Culp Completes Majority Ownership Investment In eLuxury, A Bedding Accessories E-Commerce Company

HIGH POINT, N.C. — June 26, 2018 — Culp Inc. today announced the company has completed its previously announced majority ownership investment in eLuxury, an internet company offering bedding accessories and home goods direct to consumers. Based in Evansville, Ind., eLuxury’s primary products include a line of mattress pads manufactured at the Evansville location. eLuxury also offers handmade platform beds, cotton bed sheets, and other bedding items. eLuxury’s revenue is on a current annual run rate of $22 million for 2018, excluding related seller businesses that are not part of this transaction. Its products are available on eLuxury’s own branded website, eLuxury.com, Amazon and other leading online retailers for specialty home goods.

Commenting on the announcement, Iv Culp, president of Culp’s mattress fabrics division, said: “This strategic investment substantially expands our addressable market, provides an important new sales channel for Culp in the bedding accessories category, and expands our ability to participate in the rapidly growing e-commerce direct-to-consumer space. This business combination brings together eLuxury’s experience in e-commerce, online brand building, and direct-to-consumer shopping and fulfillment expertise with Culp’s extensive global production, design and product development capabilities, and distribution network. We also have an opportunity to market our new line of bedding accessories, ‘Comfort Supply Company by Culp’, as well as other home products that we may develop, including items made from our upholstery fabrics, through this e-commerce platform. We are excited to work with Paul Saunders, a successful entrepreneur, and we look forward to having his associates as partners with the Culp team.”

Saunders, eLuxury’s founder and CEO, will maintain a minority interest in the company and remain in his role. Saunders stated, “This is a great opportunity for eLuxury to partner with a market leader, and we look forward to our relationship with Culp. Our companies share similar values and a common business culture centered around product excellence and exceptional customer service. We are excited about the significant opportunities to leverage our combined expertise and expand our product offering into new markets.”

Posted June 26, 2018

Source: Culp

Top Dentsu Aegis Leader Annette Warring Named Executive Client President, General Motors

TORONTO — June 26, 2018 — After transforming the Canadian arm of the Dentsu Aegis Network into a top-10 global market in less than five years, the Dentsu Aegis Network is pleased to announce the appointment of Annette Warring to the role of executive client president for the General Motors (GM) account.

When looking for a seasoned marketing executive to drive the network’s largest client, the solution was found a short distance from GM’s North American head office. In this role, Warring will bring her award-winning acumen for media, strategic creative sensibility, data driven, digital-first approach to explore new areas of innovation designed to continue to grow GM’s business.

Warring has more than 25 years of industry experience and a proven-track record for successfully taking top global brands to the next level. Always ahead of market trends, she is the ideal candidate to advance GM’s strategic focus and set a new benchmark in client service while helping them achieve their goal of earning customers for life.

Warring is known for championing greater accountability through media measurement and analytics to ensure optimized client value. In addition to bringing this discipline and rigour to the GM client, Warring will leverage the same business acumen that allowed her to build, grow and transform 15 disparate agencies, across six different markets with almost 1,500 employees into one of the top performing markets within the global network.

“With ride sharing, autonomous vehicle technology and online retail challenging industry norms and evolving consumer expectations, Annette brings a unique combination of insight and experience across the entire marketing funnel which positions her well to build the brand and grow sales,” said Nick Brien, CEO Americas, Dentsu Aegis Network North America.

“Annette understands how to leverage innovation to create transformational business and client relationships,” said, Peter Huijboom, CEO Global Clients and Media Brands Dentsu Aegis Network. “We’re confident of the success she’ll create in this inaugural client role at GM.”

Reporting to Nick Brien, CEO Americas, and Peter Huijboom, CEO Global Clients and Media Brands, Warring will relocate to Detroit.

Warring, who has brought in dynamic, senior leaders to Dentsu Aegis Network Canada, will continue to work closely with the entire team during the transition for the coming months.

