Supporting Cast
By Julie McGovern

FROM PACKAGING TO PILLOW INSERTS, THESE SUPPLIERS HAVE WHAT THE TRADE NEEDS TO SUCCEED TO SUCCEED.

Setting the Stage

Since 1955 Mayo Studios has specialized in creating room settings that show home furnishings products at their best. In addition to product photography, the company designs print advertisements, window displays, and trade show booths, and provides showroom design, promotional video, and Web development.

Mayo Studios got its start when photographer Lou Mayo and his partner, Martin Helfer, opened a small studio in Manhattan devoted to shooting furniture showrooms during the semi-annual markets. As furniture companies migrated south in the early '60s, the company expanded to soft furnishings, providing room sets for many domestics manufacturers and for the JCPenney catalog, which was then in its infancy. In the '80s Mayo's son Mark joined the fray. He and his wife, Sandy, a former fashion buyer at Bonwit Teller, took over the reins in 1993. Since then the duo has extended Mayo Studios' reach into showroom and graphic design, among other services, and has doubled the size of the company.

The photographers at Mayo Studios make products look right at home in any setting. For more information call 718-729-8500 or visit www.mayostudios.com.

Wrap It Up

When Michael Jeffrey started IMEX Vinyl Packaging in 1974, the standard casing for linens and domestics was shrink-wrap. Vinyl packaging solved problems for both retailer and consumer, allowing the product to be touched without being damaged, and created a more pleasing presentation. Today it is standard fare, as evidenced by the more than five million bags in Imex Vinyl Packaging's inventory. In addition to vinyl, bags can be made of nylon, mesh, canvas, or a combination of materials in a variety of shapes and sizes. IMEX also custom designs packaging and can add a silk-screened image in up to six colors.

Jeffrey's son Steve joined the firm in 1985 with an eye toward bolstering the already solid textile packaging business by diversifying product and expanding distribution. In 1994 IMEX relocated to Charlotte, NC, from New York and has experienced tremendous growth since. There are now distribution centers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Ontario, Canada, and sales have increased more than 66% over the past five years.

In addition to an inventory of more than five million bags, IMEX Vinyl packaging offers custom-designed packaging to suit individual product needs. For more information call 800-938-IMEX or visit www.imexvinylpackaging.com.

Custom Color

Pantone, Inc., a provider of professional color standards for design industries since 1964, has formed a new division, PANTONE Custom Color Services. The division's main purpose is to supply custom color standards for corporate managers and art directors in any field requiring color accuracy. The new service allows companies to take advantage of Pantone's state-of-the-art printing equipment and color matching for catalogs and product brochures. These color standards can be applied to labels, hang tags, advertising campaigns, point-of-purchase displays, merchandising materials, business cards, letterhead, Web pages, news releases, and publications.

"For many companies, color is synonymous with their name," explains Richard Herbert, president of Pantone, Inc. "Think Barbie pink, UPS brown, Coca-Cola red, Home Depot orange, and Post-It canary yellow. To be successful, brands have to offer consistency and be distinguishable from other goods and services."

PANTONE Custom Color Services provides color standards on paper, cotton, or custom substrates, as well as the corresponding CMYK, HTML, and RGB values for accurate brand identity across multiple media. For more information call 888-PANTONE or visit www.pantone.com.

Display Array

CALHOOKoTMS provides store equipment and supplies to suit both specific and general retail needs. CALHOOK specializes in fixtures and hangers for fabric samples. The company catalog offers hundreds of sample management products, including wall-mounted and freestanding systems, designed with the flexibility needed for easy rearranging and expansion. CALHOOK was bought by Thompson Merchandising & Supply (TMS) in 1997.

TMS products are appropriate for any category of merchandise. Fixture and display, customized store bags and packaging, price-markers, tags, and in-store signage are available, as well as advertising and promotional items, store design consultation, and the SmartRegister computerized cash register system for monitoring business. Some of its newest products are the Pyramid 3-Tier Table for merchandise display, a complete kiosk unit, and SmartRegister for Windows for complete inventory control.

The popular Space-Saver Rack from CALHOOKoTMS stores up to 120 fabric sample books in nine-square feet of floor space. For a free catalog, call 800-422-4665 or visit www.calhook.com or www.makeyouhappy.com.

The Best of Both Worlds

Blanc Plume Fine French Laundry treats luxury linens with a combination of old-world technique and new-world technology. The company was founded as a laundry service for retail linen stores, to ensure the proper care of bedding and delicate down products. The cleaning process incorporates European methods like blocking, which air-dries linens without shrinkage, with computerized equipment designed specifically for home textiles. Blanc Plume prides itself on its ability to treat and remove stains on the most delicate items, such as goose-down featherbeds, wool mattress pads, christening gowns, lace table linens, and silk products.

In addition to protecting customers' investment in fine linens, Blanc Plume affords retailers the opportunity to build consumer loyalty. Key benefits for participating retailers include increased foot traffic; additional profits through a referral bonus program; a solution to the "How do I care for this?" issue in purchasing luxury linens; and the option to clean display merchandise as well as personal or employee goods at wholesale cost. The growing company has recently come under the ownership and management of Arrow Fabricare Services, the largest specialty dry cleaner in America.

With Blanc Plume's Fine French Laundry service, luxury linen retailers give consumers another reason to visit. For more information call 800-307-0229 or visit www.BlancPlume.com.

Control Freaks

4R Systems provides analytical software that increases the profitability of short-life-cycle products by accurately matching supply with demand. Forecast and supply planning errors are estimated to cost the retail industry billions of dollars a year in markdowns, stock outs, and obsolescence. 4R Systems was founded two years ago by supply chain experts Marshall Fisher and Ananth Raman, both pioneers of research in the field of retail supply chain analytics.

