YAVNE, Israel — Etun makes its living through servicing the customer according to Immanuel (Manny) and Judith Horn, the owners of Etun. “Every Far Eastern and Turkish supplier beats us on price so the only reason to do business with us is our extra good service,” the couple says. Etun price range is $10-$16 a meter in polyester, acrylic and cotton blends in jacquard designs and jacquard plains. They count on Herod’s Hotels and Leonardo Hotels as customers locally. About 2,000 years ago, Yavne was also home to the biblical court known as the Sanhedrin. Today, Etun’s jacquard looms crank out fabric for American clients who specialize in hospitality projects and some clients in Japan. Etun is a 100 percent custom development mill with no minimum order requirements for its customers who can have samples in a few days. The same technique wins Etun local hotel business where lost time means lost hotel room rentals. Etun has its own sewing room in order to deliver finished textiles to the hotel on time. Etun has three designers on staff including Ronit Gutman, a ten-year veteran of Etun, Judith Horn and Julia Dvirnyi. All designs are generated internally. Personalized service is the key here. The original company was started in Fulda, Germany in 1886 by Manny’s grandfather. “He came to Israel 82 years ago and then my father started up in the 40’s making mop heads,” Manny explains. One thing led to another and Etun ended up making jacquard upholstery. Manny wanted to be an archeologist and Manny’s father wanted to be a lawyer in Israel so they chose textiles instead to make a living. PETACH TIKVA—Ramtex like Etun, sells mostly to about 10-15 customers in the USA and everything is woven to order. “Business is steady and 2016 looks promising,” says Shlomo Landau, the owner. Shlomo is also a marathon runner in very good shape In 1950, Ramtex was making curtains. It began as a residential mill and became a contract supplier to the USA about 25 years ago. Now, it does two lines of upholstery each year which four on-staff designers, including Design /Export Manager Anna Kroglen modifies for the specific customer. “Chenille is still selling as well as boucle. Minimums are 100 yards per color and it can deliver custom samples in two weeks,” Shlomo reports. The price point averages $14 a meter in 100 percent polyester and some viscose novelty yarns. Like Etun, Ramtex is a family business. Shlomo’s sister Sara Hasdai handles logistics for Ramtex while his wife Ruth handles the local market. Her daughter-in-law, Anat Landau Nizri who comes out of the web business, recently joined her. She has an MBA from Beersheba University in engineering business management. Shlomo is happy that the next generation is now getting involved.