Bradsal OutBlack Lining Sales Up in U.S. and Europe
February 25, 2004
MELBOURNE, Australia—Sales of Bradsal OutBlack, blackout drapery lining, are up in the United States and the United Kingdom since Bradsal gave Hanes Fabrics exclusive U.S. distribution rights to sell Bradsal products in 2002.
"OutBlack is the premium residential blackout lining available in the market," said Tim Allen, marketing manager for Hanes Fabrics, headquartered in Conover, North Carolina. "Hanes has been making a focused effort to introduce better lining products to the industry. The OutBlack product, with its soft hand, supple drape and ease of sewing, has become a favorite among high-end workrooms." Allen said he anticipated OutBlack's popularity to grow in 2004.
"Ultimately, we want to sell a container load of blackout each month in every major country in the world," said Barri Trotter, Bradsal general manager. Bradsal imports basecloth from Pakistan and China and coats about 1.5 million meters of lining a month at its plant in Melbourne, Trotter said.
Bradsal recently introduced its own soft-to-the touch line of blackout drapery linings, including Supasoft Suede finish. "Five years ago, there were 10 coaters in Australia; now there are two or three," Trotter said. "Bradsal used to do commission coating in Australia, but as that business declined we replaced it with our own line," he said.
"Until now, customers enjoyed the benefit of blackout but not the drapeability or softer handle of uncoated lining," Trotter said, adding that OutBlack "sews better, has a softer face than other products marketed and is consequently easier to handle.
Outblack is available in white and ivory, and is produced in a narrow width of 140 cm and a 280-cm width for European customers. The product is also being developed to meet the E.U. fire code, Trotter said.
Bradsal has begun saturating the global market by marketing OutBlack to other E.U. countries through a bonded warehouse arrangement in Germany. The company is currently looking for distributors in France and Spain, and recently exhibited OutBlack at textile shows in Shanghai and Frankfurt. Hanes also exports its own blackout and drapery linings worldwide, and recently expanded its export sales department by hiring Anne Collins as a product manager.
Bradsal has been owned by the Bradford family of Australia for 21 years. Mrs. Bradford owns 100 percent of company shares.
Hanes is a highly diversified woven and nonwoven textiles specialist with interests in the furniture, bedding, automotive, filtration and home furnishings markets. It is owned by Leggett & Platt, Inc. in Carthage, Missouri, a Fortune 500 corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
"OutBlack is the premium residential blackout lining available in the market," said Tim Allen, marketing manager for Hanes Fabrics, headquartered in Conover, North Carolina. "Hanes has been making a focused effort to introduce better lining products to the industry. The OutBlack product, with its soft hand, supple drape and ease of sewing, has become a favorite among high-end workrooms." Allen said he anticipated OutBlack's popularity to grow in 2004.
"Ultimately, we want to sell a container load of blackout each month in every major country in the world," said Barri Trotter, Bradsal general manager. Bradsal imports basecloth from Pakistan and China and coats about 1.5 million meters of lining a month at its plant in Melbourne, Trotter said.
Bradsal recently introduced its own soft-to-the touch line of blackout drapery linings, including Supasoft Suede finish. "Five years ago, there were 10 coaters in Australia; now there are two or three," Trotter said. "Bradsal used to do commission coating in Australia, but as that business declined we replaced it with our own line," he said.
"Until now, customers enjoyed the benefit of blackout but not the drapeability or softer handle of uncoated lining," Trotter said, adding that OutBlack "sews better, has a softer face than other products marketed and is consequently easier to handle.
Outblack is available in white and ivory, and is produced in a narrow width of 140 cm and a 280-cm width for European customers. The product is also being developed to meet the E.U. fire code, Trotter said.
Bradsal has begun saturating the global market by marketing OutBlack to other E.U. countries through a bonded warehouse arrangement in Germany. The company is currently looking for distributors in France and Spain, and recently exhibited OutBlack at textile shows in Shanghai and Frankfurt. Hanes also exports its own blackout and drapery linings worldwide, and recently expanded its export sales department by hiring Anne Collins as a product manager.
Bradsal has been owned by the Bradford family of Australia for 21 years. Mrs. Bradford owns 100 percent of company shares.
Hanes is a highly diversified woven and nonwoven textiles specialist with interests in the furniture, bedding, automotive, filtration and home furnishings markets. It is owned by Leggett & Platt, Inc. in Carthage, Missouri, a Fortune 500 corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
