Richmond to Introduce Custom Colorization Technology
March 21, 2003
CHICAGO – Richmond Textiles, which specializes in converting bed and window treatments for the hospitality industry, has created proprietary technology that enables website users to customize samples online. The program, which will be available May 1, speeds the strike-off process and allows users to color-customize patterns on any of Richmond's 50-plus basecloths.
Registered users can color samples on www.richmondtextiles.com and then send the files immediately to Richmond's plant where the strike-off is printed. Where color-matching and order processing often stretch the strike-off process into one or two weeks, Richmond said it can now deliver custom strike-offs to customers within days.
"Everything we're doing at Richmond Textiles has to do with making the process faster and easier to use," said Richmond president and COO Bob Harnach. "One of the things we've identified with design firms and purchasing agents is that customization took too long.
"We created a website interface, which is easy, fast and fun to use, and designers can re-color any element of the design, see it on the screen, see it on the basecloth they want to use and print it out at their desks so they can use it on colorboards."
The platform also enables users to store design files on Richmond's secure server. "We took it to the point where if someone does a color strike-off today and revisits the strike-off in a year, we will always have those custom color renditions on file. Even if they place an order and they want to come back and change it, we're going to hold the files in our library. Nobody has to guess anymore what the custom colors were."
Using the platform, Richmond designers and clients can also cooperate online while manipulating a design.
Harnach said he expects the technology to have a significant impact in the marketplace.
Are the new capabilities a procrastinator's dream come true? "Probably," Harnach said. "I'll probably get in trouble on that, but truly, a lot of things go down to the last minute. A customer might say, 'I want a little more blue in a pattern.' With the design already on file, you don't have to go back to square one to add more blue. We're talking about quick turn-around."
Richmond developed the technology in collaboration with Hunter Douglas's IT department. Hunter Douglas, a leader in international window coverings markets, acquired Richmond last year and merged it with its online textile distribution business Tapestria.
Registered users can color samples on www.richmondtextiles.com and then send the files immediately to Richmond's plant where the strike-off is printed. Where color-matching and order processing often stretch the strike-off process into one or two weeks, Richmond said it can now deliver custom strike-offs to customers within days.
"Everything we're doing at Richmond Textiles has to do with making the process faster and easier to use," said Richmond president and COO Bob Harnach. "One of the things we've identified with design firms and purchasing agents is that customization took too long.
"We created a website interface, which is easy, fast and fun to use, and designers can re-color any element of the design, see it on the screen, see it on the basecloth they want to use and print it out at their desks so they can use it on colorboards."
The platform also enables users to store design files on Richmond's secure server. "We took it to the point where if someone does a color strike-off today and revisits the strike-off in a year, we will always have those custom color renditions on file. Even if they place an order and they want to come back and change it, we're going to hold the files in our library. Nobody has to guess anymore what the custom colors were."
Using the platform, Richmond designers and clients can also cooperate online while manipulating a design.
Harnach said he expects the technology to have a significant impact in the marketplace.
Are the new capabilities a procrastinator's dream come true? "Probably," Harnach said. "I'll probably get in trouble on that, but truly, a lot of things go down to the last minute. A customer might say, 'I want a little more blue in a pattern.' With the design already on file, you don't have to go back to square one to add more blue. We're talking about quick turn-around."
Richmond developed the technology in collaboration with Hunter Douglas's IT department. Hunter Douglas, a leader in international window coverings markets, acquired Richmond last year and merged it with its online textile distribution business Tapestria.
