Shanghai, PRC — A resurgence of the hospitality business in the Middle East, especially in Dubai is back on track giving Richloom Shanghai Trading Ltd. a 30 percent boost in business in 2011, according to Glenda Spangler, a fifth year American émigré to China.

Richloom has nailed contracts for the Conrad Hilton Dubai and the Millennium Dubai hotels, she said. This includes upholstery, soft furnishings and top of bed ‘R-Bed,’ the Richloom hospitality bedding brand. This line has also taken off in the USA, Spangler pointed out. Richloom does a lot of China to China business in addition to exporting its China made lines to the USA, she said. “We produce uniquely designed products not available elsewhere in China today. There is a globalization of trends making it easy for us to sell our ideas in the Chinese domestic market,” she said. Glenda Spangler

As vice president of global sourcing for Richloom, Spangler is one of the top executives at Richloom Shanghai, a 60 person group, an independent company established by Richloom USA six years ago. Spangler started with the parent company 22 years ago. Spangler’s boss is Nolan Mitchell, the general manager of Richloom’s Shanghai group for the past year. “Richloom Shanghai has grown in all areas but especially in hospitality sales in domestic China. We also export to Australia and New Zealand and South Africa which has doubled for us in the last year.”

“Right now, the Chinese are developing their residential cocoons choosing natural and linen like fibers, even if the fibers are 100 percent polyester. They like the natural story. The disposable attitude is changing here. People are investing in their home for the first time.” Spangler said a high end sofa sells for $3-$5,000 while entry level is at $1-$2,000. 

“China has the largest and youngest population (in their 30’s) in the world today with 20-25 percent of its 1.4 billion population comprising a growing middle class with a huge appetite for domestic consumption,” the energetic Spangler explained. “Performance fabrics are taking off for the first time as well. For the last 18 months, Richloom has been the exclusive licensee for Crypton® in China and sales in the area are growing, she said. “Outdoor fabrics are an emerging market in China.”

Spangler said that most of the furniture fabrics sold by Richloom in China are made in China but some product is imported from the USA. “The looms from our mill in Rock Hill, South Carolina were moved to China several years ago so we can make our own upholstery if we want to or convert through other Chinese suppliers,” she explained. Richloom can finish its own goods which are often yarn dyed or piece dyed.   F&FI