Townsend Forms Singapore-Based DesignMosaic
March 17, 2009
JOHNSTOWN, New York – Townsend Leather USA, in its 40th year of business in 2009, has opened up a new division called Townsend Leather Singapore which represents various hospitality lines under the name of DesignMosaic.
"Singapore is very business friendly; it's easy to get to and get away from; it's the design hub of Asia," said Terry Kucel, president and one of the principals of DesignMosaic. Kucel is also the owner of Townsend Leather USA, which had its best sales year ever in 2008, he said. "Chinese hotel owners hire Singapore-based designers and then give their designs to cheaper suppliers to knock them off," he said. "We intend to offer unique products which can't be easily copied."
Maya Romanoff surfacing materials is the first line represented by DesignMosaic in Singapore and additional lines are being sought on an agency/showroom basis, Kucel said. "We find that wallcovering and leather is a great combination of product," he said. "Both Townsend and Maya Romanoff are high-end lines that are highly decorative. Singapore doesn't have a design showroom like DesignMosaic. We expect to be very competitive and use this concept as a prototype for other showrooms around the world."
His other partners in DesignMosaic are V. Kumar, manager of the Singapore office and Kumar's daughter Divya, who was previously with LTW Design of Singapore. She works in the business along with Ambika Kumar who runs the Chennai, India office. "We have had a 12-year relationship with Kumar which builds on his strengths as well as Townsend's," Kucel added.
DesignMosaic is a multi-line showroom in Singapore also representing Townsend Leather USA. "We're going to add carpet, lighting and textile lines for the hospitality and residential markets," Kucel said. "SEP Concept is our sales agency in Hong Kong. SEP Concept is also a designer and manufacturer of custom rugs in China and also produces a line of Chinese-made Axminister carpet."
Townsend, a high-end leather supplier, is also moving on other fronts including Townsend Leather Home for the furniture industry and Townsend Leather Contract for the promotional leather industry. In this way, the company is trying to hit all ends of the marketplace, Kucel said.
"Singapore is very business friendly; it's easy to get to and get away from; it's the design hub of Asia," said Terry Kucel, president and one of the principals of DesignMosaic. Kucel is also the owner of Townsend Leather USA, which had its best sales year ever in 2008, he said. "Chinese hotel owners hire Singapore-based designers and then give their designs to cheaper suppliers to knock them off," he said. "We intend to offer unique products which can't be easily copied."
Maya Romanoff surfacing materials is the first line represented by DesignMosaic in Singapore and additional lines are being sought on an agency/showroom basis, Kucel said. "We find that wallcovering and leather is a great combination of product," he said. "Both Townsend and Maya Romanoff are high-end lines that are highly decorative. Singapore doesn't have a design showroom like DesignMosaic. We expect to be very competitive and use this concept as a prototype for other showrooms around the world."
His other partners in DesignMosaic are V. Kumar, manager of the Singapore office and Kumar's daughter Divya, who was previously with LTW Design of Singapore. She works in the business along with Ambika Kumar who runs the Chennai, India office. "We have had a 12-year relationship with Kumar which builds on his strengths as well as Townsend's," Kucel added.
DesignMosaic is a multi-line showroom in Singapore also representing Townsend Leather USA. "We're going to add carpet, lighting and textile lines for the hospitality and residential markets," Kucel said. "SEP Concept is our sales agency in Hong Kong. SEP Concept is also a designer and manufacturer of custom rugs in China and also produces a line of Chinese-made Axminister carpet."
Townsend, a high-end leather supplier, is also moving on other fronts including Townsend Leather Home for the furniture industry and Townsend Leather Contract for the promotional leather industry. In this way, the company is trying to hit all ends of the marketplace, Kucel said.