Posted June 26, 2018

Source: Dentsu Aegis Network Canada

Filtration® 2018: Bold Innovations Will Command Attention Oct. 2-4 In Philadelphia

CARY, N.C.  — June 26, 2018 — Bold innovations in air and fluid filtration across major industry sectors will command attention at the 27th Filtration® 2018 International Conference & Exposition this fall in Philadelphia October 2-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Professionals from such industry sectors as transportation, medical, energy, life science, commercial, nuclear, aerospace, and indoor air quality will find new sales and solution opportunities at this year’s event.

Filtration® 2018 is expected to attract more than 1,400 participants to advance their interests in filtration. Registration is open on the Filtration® 2018 website, www.filtration2018.com.

The newly launched website provides a preliminary product preview of the exposition’s dynamic combination of new products including: meltblown systems, membrane surface technologies, ultrasonic filter pleating equipment, dust collection systems for industrial applications, gas turbine filters, efficient self-foaming filter adhesive and new filter media test rigs in accordance with the ISO 16890 method. The networking, top speakers, education and training will deliver strong value for leading suppliers and customers of filtration media and components who exhibit and attend Filtration 2018.

Conference presentations from forward thinking companies will discuss the latest innovations in topics such as smart filters & systems, indoor air quality, high performance buildings, and material science in fibers & media.  Presenters include representatives from:

  • 3M;
  • Eastman Chemical Co.;
  • FPInnovations;
  • Knowlton Technologies;
  • The Nonwovens Institute; and
  • Kathleen Owen, Chair of ASHRAE 52.2.

Co-located with Filtration® 2018, the highly acclaimed, one-and-a half day Filter Media Training Course provides a unique educational opportunity for professionals wanting to learn more about the development, testing, and applications in filtration. The course to be taught by Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Associate Dean for Industry Research, and executive director of The Nonwovens Institute starts Tuesday, October 2 and ends Wednesday, October 3 immediately prior to the exposition opening.

Complete event information can be viewed at the Filtration® 2018 website, www.filtration2018.com including a preview of new products, training and sponsorship opportunities, previous attendees, exhibitor listings, video media, and online registration.

Posted June 26, 2018

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Archroma To Showcase Innovative Denim Solutions At DenimsandJeans Vietnam 2018

REINACH, Switzerland — June 26, 2018 — Archroma will be presenting its innovative and sustainable denim solutions for manufacturers and brands at DenimsandJeans Vietnam 2018, on June 27 and 28.

From fiber to finish, Archroma offers a scope of possibilities for effects and colors, from the authentic roots of indigo to the most innovative and eco-advanced solutions. Archroma is a recognized leader in integrated solutions, offering best-in-class auxiliaries for bespoke process packages.

Visitors will be able to discover solutions designed to make denim in a more sustainable and responsible way, in particular:

DENISOL®, Bringing Indigo Back To Its Roots — Now Aniline-Free*

Archroma’s Denisol® range is a newly developed pre-reduced liquid indigo solution that is manufactured in Archroma’s award winning ‘zero liquid discharge’ manufacturing plant in Pakistan.

  • Denisol Indigo 30 liq is compliant with major official eco-standards and requirements from retailers, brands and fashion leading companies and helps to produce fabrics suitable for current eco-labeling such as bluesign® and GOTS.
  • Responding to demands for a non-toxic alternative to the dyes that are used for the iconic and traditional indigo blue that consumers associate with denim and jeans, Archroma just announced the upcoming new Denisol Pure Indigo 30.

Advanced Denim, Towards Waterless Denim Dyeing

Consider this: The water needed to produce one pair of jeans is said to be ~ 11’000 liters(1). With approximately 167 million pairs of jeans produced monthly(2), that is 1,837,000,000,000 liters of water consumed every month in the process!

Based on the Denim-Ox and Pad/Sizing-Ox dyeing processes, Archroma’s multi-awarded ADVANCED DENIM, dyeing technology allows savings of up to 92 percent in water, 87 percent in cotton waste and 30% in energy, compared to a conventional denim dyeing process.

The technology has been adopted by brands like Patagonia and received the prestigious 2012 ICIS Innovation Award and Innovation with Best Environmental Benefit Award.

