Celebrating Success In 25 years Coulisse has grown from

Celebrating Success Q

Coulisse, an international supplier of window coverings, marked its 25th anniversary in 2017. From its beginning in 1992 as a distributor of imported shading fabrics and components, the company quickly grew to become one of the most innovative fullservice resources for window treatment customers worldwide, with projected 2017 revenues topping 100 million dollars. But the company’s management team has no thoughts of resting on their success, given some of the plans unveiled during a recent celebration at its headquarters in the Netherlands.

“We are known for our design approach,” said founder Christiaan Roetgering. “Continuous innovation has allowed us to keep inspiring our customers and to help them to be distinctive in the market. For us to stay leading in the future, we have to do more. The world is changing at a rapid pace. Sustainability and social responsibility are key terms in this respect. Based on personal conviction and also in order to continue to provide added value for our customers, ‘purpose’ is an important new pillar of our vision for the future.”

As part of this new growth ambition, Coulisse appointed Rob Boogaard CEO earlier in 2017. Prior to joining Coulisse, Rob was the President & CEO of Interface EMEA, a publicly traded company and the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of environmentally responsible carpet tile. Under his leadership, Interface accelerated into becoming a sustainable company with manufacturing plants with 100 percent renewable energy, and a fully closed water loop, while using 55 percent recycled or bio-based raw material, and earned prestigious European business awards among which the 2014 Ethical Corporation Award, 2014 European Business Award for the Environment, and the 2015 Guardian Sustainable Business Award. In his position at Coulisse, Boogaard is responsible for setting and leading the commercial and operational growth strategy for Coulisse worldwide.

Another important aspect of the company’s sustainable growth strategy, is its intensive focus on the contract market. Over the past few years Coulisse extended its contract range which now comprises screen fabrics, flame-retardant fabrics, systems, and automation. Coulisse aims at expanding these offerings to include products that respond to crucial themes in this market, such as sustainability (LEED, BREEAM), well-being, and productivity.

Under leadership of recently appointed Jan Henk Dekker, a contract interior specialist with global experience, the contract department has developed the Contract Experience Center, which opened this last October at the company’s Enter headquarters. Apart from tactile Trevira CS fabrics for roller, vertical, and panel blinds, the collection for the contract market offers a wide array of different screen fabrics that combine excellent technical and functional properties with the company’s well-known design sensibility. This includes an exclusive selection of different types of woven fabrics with a natural textile look, including that of wool, cotton, and linen. The fabrics are all flame-retardant and Trevira CS, available in a timeless

palette of natural colors and many offered in wide widths. Other new faces on the management team include Hugo Kruijssen as Director Components. In this role, Kruijssen will focus on further development of activities of the Coulisse made-to-measure division.

Nienke Dusseljee was appointed Director DIY. Dusseljee had previously worked as a sales representative in the do-it-yourself segment for Coulisse and in her new role is responsible for further developing and strengthening the Coulisse market position in the worldwide do-it-yourself market.

Owners Christiaan and Maurice Roetgering will, each with his own expertise, remain involved in business operations. Maurice Roetgering will mainly focus on strategic sourcing and partnerships, while Christiaan Roetgering will focus on the creative development side of business.

The many new products and services that the new management team have been working on will be officially launched at R+T 2018. Known for its fashion-forward trend pieces and presentations, the company hired international art and fashion photographer Jasper Abels, who has worked for Vogue, Glamour, and Harper’s Bazaar, to shoot the Coulisse 2018 campaign. At the 25th anniversary event this past October, Abels gave a sneak preview of the Coulisse campaign. “It is so special to see Jasper’s interpretation of our products,” said head designer Catharina Idema. “We are extremely curious to see the end result.” z

TOP: The recently opened Contract Experience Center at the Coulisse headquarters in Enter, the Netherlands. BOTTOM: Coulisse management team, from left to right: Christiaan Roetgering (owner), Klaus Germes (consultant), Hugo Kruijssen (Director Components), Nienke Dusseljee (Director DIY), Rob Boogaard (CEO), and Maurice Roetgering (owner).