Rekor Adds Curtains, Expands Retail Stores
March 17, 2006
BURSA, Turkey—Rekor, a 60 year old family dominated upholstery mill, here, has introduced a line of voile curtain fabrics produced on 24 new Vamatex looms.
"The variety and qualities offered in net curtains is growing at a faster rate than Rekor upholstery lines because the customer changes the curtains faster than upholstery," said M. Necati Kurtcan, marketing director and third generation family owner of Rekor.
The name 'Rekor' means 'think off the record or the highest level you can reach.' The company is vertical, yarn forward with its own spinning, dyeing and finishing in-house.
Rekor was founded in 1946 by Necati Kurtcan who passed on just three years ago. Rekor is run by family management under the watchful eyes of his son, Ahmet Kurtcan, president, his sister Nilufer, vice president and plant manager and M. Necati Kurtcan, marketing director. Ruhi Tezel has been export manager for the past three years. He was previously with Reisoglu, another Turkish mill.
"If we produce standard, commodity products in upholstery and voiles, we are finished in this business," M. Necati explained. He says that Rekor's attention to quality, service and unique products has led to a 70 percent increase in export since 2005. Rekor export now accounts for 40 percent of its $25 million in sales. It began pushing internationally for sales in 2003. Rekor is a well known brand in Turkey with seven Rekor shops for domestic sales. The company expects to expand its retail presence in the growing Turkish domestic market and possibly in Europe in the next three years. "Turkey is open to all types of products," said Necati Kurtcan. The company shows its lines at Heimtextil, Decosit and Evteks.
Rekor specializes in dobby upholstery solids and some jacquards in the $5-$8 meter range in acrylics and micro polyester yarns. It has dedicated 160 looms to upholstery production, none over 10 years old. The company says it shines in piece dyed qualities in 80 colors with 80 percent of its business in plains, something that China cannot touch, Ahmet explains. One can order as little as one piece per color from Rekor which gives it a competitive advantage over China which requires larger orders. The company is doing trials with Trevira yarns for contract upholstery and has perfected a tumbling process for softer hand in the finishing state. The company employs five designers and buys artwork from Italian designers. Rekor produces 2,000 new designs a year.
Rekor is also offering coordinated bedspreads and upholstery to its customers. Rekor is selling finished curtains to some significant retail accounts in the UK including Marks & Spencer. Its main export market is Italy and Germany however and this has shifted form the Middle East.
"The variety and qualities offered in net curtains is growing at a faster rate than Rekor upholstery lines because the customer changes the curtains faster than upholstery," said M. Necati Kurtcan, marketing director and third generation family owner of Rekor.
The name 'Rekor' means 'think off the record or the highest level you can reach.' The company is vertical, yarn forward with its own spinning, dyeing and finishing in-house.
Rekor was founded in 1946 by Necati Kurtcan who passed on just three years ago. Rekor is run by family management under the watchful eyes of his son, Ahmet Kurtcan, president, his sister Nilufer, vice president and plant manager and M. Necati Kurtcan, marketing director. Ruhi Tezel has been export manager for the past three years. He was previously with Reisoglu, another Turkish mill.
"If we produce standard, commodity products in upholstery and voiles, we are finished in this business," M. Necati explained. He says that Rekor's attention to quality, service and unique products has led to a 70 percent increase in export since 2005. Rekor export now accounts for 40 percent of its $25 million in sales. It began pushing internationally for sales in 2003. Rekor is a well known brand in Turkey with seven Rekor shops for domestic sales. The company expects to expand its retail presence in the growing Turkish domestic market and possibly in Europe in the next three years. "Turkey is open to all types of products," said Necati Kurtcan. The company shows its lines at Heimtextil, Decosit and Evteks.
Rekor specializes in dobby upholstery solids and some jacquards in the $5-$8 meter range in acrylics and micro polyester yarns. It has dedicated 160 looms to upholstery production, none over 10 years old. The company says it shines in piece dyed qualities in 80 colors with 80 percent of its business in plains, something that China cannot touch, Ahmet explains. One can order as little as one piece per color from Rekor which gives it a competitive advantage over China which requires larger orders. The company is doing trials with Trevira yarns for contract upholstery and has perfected a tumbling process for softer hand in the finishing state. The company employs five designers and buys artwork from Italian designers. Rekor produces 2,000 new designs a year.
Rekor is also offering coordinated bedspreads and upholstery to its customers. Rekor is selling finished curtains to some significant retail accounts in the UK including Marks & Spencer. Its main export market is Italy and Germany however and this has shifted form the Middle East.
