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Liberty Awnings and Shades’ Amy Huette shares business tips
March 1st, 2026
Photography by Matt Young Photography In the Valley of the Sun, there’s no shortage of companies selling awnings. That’s why Amy Huette wasn’t quite sure how to respond when about 25 years ago in Colorado, her father proposed a new business venture in Phoenix, Ariz. “He asked, ‘Do you want to sell shade in the […]
Sitting pretty: Upholstery trends in vehicles
March 1st, 2026
Canvas Designers Inc. gave this outdoor seating area a more modern, updated look using a Sunbrella® furniture fabric with a Dri-Fast® foam interior for the new flybridge cushions. Image: Canvas Designers Manufacturer advancements in upholstery textile technology are enabling fabricators to meet a broad range of end-user needs and to stay on top of the […]
Businesses boost revenue through value-added services
March 1st, 2026
Employees at Al’s Awning Shop Inc. take down a residential awning in Erie, Pa. The family-owned business offers installation, maintenance, takedown, and repair services for its custom-made outdoor curtains and awnings. For businesses of all sizes, expanding into service-based revenue streams can unlock new income, deepen customer loyalty and even spark spinoff companies. Added services […]
Doing business with the U.S. military
March 1st, 2026
Students in the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course conduct a paradrop from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter July 25, 2025, at Ledo South Drop Zone on Fort Benning, Georgia. Image: U.S. Army/Capt. Stephanie Snyder How to introduce a product into the U.S. military marketplace is a big question for companies. For many of those who have […]
The ESOP solution
March 1st, 2026
The team for Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures gathers in St. Louis, Mo. The company has been 100% employee-owned since 2015. Image: Lawrence What happens to an owner’s company when they retire and no successor is available to take the reins? The answer might be all around them—on the shop floor, among the sales staff […]
PFAS testing: What textile companies need to know
March 1st, 2026
Scientists at ClarosLabs™, a division of Claros™ Technologies Inc., can analyze textiles for PFAS at detection levels reaching parts per trillion and provide companies with a benchmark for their products. Image: Claros™ Technologies Inc. Many jurisdictions have current and forthcoming regulations banning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a variety of products, including textiles. Laboratory […]
Shelter-Rite roof replacement has acrobatics above and below
March 1st, 2026
Circus Juventas, St. Paul, Minn., replaced the Shelter-Rite tensioned fabric roof on its building as it was making insulation upgrades. Image: Seaman Corp. Last summer, performing arts circus school Circus Juventas in St. Paul, Minn., looked into improving its building’s efficiency, including better insulation to reduce energy use and to address condensation concerns. Although the […]