Zack, Frankel Acquire Dorell Fabrics

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

Los Angeles —

Veteran decorative fabric executive Richard Zack and Loomcraft principal Ron Frankel have purchased Dorell Fabrics here.

The Dorell acquisition, which became effective Dec. 1, will be operated "totally separately from Loomcraft," according to Zack, who holds the position of president. The only exception, he said, is that Dorell now will have warehousing space in the Loomcraft facility in North Carolina.

Arnie Chasen, owner of the 75-year-old decorative textiles supplier, will remain with the company as a consultant during the transition.

"Dorell is a great company and has a great quality story over the past 75 years," Zack remarked. "We're bringing in an energetic team and plan to continue the better goods strength."

Zack, who was vp, sales at Morgan Fabrics here, said : "We have our a team together — one that understands quality."

Tom Shepard, formerly a sales rep at Morgan, has been named vp, sales. Jennie Shafer, formerly a consultant to Morgan in design and merchandising has been named vp, marketing. Ron Kneitel, formerly vp, merchandising for Dorell, has been named svp.

Over the coming year, Zack commented, "We intend to build on the vision of the company where we build fabric from the yarn up."

The focus will be on D'Oro Suede and Eco Suede, "and we continue to keep enhancing casual products with quality build in." The company's strength is in the mid- to upper- price ranges "and we plan to extend the colors with texture and hand — and value."

For the near term, Zack added, "our main focus will continue to be on furniture manufacturers, but later we will expand our distribution using Loomcraft's distribution."