Greenbank Lays Down Contract Gauntlet in U.S.
June 29, 2006
LONDON, England — Walker Greenbank Group Contracts is targeting the U.S. hospitality market with a more aggressive marketing and manufacturing effort, according to Carolyn Mitchell, group contract sales director.
Walker Greenbank does about ten percent of its sales in contract but Mitchell expects this to double.
Mitchell was managing director of the UK subsidiary of Creation Baumann, a Swiss company for three years, prior to taking her new position one year ago. Before that, she was contracts sales manager for Monkwell for about 12 years and is the current chairman of the British Contract Furnishing Association.
Walker Greenbank brands Harlequin/Harris will be teamed up and re-launched as the primary contract brand for drapery and upholstery respectively for 3-4 star hotels. Up until now Europe has been the company's primary market. This is separate from Zoffany, its upmarket brand used for public suites and 4-5 star hotels.
Walker Greenbank has turned the corner to profitability through cost control and strategic combination of various divisions in the Group, she says. The Group also includes The Anstey wallpaper Printers and Standfast Fabric print works.
"The market is tough and our brands need to support each other," she explained.
Cornered during lunch at the Soho Hotel in London, the dynamic Mitchell said "Walker Greenbank has restructured its U.S. operations with the appointment of a new president in Paul Colley who has been working for the group for two years. Reporting into Colley is Jack Bentley, president of sales. Both presidents are based at the U.S. headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey.
The Contracts team is backed up by John Sachs, group chief executive, David Smallridge, brands managing director and Barry Forrester, managing director of manufacturing.
Mitchell's Contract manager for the UK is Kate Haman. She is dedicated to building sales with the UK team; she has 10 years behind her with the company.
Walker Greenbank is a vertical printer and converter, owning both rotary print works at Standfastand Anstey.
Driven by the huge design archive owned by the Walker Greenbank Company, and represented by Harlequin, Harris, Sanderson and Zoffany, Mitchell feels the group can really offer the U.S. market "outstanding" design and value packed prices more than competitive with other fabric suppliers now in the U.S.
Walker Greenbank does about ten percent of its sales in contract but Mitchell expects this to double.
Mitchell was managing director of the UK subsidiary of Creation Baumann, a Swiss company for three years, prior to taking her new position one year ago. Before that, she was contracts sales manager for Monkwell for about 12 years and is the current chairman of the British Contract Furnishing Association.
Walker Greenbank brands Harlequin/Harris will be teamed up and re-launched as the primary contract brand for drapery and upholstery respectively for 3-4 star hotels. Up until now Europe has been the company's primary market. This is separate from Zoffany, its upmarket brand used for public suites and 4-5 star hotels.
Walker Greenbank has turned the corner to profitability through cost control and strategic combination of various divisions in the Group, she says. The Group also includes The Anstey wallpaper Printers and Standfast Fabric print works.
"The market is tough and our brands need to support each other," she explained.
Cornered during lunch at the Soho Hotel in London, the dynamic Mitchell said "Walker Greenbank has restructured its U.S. operations with the appointment of a new president in Paul Colley who has been working for the group for two years. Reporting into Colley is Jack Bentley, president of sales. Both presidents are based at the U.S. headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey.
The Contracts team is backed up by John Sachs, group chief executive, David Smallridge, brands managing director and Barry Forrester, managing director of manufacturing.
Mitchell's Contract manager for the UK is Kate Haman. She is dedicated to building sales with the UK team; she has 10 years behind her with the company.
Walker Greenbank is a vertical printer and converter, owning both rotary print works at Standfastand Anstey.
Driven by the huge design archive owned by the Walker Greenbank Company, and represented by Harlequin, Harris, Sanderson and Zoffany, Mitchell feels the group can really offer the U.S. market "outstanding" design and value packed prices more than competitive with other fabric suppliers now in the U.S.
