Universal Home opens NY showroom

Newcomer debuts remodeled Fifth Ave. locale

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

Bath ensemble manufacturer and importer Universal Home Fashions — a newcomer to the New York Home Textiles Market — has opened its doors with a newly remodeled 3,500-square-foot showroom at 261 Fifth Ave., suite 410.

Chris Certosimo, president, co-owns the company with a bath product manufacturer based in Guangzhou, China.

"The last thing this industry needs is a company importing bath products through trading companies or an importer," Certosimo said. "When you buy products from us it's straight from the factory, and our prices will show that. It's American design done with the efficient Chinese manufacturing process."

For the company's launch this month, Universal will introduce 20 shower curtain collections with full coordinates — including towels and accessories such as wastebaskets, tissue boxes, tumblers, soap dishes, lotion pumps, toothbrush holders, jewelry trays and cotton ball jars. Constructions for shower curtains include poly-cotton, cotton, chenille and vinyl. Accessory constructions include ceramic, wood, resin and earthenware.

"I already have more than 30 appointments," Certosimo said. "I expect our first market to be a very good one."

Price points for shower curtains range from $14.99 for polyester and poly-cotton constructions to $29.99 for cotton and chenille varieties. Vinyl shower curtains range from $7.99 to $9.99.