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The distressed natural grain of Cheyenne is designed to emulate rustic artisan leather
with the durability of vinyl
atmosphere, encapsulating the way " we treat our customers, our staff , our
vendors. We make sure the quality is there and do what we say we are going to
do, " assures Dee.
To that end, orders aren't merely taken, but explored. " We don't want to
make a mistake and use the wrong products for the wrong applications, so
we ask questions to understand what each project is, " says Ann. KB Contract
Textiles also boasts a fast turnaround, with 18 warehouses across the country
maximizing inventory control and speed to market. At the Westin Riverfront
Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley in Colorado, for example, " we got 5,700 yards of
fabric delivered in six weeks for the guestroom sofas, " adds Kahn.
Carlota Tulloch, vice president of brand development at Keyston Bros.,
previously served as vice president of brand engagement and FF&E at Hilton
and senior director of renovations for Marriott Select Brands. Since heading to
the other side of the industry, she's been impressed by the KB Contract model.
" It's unlike that of any other textile distributor. We stock most of everything
and we can get things quickly. During the pandemic, nobody could get
anything, and KB was saving the day, " she explains. It's also a boon that Tulloch
can leverage her background to " speak the language with designers, " as she
puts it. " They can send us mood boards, and we can make selections for them. "
Tight deadlines are common, and KB Contract always comes through.
" We have a rapid ready mentality and we're branding it as our Rapid Ready
Linq, shown with Burton (second from bottom) is a high-performance cut velvet with an
Art Deco design
collections, " says Kahn. In Essentials, five hardy, versatile fabrics with a chenille
feel-Essence, Fresca, Praiya, Circa, and Tracks-are available in bulk yardage
and multiple colorways in four to six weeks, with cut yardage already stocked.
These complement best-selling vinyls like the faux leather Burton, which
has a " distressed look without being too shiny or in your face, " notes Kahn,
as well as patinaed Cheyenne, and Olympus, originally conceived for exercise
equipment that Dee dubs " the workhorse " of their off erings.
Sustainability was embedded in the Keyston Bros. DNA since its earliest
days and the Duncans have reinforced those principles. KB partners with
MindClick to rate the environmental health performance of its manufacturers
and products, and collaborates with the Seaqual Initiative to create products
from upcycled marine plastics, as featured in the Rapid Ready Outdoor Classics
range. Using " tubes for fabric rolls made of recycled materials and minimizing
packaging so that more things can fit on a truck so less trucks are on the road, "
are also everyday practices, Tulloch points out.
Both Dee and Ann have entered the " half-time " stages of their careers as
they describe it, but the new generation, propelled by Kahn, will stick to its
values. " Staff in our warehouses say they will be happy to drive five hours each
way to make sure customers get what they need, " says Ann. " When we started
at Keyston Bros., we made a pact this was going to be about people. " ❙❘❚
Rapid Ready Essentials and Outdoor Classic collections are available in four to six weeks in multiple
colorways and patterns
Summer 2024 67

NEWH - Summer 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Summer 2024