Optisul® C, “soft colors” made easy

Colors other than blue have been tricky to achieve in the past. With Optisul® C dyes, denim manufacturers can expand their color horizons with this range of six dyes especially designed to produce soft denim colors in continuous dyeing processes, as well as on coating and printing. Optisul C affinity-free, sulfide-free dyes can easily be combined with each other to create garments suitable for wash-down treatments in a wide array of easily achievable and reproducible soft colors.

They are suitable for GOTS and bluesign® approval.

DiresulDiresul® RDT Ocean Blues, ocean-themed bright sulfur blue dyes

Archroma’s Diresul® RDT Ocean Blues are a collection of vibrant, ocean-themed bright sulfur blue dyes. These best-in-class dyes and their auxiliaries bring out the best of indigo, improve workability, dyeing consistency and process safety.

They can be combined with Denisol Indigo 30 liq in bottoming/topping manufacturing routes for avant-garde blue styles.

⇨ At the booth, Archroma will display an “illustration collection” of exciting indigo casts.

Diresul® blacks & greys, a universe of greys and deep black and navies

Archroma’s dye portfolio of conventional and black Diresul® specialties allow to create a universe of greys and deep black and navies. From superficial to solid blacks for both extreme wash-down and stay black effects.

Earthcolors, Traceable From Nature To Fashion

As consumers increasingly aspire to functional, beautiful and meaningful clothing, brands and manufacturers are increasingly interested in the environmental impact of the denim industry. Archroma has placed sustainability at the heart of its innovation process to create products and processes that improve the industry’s sustainability.

The EarthColors patented range of “biosynthetic” dyes for cotton and cellulose-based fabrics, which are made from waste left over by the agricultural and herbal industry after extraction, such as almond shells, saw palmetto, or rosemary leaves. The latest NFC technology used on the end-product hangtags enables transparency and traceability through the supply chain to consumers.

The EarthColors allow to produce the earth tones that are coming strong: red, brown and green colors. They have been adopted by brands such as Patagonia, Kathmandu and G-Star, and won an OutDoor Industry Award 2017.

Solution Packages For Sustainability

Brand owners and retailers around the world are taking action to evaluate the environmental impact of textile treatment, dyeing and finishing processes in response to consumer concerns.

Archroma recently introduced the ONE WAY Process Simulator, the last update of a calculation tool that supports its ONE WAY Sustainability Service introduced back in 2012. The new, online software can be used to mimic and compare products and processes, and thus calculate the ecological and economical profile of the final end-product.

Archroma’s portfolio of ZDHC MRSL-compliant chemicals and dyes is integrated into the ONE WAY calculation tool since 2013.

“Innovation and sustainability go hand in hand,” says Paul O’Prey, Head of Sales, Brand & Performance Textile Specialties, Archroma, Vietnam. “While developing new products and services, we always consider the environmental impact so they are as sustainable as possible. This can be seen in our innovative and eco-advance products, such as the water-saving ADVANCED DENIM and the aniline-free* Denisol® Pure Indigo.”

Visit Archroma at DenimsandJeans Vietnam 2018 at the Riverside Palace, HCMC, Vietnam on June 27 and 28, 2018.

* Below limits of detection

(1) Arjen Y. Hoekstra, The Water Footprint of Modern Consumer Society

(2) American Chemical Society, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120619123753.htm.

Denisol®, Optisul®, Diresul® are trademarks of Archroma registered in many countries. © 2018 Archroma

Posted June 26, 2018

Source: Archroma

Century 21 Stores Opens Curated Concept Store On Long Island

NEW YORK CITY — June 25, 2018 — The iconic New York-based fashion retailer Century 21 Stores, best known for delivering designer merchandise at up to 65-percent off retail, will open its doors to the public on June 25, 2018, at Roosevelt Field. The approximately 5,000-square-foot store entitled Century 21 EDITION will feature a curated selection of designer women’s shoes, accessories, sunglasses, watches, handbags, fragrances and an optical boutique. Century 21 EDITION has partnered with Vision Express offering consumers an array of optical services as well as discounted prescription frames from Tom Ford, Céline, Chloé, Fendi and Givenchy. Additionally, Century 21 EDITION will feature LXRandCo to offer guests an exclusive assortment of vintage designer handbags and accessories from top brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Hermès at incredible values.

