NECPA: A century of survival

July 1st, 2020

Lessons from three canvas companies that have survived for a century and continue to thrive. By Cathy Broberg In January 2020, the North East Canvas Products Association (NECPA), a trade organization for the canvas and outdoor fabric industry, marked its 100th anniversary. Members celebrated at its annual conference with a gala and by touring a […]

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Additional services enrich relationships and bottom line

December 6th, 2019

Adding services to core offerings can provide a way to cement customers to your business, meeting more of their needs and strengthening your appeal—and bottom line—in the process. As an online retailer and wholesaler for upholsterers, sewers and DIYers, Sailrite offers a variety of tools, hardware, kits and other supplies, in addition to its proprietary […]

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Canvas repairs—turning pain into profit

March 1st, 2019

Let’s go out on a limb here and make this proclamation: Repair jobs are not the sexiest work in the marine fabrication business. Okay, maybe that’s not so much of a limb. The fact is, some fabricators try to stay away from repair work altogether or consider it something of a necessary evil. They’ve got […]

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First annual Greater Good Award given to Scott Massey of Awning Cleaning Industries

September 29th, 2017

Scott Massey, owner of Awning Cleaning Industries, was awarded the first annual Greater Good Award at the IFAI Expo 2017 in New Orleans, La. Massey’s business is based in New Haven, Conn. The Greater Good Award focuses on an IFAI member company that does good business—and strives to be a good neighbor, good citizen, and […]

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