MELBOURNE, AUS—Fifty years ago, an Australian homebuilder decided there was a better line of work so he got into the vinyl coated products business for the local car and furniture industry. Little did he know it, but with this career change, Founder  and Group Chairman Tom Warwick (now 74) planted the seeds of a $50 million family business still growing at 10-12 percent a year according to Cameron Warwick, 50, who runs the business Warwick Fabrics Pty. Ltd., with his brother Leighton, 45, both Joint Managing Directors. With this growth rate in place, the pair expect to double sales in the next decade. Warwick is a broad line supplier and the largest fabric wholesaler in Austral Asia today but the competition is fierce from smaller family owned specialists in residential, contract drapery and upholstery. Warwick does 80 percent of its business in domestic Australia and 20 percent export. In the UK branch, Warwick does 70 percent of its business in the UK with 20 percent elsewhere in Europe, Africa and North America. “The USA is too competitive and we choose to focus on the other markets, especially in Europe and South Africa for growth,” Cam says. Warwick aggressively pursues resort business in Australia, Middle East, China and Southeast Asia. Warwick distribute, across our 3 offices, to 59 countries “The markets have become tougher with margins squeezed more than ever,” he points out. Warwick employs nearly 300 people today with a management in their early 40’s Cam says. He expects to be present at Heimtextil Frankfurt in January for the first time in three years, he says. He also attends Evteks and Intertextile in Shanghai. “It’s a great way to meet my suppliers which number about 15-20. “ If you want to do business with Warwick, you better see Cam first. He counts D’Décor of India and Kets of Turkey as his most important suppliers but he does business with four companies in India and 10 in Turkey today. “I think sourcing will continue to change with the emergence of key mills as one stop shops. China is purely commodity today. We have our own sourcing office in China where we do business with 15-20 companies. We also produce certain ranges completely in Australia and we are moving towards more production of finished items like cushions and accessories. He is not interested in roller shades however which he describes as too competitive. Since the sons have taken over, Tom has retired and is Group Chairman of the business with his two sons and one outside director. Leighton handles operations and finance for the company while Cameron is in charge of business and development. Cam has been with the company for 25 years while Leighton has logged 17 years. The pair has been running the business for ten years, Cam confirms. They purchased the shares of their uncle Max four years ago who went on to purchase local wholesaler Elliot Clarke with his son Luke. The deal was described as very amicable. Max was with Warwick for 41 years. “We’d like the legacy to continue. I’ve got two kids, four and five years old while Leighton has three children 18, 16 and 12,” Cam explains. Warwick’s 50th Birthday was lavishly celebrated with a 600-person global guest list including suppliers and 30 Warwick distributors at the Luminaire in South Melbourne November 14. This included employees from the UK branch headed by John –Andrew Ovenstone, MD and Martin Irvine, MD of the New Zealand branch. Both MD’s are part owners of these two Warwick branches.