The Century 21 EDITION concept is a new strategy for the company and will highlight a “best of the best” curated assortment of products. Century 21 Stores operates in the off-price sector, presenting designer merchandise in beautifully designed stores creating a luxury shopping experience. In recent years, the company has experienced expanded growth with the opening of three additional stores (Sawgrass Mills, Florida, Cross County, Yonkers and Staten Island, New York).

“The exciting expansion of Century 21 EDITION to Roosevelt Field allows us the opportunity to showcase our most coveted merchandise to an existing consumer base familiar with the Century 21 brand, as well as introduce the brand and concept to new consumers in the market. We look forward to being part of such a premier mall at Roosevelt Field and to continue to deliver designer brands at amazing prices to the Long Island community,” stated Raymond Gindi, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Century 21 Stores.

The store will be located in Roosevelt Field, 630 Old Country Road, Garden City, N.Y. 11530.

Posted June 25, 2018

Source: Century 21 Stores

Overstock.com Urges Congressional Action Following U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

SALT LAKE CITY — June 21, 2018 — Overstock.com Inc. is prepared to comply with today’s Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., which overturned long-standing United States Supreme Court precedent, in Quill Corp v. North Dakota. At the same time, the company calls on Congress to intervene and legislate a fair solution in the wake of today’s ruling to lessen possible impacts on innovative internet startups.

“Though the impact of the Court’s ruling today will be clarified by further proceedings in the lower court, we are prepared to comply with any outcome, and the decision will have no appreciable impact on our business,” said Overstock.com executive and board member Jonathan Johnson.

The 5-4 ruling altered the 26-year Quill precedent, which established that a retailer had to have a physical presence in a state, before it could be compelled to collect sales taxes on behalf of that state. Physical presence will no longer be the standard, though there are still guidelines for states to consider, as given by the Supreme Court.

“Today the U.S. Supreme Court has re-shaped the interstate commerce landscape in a move that could impact small business innovation on the internet, which has been a driving force behind our nation’s economy for the last 15 years,” said Johnson. “The framers of the Constitution intended Congress to regulate interstate commerce by thoughtful legislation. To lessen the potential impact of today’s ruling on internet innovation, Congress can, and should, pass sound legislation allowing states to accomplish their aims while still permitting small internet business to thrive.”

The company noted that there are more than 12,000 different state and local taxing districts, which presents internet start-ups with a compliance challenge.

Johnson continued, “Unless Congress responds, the Court’s ruling may remove key entrepreneurial opportunities before they even get out of the heads of the inventors.”

Posted June 25, 2018

Source: Overstock.com Inc.

Kornit Digital to Present at the CJS Securities 18th Annual “New Ideas” Summer Conference

ROSH-HA`AYIN, Israel — June 25, 2018 — Kornit Digital Ltd., a company that develops, designs and markets innovative digital printing solutions for the global printed textile industry, today announced that Guy Avidan, the company’s CFO will present at the CJS Securities 18th Annual “New Ideas” Summer Conference on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 10:10 am ET. Avidan will be available for one-on-one meetings on this day. To schedule a one-on-one meeting please contact your CJS Securities sales representative.

Posted June 25, 2018

Source: Kornit Digital Ltd.

WWDMAGIC Announces Strategic Partnership With FashionGo

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — June 21, 2018 — WWDMAGIC, a subsidiary of UBM Fashion Group and the largest showcase of women’s apparel and accessories in the fashion industry, today announced a strategic partnership with online business-to-business fashion marketplace, NHN Global Inc., doing business as FashionGo. This alliance between two industry leaders, with its massive shared base of buyers and vendors, will bring about innovation and strategic influence to the dynamic wholesale industry.

WWDMAGIC has been the pinnacle destination for the trendiest women’s and juniors’ brands, offering the largest selection of apparel and accessories in the industry. FashionGo is the number one online B2B marketplace providing one of the fastest growing global e-commerce platforms offering buyers 24/7 access to its vast collection of wholesale fashion, allowing them to shop the latest trends at the best prices. This pairing of two leaders in their respective industries will bring about the best of both worlds — the sought-after face-to-face engagement and relationship building of the tradeshow experience and the speed and ease of doing business online.

