Trade Am maintains presence in India, China

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

Trade Am

Norcross, GA

Sr. vp., merchandising & product dev.: Jeanne Dufort

Principal businesses: rugs, table linens, decorative pillows, bedding

Rug, table linen, decorative pillow and bedding importer Trade Am has has been producing product primarily in India and China since 1985.

"We operate 17 factories in India and one in China, and we maintain full service offices in both countries," said Jeanne Dufort, senior vp, merchandising and product development. "We also have three creative design centers overseas, with more than 50 trained weave, design and color specialists. In addition, we work with more than 25 independent manufacturers."

Trade Am's specialty is hand-crafted and hand-finished home furnishings, which includes home textiles. The company's fastest growing product categories include natural fiber-made area and accent rugs. "We have a world-class manufacturing plant in south China that weaves high-grade sisal and seagrass latex-backed wool goods," Dufort said. "We ship product from that plant to India, where we have outstanding textile and cut and sew capacity.

"Flexible manufacturing and overall cost savings drive our overseas manufacturing units," Dufort said. "The only substantial disadvantage is the added time of transport from Asian ports to American retailers."

By way of retailers' demands, Trade Am has made importing the heart of its business.

"America's largest retailers generally buy more than product," Dufort added. "They require marketing partners who can do more than make good widgets. Some require store servicing, some require sophisticated distribution systems, some require inventory management. Most require creative services. Our business model is to invest in world-class manufacturing and creative services and then design support systems around our customers' needs."