Edmund Bell Adds Upholstery, Blackout Velvet; Acquires Textile Finishing Plant
Parent Company Redwood Group Holdings Passes 40 Million Pounds in Sales
November 2, 2018
ROCHDALE, England—Redwood Group, the parent company of Edmund Bell & Co. Ltd., has acquired P.W. Greenhalgh, a fourth-generation, family-owned textile finisher, which has a 170,000-square-feet plant five minutes away from the Edmund Bell headquarters.
P.W. Greenhalgh Finishing Limited will continue as a commission textile coating and finisher and Edmund Bell will continue to be one of its customers, according to John Atherton, managing director of Edmund Bell. Edmund Bell is a converter and importer of blackouts, dimouts, draperies, linings, voiles and upholstery.
“With the acquisition of P.W. Greenhalgh Finishing last February, we will have a more balanced global supply chain and more control over quality and service that will benefit our export customers in over 80 countries,” he says. “The facility does curtain lining finishing, blackout and FR coating for upholstery, but will maintain its independence of Edmund Bell.”
Atherton emphasizes, “We will continue to be a good customer just as we have been in the past.”
“Having PWG as part of the Redwood Group further supports EB having control of a balanced supply chain, whilst still working closely with its supply chain partners across the world,” Atherton says.
At Heimtextil 2019, Edmund Bell (founded in 1855), will be showing an expanded range of upholstery fabrics in addition to launching a new line of velvet blackout in over 20 colors. A new line of multipurpose inherently FR single drape in 20 colors is also offered from an expanded Heimtextil stand.
“The Edmund Bell brand sports a new identity and logotype, and products cover all price ranges of blackouts, dimouts, voiles and upholstery,” Atherton says. “Edmund Bell is now a global supplier and exporter to 80 countries of both commodities and decorative ranges covering both commercial and residential.”
“We’re operating in very turbulent economic and political times,” Atherton says. “We are ready for whatever happens with Brexit in the U.K. and have developed different strategies for whatever path it takes. Change creates opportunity.”
Redwood Group was started by John’s father, Brian Atherton, the 74-year-old chairman of the 25-year-old company with 2018 sales of 42 million pounds and 305 employees. The company consists of four divisions: Redwood Technical Textiles; Edmund Bell; A1 Blinds, and now P.W. Greenhalgh Finishing.
The Athertons acquired Edmund Bell from Hanes Mfg. in the USA ten years ago. Since then, it has doubled sales, Atherton says. This was accomplished by greatly expanding the decorative products offered with more colors and textures in narrow and wide widths. The company also offers its customers custom-design services with its in-house design team.
P.W. Greenhalgh Finishing Limited will continue as a commission textile coating and finisher and Edmund Bell will continue to be one of its customers, according to John Atherton, managing director of Edmund Bell. Edmund Bell is a converter and importer of blackouts, dimouts, draperies, linings, voiles and upholstery.
“With the acquisition of P.W. Greenhalgh Finishing last February, we will have a more balanced global supply chain and more control over quality and service that will benefit our export customers in over 80 countries,” he says. “The facility does curtain lining finishing, blackout and FR coating for upholstery, but will maintain its independence of Edmund Bell.”
Atherton emphasizes, “We will continue to be a good customer just as we have been in the past.”
“Having PWG as part of the Redwood Group further supports EB having control of a balanced supply chain, whilst still working closely with its supply chain partners across the world,” Atherton says.
At Heimtextil 2019, Edmund Bell (founded in 1855), will be showing an expanded range of upholstery fabrics in addition to launching a new line of velvet blackout in over 20 colors. A new line of multipurpose inherently FR single drape in 20 colors is also offered from an expanded Heimtextil stand.
“The Edmund Bell brand sports a new identity and logotype, and products cover all price ranges of blackouts, dimouts, voiles and upholstery,” Atherton says. “Edmund Bell is now a global supplier and exporter to 80 countries of both commodities and decorative ranges covering both commercial and residential.”
“We’re operating in very turbulent economic and political times,” Atherton says. “We are ready for whatever happens with Brexit in the U.K. and have developed different strategies for whatever path it takes. Change creates opportunity.”
Redwood Group was started by John’s father, Brian Atherton, the 74-year-old chairman of the 25-year-old company with 2018 sales of 42 million pounds and 305 employees. The company consists of four divisions: Redwood Technical Textiles; Edmund Bell; A1 Blinds, and now P.W. Greenhalgh Finishing.
The Athertons acquired Edmund Bell from Hanes Mfg. in the USA ten years ago. Since then, it has doubled sales, Atherton says. This was accomplished by greatly expanding the decorative products offered with more colors and textures in narrow and wide widths. The company also offers its customers custom-design services with its in-house design team.