For a manufacturer, such as home fashion resource American Pacific, the latest company to implement 4R Systems' Supply Planning program, the software converts point-of-sale and inventory data from retail venues into information that enables the company to optimize stock levels from its distribution centers to client retail locations. 4R's retail clients, including Kenneth Cole, Linens 'n Things, and Stride-Rite, also use the company's software to enhance their forecasting capabilities. The software analyzes weekly POS data on sales and inventory at the SKU level, provides week-to-week consumer-demand forecasts by SKU and store as far out as 39 weeks, and determines optimal inventory levels for each SKU at every store and distribution center.

Analytical software from 4RSystems helps retailers and manufacturers predict consumer demand to improve supply-chain management. For more data call 866-4RSYSTEMS or visit www.4rsystems.com.

Nice Threads

United Thread Mills Corp. distributes a wide variety of thread items to manufacturers, including embroidery thread, metallics, rayon, and other fashion products. The family-run company has been in business for 53 years, and for the past 20 has developed and stocked sewing threads specifically for the home fashion industry.

The most well known of these products is the textured polyester known as Unitex, which United carries in more than 185 colors. It is the only "high bulk" textured polyester manufactured in the United States. This "high bulk" factor allows manufacturers to save on thread costs as it provides better coverage on the fabric to which it is sewn.

United Thread Mills' products are available for immediate delivery. The company has offices and warehouses in Hialeah, FL, and a 93,000-square foot distribution center in Rockville Centre, NY. For more information call 516-536-3900.

Safe Stacking

The Anver Corporation has developed an ergonomic vacuum lifter that is compatible with any overhead crane to let one person handle boxes and stack pallets without heavy lifting or back strain. The Anver VT Series Vacuum Lifter provides a 100% continuous duty cycle and features up/down controls in the handle that can be adjusted to match an operator's hand strength. The lifter is designed for handling boxes from 50 to 600 pounds.

Powered by a quiet direct-drive pump, the Anver VT Series Lifter has a 360° top swivel for total mobility during use. Available with a wide selection of optional interchangeable pad attachments, this same lifter can be used for handling pails, bags, boxes, coils, and other items.

In business since 1968, the Anver Corporation manufactures vacuum handling equipment for a variety of industries, among them high-volume retail chains.

Anver Corporation presents the VT140 Tube Lifter, for multiple box lifting. The VT160 model comes with an extended handle for high stacking. For more information call 800-654-3500 or visit www.anver.com.

New Plant, New Identity

Latex Foam International, a leading latex mattress manufacturer and the world's largest producer of Talalay latex pillows and cosmetic sponges, returned to production at a new 208,000-square-foot facility in Shelton, CT, in May 2002, only one year after a fire destroyed its plant in Ansonia, CT. New equipment and operational systems in the modern facility have resulted in reduced lead times and improved product variety.

Founded in 1975 under the name Latex Foam Products, the company currently produces mattress cores, furniture cushions, mattress pads, and cosmetic applicators as well as custom-designed products for the commercial and automotive industries. In culmination of the company's rebuilding process over the last year, Latex Foam International will be adopted as the corporate name for Latex International, Latex Foam Products, and Delviel Cosmetics, the three divisions producing, respectively, mattresses, pillows, and cosmetic applicators.

Co-founder of Latex Foam International Bill Coffey spoke at the grand opening of the new facility in Shelton, CT. For more information call 800-LATEX US or visit www.latexfoam.com.

Fine Fabric Finishing

Custom Laminations, Inc., provides the finest in decorative and protective services for residential, commercial, and institutional fabric applications. The company motto is 'We Set the Standard' and it has been doing so for more than 30 years. Custom Laminations is an ASID Industry Partner and a member of IIDA, NGPP, and AWFS.

New for 2002 is ArmorFlex commercial caliber upholstery protection that can be used at home on any fabric. Custom Laminations also offers Vinylizing and Vinyl-Tex, both with VK2000, for the maximum and most durable, scrubbable upholstery protection against dirt and stains. Other services include VKC-Vinylizing for Wallpaper, touted to protect wallpaper forever; Paperbacking to prepare fabrics for wallcovering; Knit/Bac to enhance upholstery fabric or make lightweight fabrics suitable for upholstery; MicroB-lock antimicrobial agent for a hygienic environment; acrylic backing; stain repellents; and comprehensive fire protection. All of the above can be done with C.O.M.

Custom Laminations' vinylizing service to protect fabric is great for upholstery in high-use areas like the kitchen. Photo courtesy of Dickson Dunlap Studios. For more information call 973-279-9174 or visit www.customlaminations.com.

A Global Source

English-American International is one of the largest suppliers of vinyl packaging in North America. From its company-owned production factories in China, EA International ships to major ports throughout the world. Its headquarters and distribution center in Atlanta provides global sales and marketing support. The company has additional offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as Israel, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.

The company was established in 1989 by owner and President Lisa Lai with a focus on the home furnishings industry. English American Import Export Company became EA International and grew to include retailers and manufacturers in a number of specialized fields. The design professionals of the EA Design Studio division work with each client from concept to prototype to finished product. The group has developed a patented zipper lock, called Zip Guard, which is integrated into the zipper of a package to protect products and prevent pilferage.

With four domestic and five international offices, vinyl-packaging supplier English-American
International services the home furnishings trade around the world. For more information
call 770-806-9070 or visit www.eaintl.com.