Gold Coast finds niche with expanded line

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/28/2003 12:00:00 AM

BURLINGTON, NC —

Nearly two years after it was acquired by Riddle & Co., Gold Coast is focused on carving out niches to grow its business.

The company made retail inroads last year through plumbing the gift business, particularly in moderate department stores and at catalogs, said Art Siegel, executive vp, general manager.

The company's gift set packages target special occasions, combining a themed throw with coordinate coffee mugs or hobbyist extras such as a golf ball and tees.

"The gift set business was huge for us last year," he said. "This is definitely an area where we see a lot of opportunity to grow."

Looking toward the Back-to-School season, Gold Coast is introducing collegiate gift sets that feature an appliqued school emblem on a 50" x 60" fleece throw with water bottle in school colors. The sets will be priced at $29.

"That's big business for both the students and the alumni," he said.

The company has also expanded its dec pillow business, adding more designs. And in its throw business, Gold Coast has added a knit construction and new velvets with hand-beaded fringe. New additions to its blanket offerings include a heavy chenille and a poly-blend chenille.

Gold Coast's strategy is to steadily layer in new products where it finds opportunities in the market, he said.

"We're looking very hard at creating and sourcing through our Shanghai-owned office and bringing on additional skus," Siegel said.