Regal Fabrics grabs Miami converter

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 12/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

MIDDLETON, MA —

Regal Fabrics has acquired the Krelan Corp., a Miami-based decorative fabrics converter.

All Krelan operations are being consolidated into the Regal business here, said Steve Kahan, president of Regal, but a Florida office will remain open temporarily.

While Krelan will operate as a division of Regal, it will also maintain a showroom at Showtime in High Point, NC.

Alan Krigsfeld, general manager of Krelan and son of founder Meyer Krigsfeld, will continue working with Krelan customers and will relocate to the Boston area.

Explaining the differences between the Krelan line and Regal's, Kahan said Krelan is emphasizes the higher end, from $10 to $14 per yard. Most of the fabrics is European and a large percentage comes from Spanish mills.

"At Regal, our focus on certain constructions and in price point under Krelan — from $6 to $10 per yard."

Regal founder and ceo Herb Kahan said, "We've already reinforced the Krelan sales team, added substantially to inventories of best-selling items and started working with suppliers to improve lead times."

The addition of Krelan with sales in excess of $3 million, will bring Regal's total revenues to about $15 million, Steve Kahan said.

Krelan was founded in the mid-90s by Meyer Krigsfeld, who had been in the decorative fabrics business in South America for about 30 years.