Angel’s Product Innovations Boost Drapery Linings Growth F&FI News Network
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NDIANOLA, PA—Angel’s Distributing Inc. started as a small mom and pop business in 1970 in a 1,000 square foot basement and is now a major drapery linings importer with nearly 40,000 square feet in warehouse space in this suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. “We added and grew product lines and were forced to outsource these products due to many USA mills closing,” explains Taylor Angel, Vice President in charge of marketing and sales. She is the daughter of the founder Ralph Angel, CEO and his wife Karen, CFO. Her brother Niko is COO and oversees all operations. “Through the outsourcing of products, we have been able to bring expected quality at appreciated pricing to our customers,” Taylor says. Today, Angel’s sources product from the USA, UK, New Zealand, Turkey, Taiwan, Pakistan, and China. The need to source internationally was pushed by the customer who wanted a greater variety of linings. “The lining industry years ago was always basic linings,” Taylor explains. ”There were no high-end levels years ago, but we have been able to make a difference in developing new products such as napped sateen, soft blackout, English bump cloth, and many other items
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that contributed to the growth of the lining industry. This helped enhance the overall luxurious look of custom-made window treatments in the market today.” Taylor continues: “We carry a complete line of over 300 sku’s of drapery linings, which include 100% cotton sateen, 50/50 sateen, 70/30 linings, interlinings, heavy Niko Angel flannels, FR products, Karen and Ralph Angel blackouts, dimouts, shower curtain linings, pillow ticking ining, decorative pillow inserts, threads, buckram and drapery weights. Angel’s also has some fashion fabrics ‘dribbled’ in like decorative blackouts with seven patterns and about 30 colors per pattern. We also carry 130’’ wide FR sheer batiste and sheer voile.” Pieces make up the Ralph, Karen, Taylor and Niko Angel at warehouse entrance bulk of the business for Angel’s with cut order accounting for of business between cut and pieces has about ten percent of the overall business, remained the same split throughout the Taylor says. “We offer all years but the sales growth of cuts and pieces our product lines to our has gone up equally.” customers in cut yard“We have an entirely separate cutting age pricing, bolt pricing, service we offer for our 110’’ wide blackouts. case pricing and contract We will do all custom cuts, book folded pricing. The percentage with cardboard inserts, with side marks and shipped in a sturdy Angel warehouse box which makes the 110’’ wide program affordable by bypassing the common carrier charges for the wide blackouts that come on a straight tube.” Angel’s is currently enjoying the 4th family generation management but this is expected to change with the birth of Taylor’s first child this past April. F&FI