Avanti calls for international sales effort by U.S. suppliers

-- Home Textiles Today, 2/20/2009 1:30:00 PM

New York – Avanti Linens is leading an effort among a group of U.S. suppliers planning to pool their resources to hire sales reps in other major world markets.

“Everybody’s in the same boat. The economy has killed a lot of people. We need to find new places to sell,” said Arthur Tauber, chairman of Avanti.

Tauber pointed to Europe, South America and England as potential markets for representation.

He began the effort by circulating letters to New York showrooms on Fifth Avenue; now Tauber is also reaching out to other home textiles companies.

Among those that have so far signaled an interest in participating are: Ammermills, Bacova, Beacon Looms, Caldeira USA, Chesapeake Merchandise, Croscill, Downlite, Elite Home, Ex-Cell, Faribault, Grand Imagination, Greenland Home, Hedaya Home Fashions, AQ Textiles/Intellatex, Linen Essentials, Patton Picture, Raymond Waites, Royal Heritage Home, Soft-Tex, Taymor, Thro, Trend Dex, TruBamboo, Venus, W-C, Westex and YMF Inc.