Home Source Strategizes for 2012
Jennifer Marks -- Home Textiles Today, 1/9/2012 2:00:00 AM
Keith Soregeloos
ATLANTA - Home Source International is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy that involves opening both an Asian sourcing office and a U.S. manufacturing facility, enhancing its distribution and supply chain business and strengthening its support structure for high-end specialty accounts.
"In this industry, you've got to go out and make some things happen. You can't stand back," president/ceo Keith Sorgeloos told HTT.
Home Source's new sourcing office opened Jan. 2 in southern India and will cover the three countries from which it does most of its sourcing: India, China and Pakistan. It will be headed up by the company's new vp of sourcing, T. Periaswamy, formerly with Sharadha Terry Products Ltd.
In addition to working on product development with major accounts, the office will source fabric to cut and sew in the United States at HomeSource's soon-to-open facility in the Southeast.
"It will be a hybrid model that will allow us to develop, search and source finished fabric cloth to be used to manufacture filled top-of-the-bed product such as comforters, quilts, coverlets, shams, dec pillows, window treatment and more for the hospitality trade as well as retail," said Sorgeloos.
The plant will be headed by the company's new vp of manufacturing, Dennis Rudd, an industry veteran who spent many years running manufacturing operations at WestPoint.
Another key objective that is gaining traction is the warehouse, distribution and supply chain initiative Home Source set up a year ago, which recently became fully automated.
"We are continuing to solicit worldwide manufacturers, importers and retailers in utilizing our sophisticated supply chain services via housing and shipping product to retail partners and supporting overseas manufacturers who need to supply U.S. retailers all the way through and including a direct to consumer model," said Sorgeloos.
The facility is headed in tandem by Roger Atkins, vp of warehousing, distribution and logistics, and Chris Bajenski, vp of information systems.
Home Source is also making a concentrated effort to maximize business with high-end specialty stores. To that end, it has named Andrea Bruckner vp of sales for East and Janette Huff vp of sales for the west.
The company is also launching a new 3,200-square-foot showroom at the Atlanta Merchandise Mart this week at the Atlanta Market.
In addition, Scott Sorgeloos has been named vp of product development for bedding, replacing the recently retired Phyllis Moore. The younger Sorgeloos, son of the company founder, joined the company a few years ago and will serve as the complement to Home Source's vp of product development for bath, Eric Loges.
"In this day and age, you've got to own something - whether it's a brand, manufacturing or controlling your own destiny when it comes to distribution," said Sorgeloos.
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