur in the United States.

Then there is the competitive scenario, even domestically, where one of several similarly ranked properties in a given city may upgrade or rehab, essentially forcing the others to do the same to maintain bragging rights.

“It’s been fabulous; we keep expecting it to slow, but it’s been on a roll,” said Ron Kaufmann, ceo of fabric resource P/Kaufmann. Looking at the hospitality channel compared with the rest of contract, Kaufmann observed, “The industry can’t shut down; there’s so much in work. Maybe the second half of 2009 will be different.”

He added, “We have a big investment in our overseas efforts now, and it has been such a small part of our business,” this could offset any domestic slowdown.

Stan Fradin, president of Rockland Mills, observed, “We’ve had double digit increases in hospitality this fiscal year [ended July 31]. And even with a price increase, we got new orders as well as orders prior to the increase.”

Contract, and especially hospitality is still strong, said Mike Shelton, president of Valdese Weavers. “We’ve heard conversations from our customers [suppliers to the channel] but so far we’ve seen no evidence that future projects are being pushed back.”

Modern takes on a retro look with a unique play of texture and overlay of pattern in a new design from Valdese.	Laslo from the Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini Collection, a division of Valdese, juxtaposes contrasts between matte, luster and shiny surfaces.

For HD Boutique, Robert Allen Contract joins the growing ranks of fabric suppliers to the hospitality segment that offer manufactured product. “We’ve doubled our stand size at HD Boutique to feature our new spa luxury bath products and coordinated bedding ensembles,” explained Andy Pacuk, senior vp, strategic development for The Robert Allen Group.

Robert Allen Contract launches its spa bath collection and coordinating bedding ensembles for HD Boutique.	Richloom debuts its Evolution collection of seven upholstery fabric patterns, fashioned from post-consumer and post-industrial polyester.

The company will offer terry towels and robes, shower curtains and bed ensembles with embroidery and personalization; and window treatments, Pacuk said. The fabrics will be from the company’s core fabric collections as well as “a new, cool velvet collection and some graphic designs.”

For Covington Fabric & Design, now moving ahead after a restructuring, “We are refocusing on the hospitality area with a particular focus on hotels and assisted living,” said Roger Gilmartin, president. And now that the company has concentrated its efforts, “We will push new product,” he emphasized.

Block Party from Wearbest’s Bella Dura fabric line uses uneven bars to create a Bohemian flavor in vibrant design inspired by multi-colored knit scarves.

For Richloom, “We’re doing well on many fronts in hospitality,” said Bruce Resch, contract manager. For HD Boutique, the company will feature new products from its R Bed product collection as well as a new upholstery fabric collection at “slightly higher price points” than in the past.

“We see Miami as an important follow-up to Las Vegas, where we supported our customers with our Bella Dura fabrics,” said Tom Notaro, vp, Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills. “We had really good response to the fabrics in Vegas and we’ll be in Miami in full force with new collections and new marketing materials.”

For Wearbest, hospitality is ahead of residential business with Crypton finished fabrics strong, bleach cleanability a selling point, as well as solution-dyed nylon and recycled or partially recycled fabrics, Notaro commented.

Fabricut, one of the few decorative textiles companies sensing a slowdown in the hospitality channel, calls the situation “a little unsettled,” said Harvey Nudelman, president. “There’s some scrambling to get money and some projects are delayed. We see a slowdown in projects in ’09.”

To date, “Business is holding up very well and our backlog is good. The S. Harris division is strong with its cradle-to-cradle recycled collection and Fabricut is emphasizing FR,” he noted.