Vossen looks to alternatives for U.S. market

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

Vossen

Gennersdorf, Austria

Export sales dir.: Maarten Doelman

Principal businesses: bath towels, robes, tub mats

Though Vossen, a maker of bath towels, robes and tub mats, wants to expand its penetration in the U.S. market, it has come across one small problem: Its sole U.S. distributor, Thomaston Mills, has closed its doors.

"We certainly want to get back into the United States," said Maarten Doelman, export sales director. In fact, the company is already developing new "qualities" for the U.S. market, he said, which will be introduced at Heimtex. But "you need a strong partner in the United States," he added. During Vossen's short stint with Thomaston, however, the products had received positive reactions, he said, and were placed in specialty, department and catalog retailers.

Vossen is all about exporting, as 80 percent of its production is sent out of Austria, and it's already seeking another U.S. partner. A major supplier to the German and Austrian markets, Vossen had been exporting its goods to the United States for about a year and a half.

The company includes the headquarters in Austria, which has two factories that dye, weave, embroider and package, Doelman said, and the sales office is located in Germany. Doelman also said that Vossen is expanding very rapidly, with new operations in Russia and the Middle East, with the possibility of entering the Asian market as well.