TEL AVIV, Israel — ‘Nachik’, an up and coming editeur and converter which supplies fabric to other editeurs and distributors worldwide has been experiencing double digit sales growth every year since it started in 2002, but Nachik Weberman himself admits it will be a challenge to grow at the same rate. Susan and Nachik Weberman

 “We are selling our collections to more export markets but our biggest growth is expected to be with our existing customers,” said Nachik, 44, and his partner/wife Susan, 41, married 18 years. They both met while becoming lawyers at UK based Sheffield Law School.  Neither of them will disclose sales figures but sales are significant with a staff of 30 they share with Elite, the sister company.

In 2007, Nachik separated from the parent company and stands alone today but also shares certain operations and logistic support with the mother company, he said. Also in 2007, Nachik began to exhibit at Decosit and then MoOD as well as in hotels at Proposte and Heimtextil.  MoOD normally sees the biggest launch of Nachik product where there is a coordinated theme for the stand, sampling and presentation of 20 collections annually. A vintage leather line called ‘Chesterfield’ that is actually a fabric was the big Nachik hit this past year in cotton/polyester basecloth with an acrylic coating, along with ‘Arctic Lace’, a stonewashed metallic leather look. Both breathable items are made in Asia for Nachik as the converter. “We focus on innovative fabrics. In 2009, Nachik won a coveted ‘Blue Drop’ Award from MoOD,” he said.

Nachik focuses on top editeurs with exclusives in respective markets on designs given for as little one piece minimums. “We’re not about the amount of money a customer spends with us. We want the customer to buy our collection. Customer has to try his best to sell it. All orders are appreciated. We do not supply cut length—only sampling and we are in-stock for immediate delivery most of the time.

Nachik relies on agents in some markets like UK, Portugal, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia and distributors. Agents can sell the open line while the distributor can buy specific items exclusive to them. “We have different customers in the same country but they each have exclusivity on the item they buy,” he explained. Old Jeruselum City Wall Section

“We are trying to stay one step ahead but we too have experienced the difficulties in this business. Above all, we try to be modest in how we work and live at Nachik.” Susan handles customer service on a day to day basis but still finds time to be home by 4 PM to be with her three boys while poppa Nachik travels one to two times a month to visit his customers in Europe, the Far East and in the USA.  “I am not traveling as much as I should,” he said.

“Our biggest hurdle is where we are,” Nachik points out. “It would be closer to market if we had a warehouse in Europe but we have a warehouse in Tel Aviv only and we are not planning to relocate; but we do a pretty effective job using sea, air and UPS shipments to our customers. “We’re strong and efficient in logistics. We try to find the best cost of delivery for our customers whether it is one roll or a container to their port or warehouse. The customer pays the freight but we tender and find the best freight forwarder.”

Nachik originally started life as the export division of Elite, the domestic wholesale business started by his father and mother 40 years ago. His parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, he said. The parents normally accompany their son to the trade shows, leaving Susan to care for her kids.