Trivantage has launched a new look to the Market Corner blog, complete with new features designed to enhance your overall experience with our monthly marketing newsletter and streamline access to information on new products, design expertise, Awning Composer^® tutorials, and much more.

From a design standpoint, the blog’s modern look is more responsive than ever before and can be accessed on any device, including mobile. The URL – www.trivantage.com/blog – is more user-friendly, and we think you will agree the new layout also is easier to navigate. Just click on the photo, headline or “Read more” links in each post to access the full article or keep scrolling for an at-a-glance look at recent posts.

New features include a “Filter By” tab for ease of finding topics of interest to you and your customers. You also can do a keyword search (located top-right) and content featuring the keywords entered will be returned. In addition, the blog is now on an “infinite scroll,” meaning as you scroll to the bottom, more articles will appear rather than having to navigate from page to page. Topics also can be accessed by clicking on the tags in any article on the main blog page or within individual articles.

Each issue of Market Corner includes fresh, timely content delivered to your inbox. Our goal is to be a resource for you and our newsletter is part of our commitment to provide you with even greater access to content developed with your business in mind. Please contact your sales representative at any time with your questions or comments on Market Corner, including news and information you would like to see featured.

At Trivantage, our mission has always been to do more than just supply materials; we aim to be your most reliable partner. To ensure we continue providing a best-in-class experience, we are thrilled to be growing our team with experts who share your passion for excellence. This expansion allows us to double down on the personalized customer care you deserve, providing the technical support and premium products needed to bring your most creative visions to life.

Leading this charge on the West Coast is our newest team member, Kate McCracken. In her role as a furnishings sales representative, Kate strengthens customer relationships across the West Coast, focusing primarily on the outdoor furnishings and OEM segments.

Kate has nearly a decade of building experience across textile sales, hospitality project management, and the architectural industry. She has worked across a variety of textile and hard surface brands and is passionate about connecting people with the right solutions and thrives in dynamic, relationship-driven environments.

She is based in San Diego, CA, and has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona.

Get to know more about Kate below.

What does customer care mean to you?

“Customer care is about being reliable, responsive, and easy to work with. It’s not just about taking an order; it’s really about understanding what the customer is trying to accomplish and helping make that process as smooth as possible. A lot of the connection comes down to communication, follow-through, and building trust over time.”

What trends are you noticing amongst customers?

“While attending HD Expo, I noticed a strong trend toward brighter colors. Customers seemed really interested in bold, vibrant fabrics that stand out and add more personality to their spaces.”

What are some of your favorite activities or hobbies outside of work?

“I love travelling and being outdoors whenever I get the chance.”

We are thrilled to share the news that Bret Kelley, our vice president of sales since 2014, will be the next president of Trivantage. Steve Ellington, who joined Glen Raven in 1983 and has led Trivantage since 2009, has announced his plans to retire on January 1, 2024. Bret and Steve will work closely in the months ahead to ensure the transition is seamless and provide you and our industry with continued support.

Bret is no stranger to the high-performance textile industry. He joined Trivantage after 21 years with Highland Industries, Inc., where he led sales and marketing efforts for technical fabrics in commercial, industrial, and military applications. During his tenure at Trivantage, his focus has not wavered on identifying solutions for our customers.

In making the announcement, Bret said: “At Trivantage, we need to be where our customers are before they get there. Our partners are evolving at a rapid pace and we are committed to their success over the long term. My priority is to ensure customers can count on Trivantage for new product innovation, best-in-class service, and a customer experience that is second to none.”

It’s hard to put into words how much Steve means to Trivantage, Glen Raven, and the industry. He served as president and general manager of Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, the makers of Sunbrella^®, and was instrumental in the acquisition of Dickson-Constant, which established Glen Raven as a global company. He also was instrumental in the formation of Trivantage, which due to his leadership is today one of Glen Raven’s largest subsidiaries. Steve’s contribution to the growth of Glen Raven’s global business during his 41-year career with the company is nothing short of remarkable.