“The fashion business is changing and we believe that together, WWDMAGIC and FashionGo as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Kelly Helfman, Vice President of WWDMAGIC. “Both WWDMAGIC and FashionGo are powerhouses in their own right; together we’ll be able to fully support the needs of our industry by playing off each other’s strengths. This partnership will give brands and buyers an enhanced experience that merges both Digital and B2B events.”

To kickoff this partnership, FashionGo will introduce “Kelly’s MAGIC Monday” on their site starting June 25. Here, Helfman will highlight trends, offer industry insights and profile the people behind beloved brands and stores. In addition to offering expertise to FashionGo’s active base of buyers, buyers will have immediate access to products highlighted — prioritizing the “see now, buy now” mentality. The addition of Kelly’s MAGIC Monday to the FashionGo site offers the online buying industry a human touch that is the hallmark of the traditional tradeshow experience. In addition to Kelly’s MAGIC Monday, FashionGo CEO, Daniel Lee, will attend MAGIC’s August showcase and host a seminar for attending buyers.

FashionGo will also host an onsite cocktail event for brands and buyers to network on the show floor. And, in an effort to keep the tradeshows more environmentally friendly and hydrated, FashionGo will create water stations throughout the show floor with refillable water bottle for brands and buyers!

“The partnership between WWDMAGIC and FashionGo allows each respective company to address the needs of their offline and online audiences,” said Daniel Lee, CEO of FashionGo.  “A large part of the fashion business has shifted online but brands and buyers are increasingly feeling the need for an experience offline. This partnership will bring an omnichannel experience that has not yet been done in the fashion industry.”

WWDMAGIC will take place in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center August 13-15, 2018.

Posted June 25, 2018

Source: UBM Fashion

Delta Apparel Subsidiary DTG2Go Adds New Digital Print Location

GREENVILLE, S.C. — June 22, 2018 — Delta Apparel Inc. — a provider of basic and branded apparel, headwear and related accessories — today announced that DTG2Go LLC, its digital print subsidiary and provider of on-demand, direct-to-garment printed apparel, has opened its fourth manufacturing and fulfillment location. The new facility is located on the Fayetteville, N.C., campus of Delta Apparel’s Soffe subsidiary and further extends DTG2Go’s reach and service levels in the important northeastern United States market.

DTG2Go’s expanded national footprint, which includes the new North Carolina location as well as existing operations in Miami and Clearwater, Fla., and Reno, Nev/, facilitates 1 to 2-day shipping capability to consumers across the United States. DTG2Go also ships internationally to over 100 countries worldwide. The new location also enhances DTG2Go’s manufacturing capacity and capabilities through significant investments in state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, its integration with Soffe’s world-class screenprint and retail packaging operations gives DTG2Go market-differentiating flexibility in its print and fulfillment offerings to customers.

Deborah Merrill, President of Delta Basics, commented: “We continue to be excited about the digital print and fulfillment model and the new North Carolina facility further solidifies our leadership position in this high-growth market. Commingling the new operations with our Soffe business gives us the ability to offer customers blended virtual inventory solutions that utilize DTG2Go’s on-demand, digital print expertise as well as Soffe’s large-scale screenprint platform. We look for continued high-growth opportunities with DTG2Go as we move forward.”

Posted June 25, 2018

Source: Delta Apparel Inc.

Lenzing Leads Sustainability Dialogue In The Nonwoven Industry With Its New VEOCEL™ Brand

LENZING, Austria — June 11, 2018 — The Lenzing Group has introduced VEOCEL™, the company’s new nonwoven specialty brand. Positioned as a premium brand of nonwoven fibers for daily care rituals, Veocel provides the nonwoven industry with fibers that are certified clean and safe, biodegradable, from botanic origin and produced in an environmentally responsible production process. Offerings under the Veocel brand cover a broad range of applications for everyday use, from baby care, beauty and body care to intimate care and surface cleaning. Such applications are categorized under branded offers Veocel Beauty, Veocel Body, Veocel Intimate and Veocel Surface

The introduction of Veocel is a key milestone of Lenzing’s new brand strategy to transform from a business-to-business (B2B) fiber producer to a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) brand. Coupled with ongoing co-branding, joint marketing and brand education initiatives conducted with customers and brands globally, Veocel will enable Lenzing to shift its focus beyond fiber types to product application and build a relatable and emotional connection with consumers.

