Park Smith taps imports

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

Park B. Smith

New York

President, ceo: Park B. Smith Jr.

Principal business: bedding, bath , rug, table linens, kitchen textiles

Bedding, bath, rug, table linens and kitchen textile distributor Park B. Smith Ltd. has been importing product from overseas for the extent of the company's existence — 33 years.

In India, Park B. Smith has had its own office for the past 26 years and there it has a staff of 29 full-time inspectors and employees. In Mexico and China, the company works directly with private factories.

Park B. Smith has mastered the art of importing so much so, that today, as more and more competitors look to grow their product line through overseas sources, the company sees importing as a business that offers "countless advantages with very few disadvantages," explained Park B. Smith Jr., ceo. "Resource structure is the key to a successful import business."

Also on Park B. Smith's side is the company's sense of style, Smith added.

Importing from India, China and Mexico allows Park B. Smith to offer a wide breadth of product and varieties of constructions and styles.

• Bedding: woven, jacquard, matelasse and printed constructions for duvet covers, comforter sets, bedspreads, coverlets, quilts, throws, bed skirts, pillow shams and decorative pillows;

• Bath: tufted, woven, jacquard and printed constructions for shower curtains and bath rugs;

• Window treatments: woven, jacquard, damask, voile and printed constructions for mini curtains - 24-, 36- and 45-inch - to 63-, 84-, 90- and 95-inch panels, scarves and valances;

• Area and accent rugs: woven, jacquard, tapestry, braided, tufted and printed constructions;

• Table linens: woven, jacquard, tapestry, braided and printed constructions, and coordinating napkin rings include wood, metal, glass beaded and fabric constructions;

• Kitchen textiles include woven, tapestry and printed constructions.

"Every year, our importing activity increases," Smith added.