MONTREAL, Canada —SALETEX, a 50-year-old wholesaler and converter in the US and Canadian markets is now generating 20 percent of its business in blinds and hard window treatments according to Roland Salem, the second generation owner. He spoke to F&FI at the last Heimtextil exhibition, his 42nd uninterrupted appearance there. “I have never missed a year at Heimtextil I am able to speak to my 15-20 suppliers all in one place. “Saletex buys from France, Italy, Turkey, Spain and China. “I have just one item left from China that I buy due to the fact that their minimums have gone up dramatically.” Saletex does 30 percent of its business in the USA and 70 percent in Canada. “About 25 years ago, we opened Sana Design with Rudy Nakhle as President for the blinds business and hardware trade. The company buys mechanisms from Louverlite in the UK and fabrics from various suppliers like Avon-Moda in Spain. “Five years ag, we were forced into the manufacturing of blinds even though our biggest market is still custom curtains,” he says. Saletex offers a complete collection of fabrics for custom window treatments in 118, 141 and 165 inch widths to avoid the seaming process. He buys the sheer fabric from the French producer Malleval Cie., about 20 minutes from Lyon. He also buys 118 inch sheers from Sweden.