Scott Campbell makes room for unexpected opportunities

May 1, 2010  |  Features, Management, Perspective, Tents

Scott Campbell’s acquisitions span market segments and expand profits. By Sigrid Tornquist “It was not my plan to diversify and grow this company—my plan was to work in this company for about five years and then return to the seafood industry. But that didn’t happen,” says Scott Campbell, …
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Avoiding the greenwash cycle

May 1, 2010  |  Business, Features

What certification really means to you and your customers. By Juli Case Sustainable. Eco-friendly. Green. Carbon footprint. These words, and the concepts behind them, have become commonplace in business today. Not only are they all over the popular media, but they now have a place in business plans …
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How eco-friendly is your ink?

May 1, 2010  |  Features, Graphics

Eco-friendly inks protect your health and the environment. By Michael Labella When it comes to digital printing and the environment, things can get “messy.” Consumers demand vibrant colors that will withstand washing, light exposure and crocking. Manufacturers respond with the developmen…
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Potential builds for fabrics in construction

May 1, 2010  |  Fabric Structures, Features

Versatile and lightweight, architectural fabrics are finding new niches in construction. By Barb Ernster Decades of experimentation about how best to use fabric in building design and construction has a lot more interest and growing potential for what fabric can do, driven by a desire for greener, c…
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Change your approach to promotional strategies

April 1, 2010  |  Features, Marketing

Promotional ideas that actually work. By Ron Rosenberg These are difficult times in the specialty fabrics industry, as in most industries. Customers are becoming more demanding; revenues are down; and promotional strategies that worked in the past aren’t as effective as they used to be. The go…
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Clearing a landfill impasse

April 1, 2010  |  Features, Geosynthetics, Markets

Synthetic turf system shows benefits beyond efficient erosion control. By Alexandria Hayes After four years as a district landfill manager for IESI Corp., based in Forth Worth, Texas, Delaney Lewis was discouraged. Although one of the Louisiana landfills for which he was responsible exhibited ideal …
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Branis seeks no-limits approach to problem-solving

April 1, 2010  |  Features, Management, Perspective

Marcel Branis takes a collective approach to developing products and improving processes. By Sigrid Tornquist “I love developing a new product or improving a product we already have,” says Marcel Branis, vice president, manufacturing for DHS Systems in Orangeburg, N.Y. “What will happen if we …
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The agricultural specialty fabrics market

March 1, 2010  |  Features, Projects

Fabric products help farmers put the green back in agriculture. By Jamie Swedberg The market for agricultural specialty fabrics in the United States is a paradox. On one hand, agriculture has suffered terribly over the last two years for reasons related to the current recession. Accordingly, sales o…
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Meet the press

March 1, 2010  |  Features, Marketing

Grab—and keep—media attention by following a few simple guidelines. By Janice Kleinschmidt When flu season hit and H1N1 vaccines grabbed top-of-the-news, above-the-fold status, Mahaffey Fabric Structures stepped up to help and gained valuable name recognition. The Memphis, Tenn.-based co…
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Upselling with graphics

March 1, 2010  |  Features, Graphics

Custom digital graphics create value-added opportunities for customers and new economies for manufacturers. By Barb Ernster Personalized, customized, made-to-order, tailor-made—everyone wants their brand to stand out in the crowd. Upselling to that need is easier with digital capabilities that…
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