HIALEAH, Florida — Microtex, a subsidiary of Microflock, the converter owned by the Barek Family since 1991, has returned to converting one denier nylon flock in China after exiting the market in 2007. Back in 2007, there was no demand for flock. The market declined dramatically at that time. “There is a difference this time though, says Steve Barek, President. He is not making flock prints this time; his production is devoted to middle priced solid color flock on flock with no printing. Designs include faux leather looks and many different types of textures. “Flock prints are dead in the USA,” Barek maintains.  “There is no market here for low end flock but there is a market for middle to better flock goods,” he adds. The other change in his operation has to do with his son, Ethan who has joined Microtex to help his dad build the business which is expected to generate $5-$10 million in sales. This makes Microtex a boutique player in flock because his competitors are much larger companies. Steve Barek goes to China four times a year and Ethan helps with the traveling, he points out. Back in the day when he was printing in China, he made eight to 10 trips a year. “With the bankruptcy of Microfibres, it’s a brand new day,” Barek says.  “There is now room in the market for Microtex flock.” As a result, Microtex has introduced two collections of flock on flock (132 sku’s) in the $4.50- $6 price range for sale to jobbers and some furniture manufacturers with one-piece minimums. “We are not a cut yardage house. Barek picked the best China based flock producer he could find to develop the new collections. “There are 100 producers of flock in China today but most of them produce cheap products for domestic Chinese consumption only.” “We have our own on-site Quality Control team in China to check the production so we can maintain high quality levels for our customers,” he adds. He also says his products are both cleanable and stain resistant. “We make sample books in China for our customers who want them or customers can pick the sku’s they want and put them in their own books,” Barek says. Aside from the American market, Barek does business in Russia and Brazil. In fact, he is launching his own furniture line in Brazil (Amazem brand) that will be exported to the USA and elsewhere utilizing the same flock products for upholstery sold in the USA.