LAGENTHAL, Switzerland – Création Baumann is celebrating its 125 year anniversary with the recent launch of a spring “Inspired” collection of curtains and upholstery and has announced plans to bring its Systems sector which includes its line of hardware of panels and roller blinds along with the accompanying upholstery to the U.S. market as early as this autumn.

“We want to grow in the systems sector because diversifying product wise and geographically is the only way to survive,” said Philippe Baumann, the third-generation owner who spoke exclusively with F&FI from his office at headquarters. “We already have a footing in textiles, technicals like panel and roller blinds in Europe as well as adhesives sold through 3form, but we need to expand our lines to compete in this challenging market.”

Adhesive textiles, for example, accounts for only two-percent of the business but Baumann said his goal is to grow it another three-percent during the fiscal year. The hardware line, meanwhile, accounts for 13% of annual sales and Baumann sees it as another potential area for significant growth.

“We are currently testing the market to see how cost-effective it would be bring some of our lines that have been immensely popular in Europe to the U.S.,” said Ranae Ahrens, managing director. “It’s a work in process, but we’re cautiously optimistic that perhaps by the fall we will have some of these popular European products to the U.S. beginning with the New York market. We’re Swiss, so we don’t want to make any mistakes! It’s a good thing.”

The company grossed roughly $56 million in 2010 and Baumann projects an up-tick of  two to three-percent this year.

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