Tapestria purchases Richmond Textiles

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/16/2002 12:00:00 AM

SADDLE RIVER, NJ —

Tapestria, an international e-marketplace for decorative fabrics, has purchased Richmond Textiles. The Chicago-based company, "a leading specialty printer for top-of-bed and window coverings for the hospitality market, will be an enormous asset," said David Sonnenberg, Tapestria's ceo.

Richmond, previously owned by Paul Richmond, who continues as the head of the unit, has annual sales of about $6 million, Sonnenberg reported. It offers custom printing options to customers, "and our system has tremendous applications to the Richmond business," he added.

"We will be converting prints to the Tapestria platform for designers and offer recolorings of designs where customers can order a swatch, get it in 48 hours, pick a base cloth and that's it," Sonnenberg explained.

Tapestria was formed in late 2000 as a hybrid in the distribution of decorative fabric by selling exclusively on its website while providing overnight sample service to customers. Sonnenberg, founder and former managing director of Hunter Douglas Europe, is the eldest son of Ralph Sonnenberg, ceo of the Hunter Douglas Group, a diversified global window coverings supplier. Tapestria was started with a $25 million investment from Hunter Douglas.