Garner Joins Burlington, Duquesne Tunes Export
December 12, 2000
Greensboro, NC (USA) — With the addition of Jim Garner as vice president, product development, Burlington House Upholstery has a completely new team of players focused on the international and domestic markets. Garner was previously vice president of manufacturing at Cone Decorative Fabrics based in Cliffside, NC.
Stephan Duquesne, vice president of international sales has also made several staff changes in order to make Burlington a "very aggressive player" in the world market.
Frederick Rogers has been hired to cover the Middle East, South Africa and Eastern Europe. He replaced Dale Lindblom who has resigned to pursue other interests in the non-wovens industry, Duquesne said.
Rogers was previously vice president, international sales with Concord Fabrics in New York. Rogers will continue to work in New York out of the Burlington offices.
Robert Alvarez has been retained to cover South America and the Caribbean. He was previously with Cone Jacquards.
Angelo Brenna, Burlington's veteran international sales manager now covers Mexico and Europe for Burlington. Pascale Rim is responsible for Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia. Rogers, Alvarez, Brenna and Pascale report to Duquesne who joined Burlington one year ago in order to revitalize the export division. Duquesne reports to Mike Durham, executive vice president, upholstery who reports to Jack Ganley, president of Burlington House. Doug McGregor is CEO of Burlington Industries.
Export sales at Burlington, a $2 billion company, are up 10 percent 2000 - this in spite of the strong dollar, which is up as much as 40% against some European currencies.
Part of the increase is traced to new styling at Burlington upholstery which used to be a low to medium price house at $3 to $7 and now covers low, medium and upper price points from $3-$14. "We redesigned our stand at Decosit for a more open look. This is the first time we had pieces of fabric removed from our stand. That never happened before and this is a good indication of our new, upscale styling," Duquesne said.
Tayo Onadein, a native Nigerian, has also joined Burlington as senior designer and design director, reporting to Durham. Onadein fills a post that has been vacant for longer than two years, Duquesne said. "He knows the textile business and has traveled the world. This will give our export department a real boost." Onadein was previously with Quaker and Craftex Mills.
Duquesne is excited about Burlington's new lines of rayon chenilles in the $8 range, "a real value for the international markets," he added. "The competition is selling acrylic chenille for the same price. Our product is very bright and soft.
"The new chenille lines were introduced at Decosit for the first time. Many of the Burlington upholstery patterns designed by Onadein will reflect the smaller scale required for Europe, yet they will be right for the U.S. market too because of the way they are designed," said Duquesne.
Minimum orders for international sales have been reduced from a six- to a three-piece minimum. "This change has already generated new customers for us internationally," he said.
Other reasons for the growth in Burlington export lies in Duquesne's export work in products other than upholstery, including sales of bedding, window fashions and mattress ticking. These categories mean plus-sales to international markets for Burlington, Duquesne explained. "We're still analyzing the best way to grow these businesses internationally: either through direct sales or licensing and fabrication in local markets." Burlington is also getting more active in the contract upholstery business which Duquesne expects will help internationally as well.
"The ticking business is especially good for Burlington," he said. "Ted Slowik," - executive vice president mattress ticking - "is very pro-export and travels with us internationally."
Burlington exhibits at Decosit, Proposte, Showtime and Index but prefers to walk the floor at Heimtextil 2001.
Stephan Duquesne, vice president of international sales has also made several staff changes in order to make Burlington a "very aggressive player" in the world market.
Frederick Rogers has been hired to cover the Middle East, South Africa and Eastern Europe. He replaced Dale Lindblom who has resigned to pursue other interests in the non-wovens industry, Duquesne said.
Rogers was previously vice president, international sales with Concord Fabrics in New York. Rogers will continue to work in New York out of the Burlington offices.
Robert Alvarez has been retained to cover South America and the Caribbean. He was previously with Cone Jacquards.
Angelo Brenna, Burlington's veteran international sales manager now covers Mexico and Europe for Burlington. Pascale Rim is responsible for Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia. Rogers, Alvarez, Brenna and Pascale report to Duquesne who joined Burlington one year ago in order to revitalize the export division. Duquesne reports to Mike Durham, executive vice president, upholstery who reports to Jack Ganley, president of Burlington House. Doug McGregor is CEO of Burlington Industries.
Export sales at Burlington, a $2 billion company, are up 10 percent 2000 - this in spite of the strong dollar, which is up as much as 40% against some European currencies.
Part of the increase is traced to new styling at Burlington upholstery which used to be a low to medium price house at $3 to $7 and now covers low, medium and upper price points from $3-$14. "We redesigned our stand at Decosit for a more open look. This is the first time we had pieces of fabric removed from our stand. That never happened before and this is a good indication of our new, upscale styling," Duquesne said.
Tayo Onadein, a native Nigerian, has also joined Burlington as senior designer and design director, reporting to Durham. Onadein fills a post that has been vacant for longer than two years, Duquesne said. "He knows the textile business and has traveled the world. This will give our export department a real boost." Onadein was previously with Quaker and Craftex Mills.
Duquesne is excited about Burlington's new lines of rayon chenilles in the $8 range, "a real value for the international markets," he added. "The competition is selling acrylic chenille for the same price. Our product is very bright and soft.
"The new chenille lines were introduced at Decosit for the first time. Many of the Burlington upholstery patterns designed by Onadein will reflect the smaller scale required for Europe, yet they will be right for the U.S. market too because of the way they are designed," said Duquesne.
Minimum orders for international sales have been reduced from a six- to a three-piece minimum. "This change has already generated new customers for us internationally," he said.
Other reasons for the growth in Burlington export lies in Duquesne's export work in products other than upholstery, including sales of bedding, window fashions and mattress ticking. These categories mean plus-sales to international markets for Burlington, Duquesne explained. "We're still analyzing the best way to grow these businesses internationally: either through direct sales or licensing and fabrication in local markets." Burlington is also getting more active in the contract upholstery business which Duquesne expects will help internationally as well.
"The ticking business is especially good for Burlington," he said. "Ted Slowik," - executive vice president mattress ticking - "is very pro-export and travels with us internationally."
Burlington exhibits at Decosit, Proposte, Showtime and Index but prefers to walk the floor at Heimtextil 2001.
