Pacific Coast Feather opens London office

By Jennifer Marks -- Home Textiles Today, 5/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

Seattle —

Pacific Coast Feather Company has opened a new office in London, part of an ongoing effort to broaden its global hospitality business throughout North America, Europe, Asia and India.

Over the past 18 months, Pacific Coast has opened hospitality sales offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi. In addition, the company owns a majority interest in a Czech Republic manufacturing and distribution joint venture, as well as a long-standing sourcing and quality assurance office in China.

London was selected as the seat for U.K. and European sales because of the number of hotel chains headquartered there and nearby in Paris, according to Eric Moen, president and ceo. "Our European presence allows us to help extend internationals standards into the European marketplace. In addition, our local production makes it possible for us to make swift and economical adjustments to meet the needs of the European properties," he said.

Moen said the impetus to move forward despite the global recession was inspired in part by billionaire investor Warren Buffet, who asserts that one who has both cash and confidence during a crisis has opportunities. That said, the economic impact on the hospitality business has been "significant," said Moen. "It depends market by market, but there's certainly been an impact."

However, of starting up a London office he added: "From an investment standpoint it's relatively small." Brett Rife, PCFC director of international hospitality sales, has relocated to run the office.

Pacific Coast Feather has also launched a business-to-business site in Mandarin to address the Chinese hospitality business. "This allows us to manage the business at relatively low cost and to scale it up," said Moen.