Vescom Completes Raymakers/British Velvet Purchase
December 30, 2024
Active cyclists Philippe Van Esch, Vescom owner and Director Frank van Werkum toast their new acquisition, Vescom Velvets
DUERNE, The Netherlands—Vescom completed its purchase of Raymakers in December, 2024 and will rebrand the product line ‘Vescom Velvets B.V.’ according to Frank van Werkum, Vescom Director.
Vescom has had a history of buying up privately owned mills in Europe and the USA. It then finds ways to realize the economic benefits of group management and shared knowledge in managing the acquired companies. Van Werkum says Vescom Group management will run the velvet business. Richard Oussoren, who was the previous owner of Raymakers before it filed for bankruptcy “will not play any role in Vescom Velvets BV,” Van Werkum adds. (Oussoren’s business future is not currently known.)
Don’t be misled at Heimtextil 2025 when you see the Raymakers/British Velvet stand. Due to the timing of the recent acquisition, Vescom had no chance to change the name of that stand to Vescom according to Van Werkum. Keith Prytharch, sales manager of British Velvets will be present at the joint stand of Raymakers and British Velvets at Heimtextil 2025.
Vescom will continue to produce velvets at both the Gemert and Helmond locations of Raymakers. “We use only the Vescom brand mark for all our mills and in the footnote, we show Vescom Velvets for this mill,” he adds.
The purchase price for Raymakers was not disclosed but Van Werkum says it was “significant.” In making the acquisition, he says “we have local manufacturing presence with very similar equipment; HR skills and synergies in supply chain, sales and global distribution.”
“Vescom Group is now able to offer the full range of velvets including cotton, wool, Tencel®, mohair-silk, mohair-cotton and pure mohair velvets,” Van Werkum says. “ With our range of mohair velvets, we have been serving the residential as well as the contract (global) markets for decades and will stay committed to those markets.”
Vescom Group designs, produces and distributes wallcoverings, upholstery and curtain fabrics worldwide. Vescom Group owns mills in Deurne, (headquarters) Helmond, Gemert, The Netherlands; Munchberg, Germany and owns Vescom America Inc., a mill in Henderson, NC.
Photo caption: Active cyclists Philippe Van Esch, Vescom owner and Director Frank van Werkum toast their new acquisition, Vescom Velvets, the former Raymakers/British Velvet mills.
Vescom has had a history of buying up privately owned mills in Europe and the USA. It then finds ways to realize the economic benefits of group management and shared knowledge in managing the acquired companies. Van Werkum says Vescom Group management will run the velvet business. Richard Oussoren, who was the previous owner of Raymakers before it filed for bankruptcy “will not play any role in Vescom Velvets BV,” Van Werkum adds. (Oussoren’s business future is not currently known.)
Don’t be misled at Heimtextil 2025 when you see the Raymakers/British Velvet stand. Due to the timing of the recent acquisition, Vescom had no chance to change the name of that stand to Vescom according to Van Werkum. Keith Prytharch, sales manager of British Velvets will be present at the joint stand of Raymakers and British Velvets at Heimtextil 2025.
Vescom will continue to produce velvets at both the Gemert and Helmond locations of Raymakers. “We use only the Vescom brand mark for all our mills and in the footnote, we show Vescom Velvets for this mill,” he adds.
The purchase price for Raymakers was not disclosed but Van Werkum says it was “significant.” In making the acquisition, he says “we have local manufacturing presence with very similar equipment; HR skills and synergies in supply chain, sales and global distribution.”
“Vescom Group is now able to offer the full range of velvets including cotton, wool, Tencel®, mohair-silk, mohair-cotton and pure mohair velvets,” Van Werkum says. “ With our range of mohair velvets, we have been serving the residential as well as the contract (global) markets for decades and will stay committed to those markets.”
Vescom Group designs, produces and distributes wallcoverings, upholstery and curtain fabrics worldwide. Vescom Group owns mills in Deurne, (headquarters) Helmond, Gemert, The Netherlands; Munchberg, Germany and owns Vescom America Inc., a mill in Henderson, NC.
Photo caption: Active cyclists Philippe Van Esch, Vescom owner and Director Frank van Werkum toast their new acquisition, Vescom Velvets, the former Raymakers/British Velvet mills.