If you know Bret you are already well aware of his passion for partnering with customers, and Steve noted how his focus on partnerships will continue to transform Trivantage in the years ahead: “Bret’s deep industry knowledge, strategic vision, and customer-centric approach make him the ideal choice to lead Trivantage. He is a trusted advisor who is steadfast in his commitment to our industry and the customers we serve.”

Please join all of us at Trivantage in congratulating Bret on his new role and recognizing Steve for his tireless efforts in the industry we support.

At Trivantage, we are committed to delivering a best-in-class experience and hassle-free ordering of industry-leading brands, and having everything you need all in one place. Case in point, the new 2023-24 Trivantage Digital Catalog.

Available only at trivantage.com, you can browse, research, or download the digital catalog. You can access the full catalog, or to save time and space, you can download separate market-specific catalog sections – Fabric, Shade Solutions, Clean/Protect/Adhere, Hardware, Trim & Cord, and Reference.

With a wide range of products to choose from and a Customer Care Team dedicated to your business, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of hassle-free, easy ordering from Trivantage.

Download your copy

Thank you for taking our recent Market Corner survey and having your voice heard on the type of content you find most useful. At Trivantage®, the goal of our monthly e-newsletter and blog is to deliver compelling, relevant content to strengthen your business and better serve your customers.

An overwhelming majority of respondents listed “New Product Introductions” and “Product and Educational Videos” as the topics they were most interested in reading. This issue of Market Corner includes a range of product information available at two key industry trade shows in September – the flagship show for the industrial textiles industry, Advanced Textiles Expo 2024, and the Custom Workroom Conference for custom drapery, soft-furnishing, and upholstery businesses. Trivantage is attending both shows to showcase our newest innovations, latest technology, and new products developed for customers like you.

As a reminder, if you haven’t already, please consider following our social channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. We leverage our content across all Trivantage platforms and channels in order to maximize its reach, and our Customer Spotlights are quite engaging. Be sure to tag us in your posts and we’ll do the same whenever we feature your products, and we may also highlight your creations in Market Corner.

Thank you again for sharing your voice. Please contact your sales representative at any time with your questions or comments, as your input only makes Market Corner stronger.

We are pleased to share that Trivantage® uses 100% renewable electricity for its facilities. This is a significant milestone for our company and it also supports our parent company’s global sustainability initiative.

For Trivantage, this means we use renewable electricity for 100% of the power demand in all our facilities by matching this power with renewable energy certificates from sources like hydroelectric, solar, and biomass. This achievement represents our ongoing commitment to being an industry leader in reducing environmental impact. We’re proud to be powering our facilities from 100% renewable electricity, and we will continue to educate ourselves and empower others within our industry for a lasting future.

When Glen Raven launched its Corporate Sustainability Report in 2021 it detailed a global commitment to holding itself to high standards of social and environmental consciousness. As Glen Raven’s distribution subsidiary, Trivantage is proud to work alongside our colleagues in this effort.

We look forward to sharing our company’s sustainability journey and welcome your comments at any time.For more information, please contact your Customer Care Team or call us at 800.786.1876.

At Trivantage, your customer experience is our top priority. We’ve worked alongside professionals in the shade, marine, and furnishings industries for nearly 20 years, and we’re always looking for new ways to enhance our support and earn your trust.

That’s why we want to hear directly from you! Soon, all customers will receive an email inviting them to rate their experience or leave a review after placing an order. Your feedback helps us understand how we can better support you and make your work easier, so keep an eye out.

With your input, we can continue delivering the value that you love, through things like wholesale pricing, fast shipping, and expert support. We’re all about making it simple to get what you need, when you need it.

Bret Kelley has officially begun his tenure as president of Trivantage^®, and for our first issue of Market Corner in 2024, we asked him to share his message to our customers and thoughts on how Trivantage can deliver for you.

