Lintex Bedding Launches

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 2/10/2008 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Sister supplier companies Lintex Linens and Cobra/Espalma have long felt at home at the table and in the kitchen, in the bathroom and at the beach. Now they are providing merchandise for the bedroom via the birth of a third sibling operation: Lintex Bedding Inc., a new supplier of sheeting and top of bed products.

"We have an opportunity to increase our business at a time when there is a contraction in the industry," explained Kurt Hamburger, president and managing director of Lintex Linens, and chairman and cfo of the new Lintex Bedding operation. "We want to be a one-stop shop to our important customers. We want to offer them towels, tablecloths, placemats and sheets, so that we are able to not only serve them and smaller accounts but also to increase our business."

The bedding products are, for the most part, being sourced by the company's own Lintex Trading PVT Ltd., based in India.

Hamburger said he has brought in the "right crew" of directors who offer more than 25 years of career experience "in order to start us on the right foot."

Industry veteran Craig Multer, who was formerly an executive with New Jersey-based Rainbow Linens, has joined Lintex Bedding as vp, national sales manager. He is also responsible for Lintex Linens and Cobra/Espalma businesses sales.

Rae Ellen Blum, who already serves as vp, national sales manager of Espalma/Cobra, is tacking onto her responsibilities vp and director of styling/design of Lintex Bedding.

Initially, there are sheet sets spanning thread counts of 300 to 1,000. Top of bed goods will be part of the mix. Products come mostly from India but the line also includes goods from Pakistan and China.

The formal launch is during market this week at the company's penthouse showroom in suite 1702 at 295 Fifth Ave.

"We are offering, at the beginning, middle to upper-end programs but at extremely sharp prices," Hamburger added. "This is geared for volume."

Shipments will be made out of Orangeburg, S.C., and can be drop-shipped from the pier there, Hamburger said.