Tag: Coats

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Spinrite Acquires Coats & Clark Inc.

Spinrite acquires Coats

Leading producer of yarn Spinrite diversifies offering with purchase of the North American Crafts business of Coats.

The Canadian based craft yarn company is still closing the deal, but will absorb prestigious craft brands such as Red Heart, Coats & Clark, Aunt Lydia, and Susan Bates.

This means Spinrite will be able to offer sewing thread, embroidery thread, trims, and zippers outside of knitting yarn. 560 employees of Coats will also become a part of the Spinrite team along with manufacturing and distributing centers in Albany, Toccoa and Douglas, Georgia.

Coats Group

Coats, known as the world’s leading distributor of industrial thread, has offices in 50 countries across six continents and employs over 19,000 people.

The craft giant also operates in a variety of industries, including apparel where their personal protection technology uses their in-depth knowledge of digital blends to provide “differentiated flame/cut resistant woven or knit products.”

Other industries they operate in include footwear, automotive, medical, and more.

As for their specific brands that will join the Spinrite roster, Red Heart is known for yarn, Aunt Lydia for crochet thread, Susan Bates for craft tools, and Coats for yarn, embroidery thread, and zippers too.

From the acquisition press release, President and CEO of Spinrite Ryan Newell says, “We are thrilled to add the prestigious Coats craft brands to our growing portfolio… Product diversification is one of the key pillars of our long-term strategic plan, allowing us to offer a broader assortment to our retail partners and consumers.”

Stay tuned to the American Quilt Retailer blog to find out about industry news including acquisitions, events, and more.

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Jaftex Corporation to buy FreeSpirit Fabrics

JaftexYou heard it here first folks, Jaftex Corporation has announced their intent to purchase the one and only FreeSpirit Fabrics.

Jaftex Corporation is a fourth-generation, family owned business based in New York City. Other names under the Jaftex umbrella include Henry Glass Fabrics, Studioe Fabrics, The Blank Quilting Corp., Fabric Editions, A.E. Nathan Co., Inc., and now, FreeSpirit Fabrics.

FreeSpirit Fabrics is known for their trend-setting artists including none other than Tula Pink and Anna Marie Horner, of whom you can catch at the International Quilt Market this spring in Portland, Oregon, along with the unveiling of the “new” Free Spirit. There Horner will also be hosting a schoolhouse on her new conservatory program.

Outside of Tula Pink and Horner, FreeSpirit is known for their unique collection including Kaffe Fassett Collective, The Original Morris & Co., Dena Designs, Snow Leopard Studios, Jennifer Paganelli, Heather Bailey and more. FreeSpirit was previously under the Coats family, which is known for providing services to the apparel, craft, and footwear industries.

FreeSpirit can be found in many fabric stores, and are known for providing quality fabrics that inspire young and old creatives alike. Jaftex Corporation intends on remaining true to the FreeSpirit brand and cause minimal disruption in the marketplace for what FreeSpirit customers have come to know and love.

If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.