Designer Von Walstrom finds a new home at Venus

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/10/2001 12:00:00 AM

Foothill Ranch, CA — Industry veteran Vivie von Walstrom has become the corporate design director of Venus Group Inc., manufacturer and importer of bedding, bath, kitchen textiles and table linen lines, based here.

Von Walstrom, Cotton Inc.'s Textile Designer of the Year in 2000, will head Venus' three divisions — institutional, fabric and retail — and will specialize in the latter.

She exited Baltic Linens last month and has not yet been replaced, according to Baltic Linens.

"My goal is to do for Venus what I did for Baltic," von Walstrom told HTT. "I expanded Baltic from just dollar stores into specialty and department stores." Venus' retail division was launched less than two years ago.

"They already have their foot in the door, but not enough product," von Walstrom explained. "They have some kitchen textiles and bath and beach towels at some major specialty stores, but I want to get their bedding and bath ensembles in there, too."

In her new post, von Walstrom, formerly executive vp at Baltic, reports to Rajni Patel, vp and co-owner of Venus.