What are your goals as president of Trivantage?
First and foremost, it is important to me that I have a clear understanding of customer preferences, which is why I spent the second half of 2023 visiting and listening to our customers in one-on-one meetings. Only through active listening will Trivantage continue to deliver a best-in-class, end-to-end experience. I also want to better understand what is working well, those areas to emphasize, and where we have areas of opportunity. I have no doubt our customers can count on Trivantage for innovative new products and services, and I value their input on how we can deliver for them.

How would you describe the evolution of Trivantage in recent years?
Trivantage is not the same company it was five years ago, and it won’t be the same company five years from now. This is due in no small part to how our company takes the long view with a drive to improve mindset and exemplifies high integrity and determined resolve. We also are forward thinkers, and to that end, we remain focused on an omnichannel environment, which provides customers with a seamless brand experience regardless of channel. Given increased shopping habits through technological advancements, including for online, mobile, and app experiences, we must identify new and different ways to connect with our customers and move their business forward.

What’s your message to Trivantage customers?
At our core, we remain firmly committed to their success and will work very hard to earn their business each and every day. They can count on Trivantage to listen and understand areas we need to emphasize and where we have opportunities to improve. There is always room to improve. We must lean into the strong partnerships we have developed for more than two decades and really listen to what our customers are telling us. If we all get a little better at what we do each day, the tide will lift everyone’s boat.

In the last issue of Market Corner, which coincided with Earth Week, we shared how Trivantage is committed to sustainability best practices through Recycle My Sunbrella, a program designed to prevent Sunbrella^®, FIRESIST^®, Dickson^® Collection, Exceed^™, and select Hydrofend^® fabrics from entering landfills. This month, we take a broader look at the sustainability goals of our parent company, Glen Raven.

Each year, Glen Raven updates its Sustainability Report, and the 2023 report details our progress and outlines a path forward over the long term. Glen Raven has always believed that respectful stewardship of the environment isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility. With a global footprint, our parent company understands the impact its operations can have on the planet. That’s why the company and its subsidiaries, including Trivantage, is increasing the use of renewable energy in order to reduce its carbon footprint. By purchasing renewable electricity certificates from sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, we’re collectively reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and avoiding the related environmental impacts.

Overall, Glen Raven is using renewable electricity for over 50% of its global needs, and its manufacturing facilities in France and China have gone even further by using 100% renewable electricity. At Trivantage, 100% of the electricity for our facilities is renewable electricity, and the same is true at Glen Raven Logistics.

We encourage you to read the report and learn how Trivantage and Glen Raven are proud to lead on this issue in the communities we call home.

We are all stewards of the Earth, and that responsibility is on full display this week as Earth Week is recognized around the world.

At Trivantage^®, we joined our parent company, Glen Raven, in highlighting our commitment to sustainable best practices through the launch of our 2023 Sustainability Report. Trivantage proudly uses 100% renewable electricity for its facilities, and the report details the role hydroelectric, solar, and biomass plays in reaching 100%.

Additionally, a key goal is to help our customers recycle an additional 1 million pounds of Glen Raven products by 2025, and we are tracking well. In 2023, more than 41,000 pounds of product was recycled as part of the Recycle My Sunbrella program. In addition, we have helped our customers recycle nearly 222,000 pounds of Glen Raven products over the past four years.

We encourage you to check out Recycle My Sunbrella and learn how you can participate. The program provides you with a special take-back program for recycling of fabric waste from your operations—or from your customers—such as when replacing boat or awning covers. We accept old, remnant, or used Sunbrella^®, FIRESIST^®, Dickson^®, Exceed^™, and Hydrofend fabrics. (Please note, we are not able to recycle Sunbrella Horizon^® or Sunbrella SeaMark^®).

Click here for program details, and you also can drop off your fabric at your nearest Trivantage distribution center.

Please let us know how you recognized Earth Week and we may feature your efforts in the May Market Corner.