TEXTILES.ORG
Awning business succession: An in-and-out approach
March 1st, 2025
The awning business is incredible. It offers enough challenges to keep you growing, consistency you can plan around, and is rewarding enough to keep you fulfilled. It’s also not building rockets, so being a genius isn’t a prerequisite. These are a few reasons why Scott Neville, Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning, and Travis Jenkins, Charlotte […]
Covered rotunda offers comfort for medical center
January 1st, 2025
Tropical J’s, a Hawaii-based awning and canopy manufacturer, had completed an awning for the rear of the Straub's Medical Center during COVID. That project so impressed the CEO of the center that when it came time for another shade project, he asked his facilities manager to reach out to them again. Straub Medical Center is […]
Outdoor shade and screens ride the storms out
July 1st, 2024
J. Miller Canvas worked with EPT Design on a 2,160 square-foot shade sail installation at the pre-K through eighth grade Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, Calif. Image: J. Miller Canvas LLC Extreme weather that whips up strong winds, releases torrents of rainfall and causes floods, droughts and other hazards is becoming more common, and businesses […]
Valcourt Group acquires AwnClean USA
February 1st, 2024
The Valcourt Group, a provider of window cleaning, waterproofing, and facade restoration services for commercial properties, announced its recent acquisition of woman-owned AwnClean USA, based in Tampa, Florida. This strategic move maintains the momentum Valcourt has been building to strengthen its position as an industry leader in exterior commercial building services while expanding its presence within […]
Awnings encourage natural light and offer shade protection
July 1st, 2023
Natural light can help reduce energy usage in our buildings. This is a lesson known for centuries but seemingly forgotten after the 1940s with postwar technological advances in air conditioning (coupled with the Modernist design movement that declared “ornament is a crime”). These stripped-down building facades spoke volumes about a new era of high-tech materials […]
2023 Specialty Fabrics Showcase, Part 2
June 1st, 2023
Awnings, tents, shade sails, marine upholstery, protective gear, furniture: Regardless of the end product, the fabric needs to perform in harsh conditions while looking good, keeping the planet green and fitting into a client’s budget. For our two-part annual showcase, we asked contributors to send us information about their latest high-performance textiles. We’ve organized the […]
2023 Specialty Fabrics Showcase, Part 1
May 1st, 2023
Tents, awnings, shade sails, marine upholstery, protective gear, furniture: Regardless of the end product, the fabric needs to perform in harsh conditions while looking good, keeping the planet green and fitting into a client’s budget. For our two-part annual showcase, we asked contributors to send us information about their latest high-performance textiles. We’ve organized the […]
Keeping up the shade market momentum
May 1st, 2021
Incorporating Sattler, Sunbrella and Norbar fabrics, ShadeFLA recently shaded the pool deck at Goodtime Hotel in Miami, Fla., including 17 cabanas, awnings for two bars and coverage for a 1,200-square-foot restaurant. Photo: ShadeFLA. Shade is on everyone’s mind, according to Margueritte Ramos, owner and sales manager of ShadeFLA. The Miami, Fla.-based company designs and installs […]
Get stand-out awnings with digital printing
December 1st, 2020
With today’s digital printing options, there’s no reason for an awning client to be limited to colors and patterns in a book or traditional customization methods, according to Andrew Medley, regional sales manager for Trivantage. “Digital printing offers unlimited capabilities, and it is a solution to providing the customer exactly what they want—personalized messaging, the […]
Finders, keepers: long-term customer loyalty
December 1st, 2019
Attracting customers in the market for shade products is one thing; retaining them for future business is another. Managing both objectives requires establishing connections that are meaningful and lasting. by Pamela Mills-Senn A quick Google search on “connecting with customers” reveals all sorts of advice, usually in the form of the “seven best ways,” or the […]