Flambro Imports ends Stetson license, closes doors

Staff -- Home Accents Today, 2/1/2007

Allan Flamm, owner of Flambro Imports, said he has ended the company's relationship with the Stetson Worldwide brand amicably after nine years and closed out the product at the January Atlanta market.

In a statement, Flamm said, "We know this will come as a big surprise as a number of customers were doing so well with the Stetson range, but there are multiple underlying factors."

He said the 43-year-old company has been challenged by major changes in the retail market, including price compression and manufacturers opening their own branded stores.

"This has created some very difficult circumstances for those remaining, smaller retailers who are our target customers," Flamm also told his sales force in a letter. "It also means that Flambro must change its way of doing business. We must become much more creative and seek out other types of buyers. These will include interior designers, companies that design and specify for hotels, as well as other companies for whom we can create exclusive products. The beauty of these custom projects is that once finalized, the goods are pre-sold and no further marketing or sales costs are incurred."

In the statement, Flamm also said a number of manufacturers have contacted him and his wife Aida and "want to help create the new Flambro Imports and/or to work with us to develop exclusive ranges for key accounts. Right now, we are back in the cocoon stage. A beautiful butterfly will emerge over the next three to six months."