“Guided by our sCore TEN strategy, the launch of the Veocel brand will accelerate our migration into a specialty fiber business with a strong focus on innovation, quality and sustainability. Through ongoing proactive communication, the Veocel brand will also promote a holistic understanding about the benefits of botanic fibers in nonwoven products across the industry value chain and among consumers. This will not only help to maximize the marketing efforts of our customers and partners, but also drive dialogue about sustainability across the nonwoven industry. Through the Veocel brand, we hope to address the growing demand for transparency and sustainability across the value chain and provide consumers with greener product options,” said Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer, Lenzing Group.

Veocel fiber portfolio includes Veocel Lyocell and Veocel Specialty Viscose fibers, which are derived from renewable or sustainable wood sources from certified and controlled forests and plantations. The botanic origin of the fibers offers functional benefits such as improved moisture absorbency and management, contribution to breathability, good hand feel, blending versatility, and all Veocel fibers are certified biodegradable in soil, landfill, compost and seawater. With a strong commitment to ensure fiber cleanliness, these fibers are manufactured using a stringently monitored production process in accordance with Lenzing’s high quality, environmental and safety standards.

The latest addition to the Veocel Surface brand — the Veocel Lyocell Fiber with “Quat” Release technology — is a premium and specialty wood-based cellulose fiber that is used in hard surface cleaning and disinfectant wet wipes. Veocel Lyocell fibers with Lenzing’s Quat Release technology allow quaternary ammonium compounds, also known as Quat, to be released from wet wipes onto the surface for effective cleaning and disinfecting in household and industrial environments.

While the nonwoven industry has acknowledged the benefits of Lenzing’s cellulosic fibers, such as their sustainable nature, botanic origin and ability to improve cleaning experience, the majority of single-use cleaning and disinfectant wet wipes mainly consists of synthetic fibers such as polyester and polypropylene. This binding interaction substantially decreases the release of Quat and can negatively impact the efficacy of the disinfectant product. However, with Lenzing’s Quat Release technology, the binding of Quat to the surface of Veocel Lyocell Fibers is significantly reduced, resulting in improved effectiveness of surface cleaning and the disinfection process. Wet wipes containing Veocel Lyocell Fiber with Quat Release technology demonstrate significantly improved release of Quat from the wet wipe to the surface, resulting in improved product stability and performance. In addition, Veocel Lyocell fibers also promote good absorbency, homogenous distribution of liquid in wet wipes and good hand feel.

“Today’s consumers, especially the millennial generation, are more mindful of their ecological footprint or the mark they leave on the natural environment and its resources. Since nonwoven products are mostly for single-use, we have seen increasing interest across the industry value chain in sustainable product composition and transparent production processes. With more consumers wanting to identify sustainable products that are biodegradable and environmentally responsible with proven functionality, the need for brands to be more transparent in product ingredient labelling is greater than ever. We hope that through Veocel and the newly launched Veocel Lyocell Fiber with Quat Release technology under the Veocel Surface brand, we are able to drive the entire nonwoven market forward and raise the bar for ingredient labeling and environmental standards across the industry,” said Wolfgang Plasser, vice president, Global Business Management Nonwoven of Lenzing Group.

Following the introduction of VEOCEL™, joint promotional programs with retail brand partners will be rolled out to equip consumers with the knowledge they need to identify nonwoven products that combine advanced performance, comfort and sustainability. “With Veocel, we are building a consumer-focused ingredient brand that proactively communicates with consumers through a B2Me approach, which is unique to the nonwoven industry. Given nonwoven products are in close contact with skin or other sensitive areas of the body, ongoing consumer outreach plays a critical role in building trust among consumers. Matched with a tagline ‘purely for you’, we wish to convey a Veocel brand promise that highlights our dedication to provide certified clean and safe products and pure care to consumers and the environment,” said Harold Weghorst, director of Global Brand Management, Lenzing Group.

Posted June 25, 2018

Source: Lenzing Group

Sponsors