THE MILL WHISTLE
Vol. 33
Eden, N. C., January 13, 1975
No. 22
Karastan Sales Meeting Is Held
An aggressive, hard-hitting
marketing and sales effort
aimed at the U.S. carpet market
for 1975 was unveiled at the
Karastan division’s sales meet
ing held at the Hyatt House in
Winston-Salem December 9-11.
The full Karastan marketing
division sales staff plus key
manufacturing executives
participated in the conference
where the Spring, 1975
broadloom and rug fashions
were presented.
In addition, the meeting heard
a report on the current state of
the company from William C.
Battle, president of Fieldcrest
Mills, Inc.
Walter B. Guinan, president of
the Karastan marketing
division, introduced the new
products and outlined the strong
sales program created to
combat the current slump in the
nation’s economy and its effect
on sales in the carpet industry.
Francis X. Larkin, executive
vice president of the division,
also addressed the group. Mr.
Larkin concentrated on an
exposition of a revised organiza
tional structure designed to
produce greater efficiencies in
sales, sales service and manu
facturing planning. He also
outlined steps being taken to
reduce operating costs to the
minimum through more
efficient use of manpower and
materials.
The meeting was conducted by
John S. Eggleston, vice
president for sales. The group
was also addressed by George V.
Grulich, vice president for
marketing services, Ben W.
Binford, vice president for
merchandising, and Paul
Kitchens, vice president of rug
and carpet manufacturing.
A discussion on legal aspects
of selling, distribution,
(Continued on Page Eight)
Karastan Spring '75 Fashions
Offer Value, Luxury, Elegance
A large portion of Value, a
heavy helping of Luxury, a
strong underlying flavoring of
Elegance — all garnished with
Americana touches — make up
the recipe for Karastan’s carpet
fashions for Spring, 1975.
As related by Robert V. Dale,
vice president for products for
Karastan, the value story is
obvious in a group of three new
opulent wool broadlooms and a
thick Saxony nylon plush carpet
being introduced to retail at
“extremely attractive price
points.’’
Also, with the nation gearing
up for the Bicentennial cele
bration in 1976, Karastan has
expanded its Constitution
Classics collection of 18th and
19th century designs in carpets
and rugs. Five new formal
Colonial and provincial
American patterns have been
added to the series of woven
wools introduced this past fall.
“Ruggedly sophisticated’’ is
Dale’s description for three
heavily-textured broadlooms
featuring natural wool
colorations. Bulky cabled yarns
create a homespun and
handcrafted look in the carpets
coming out as part of a new
group called “The Berber
(Collection.”
Karastan is also showing for
the first time a new broadloom
using the “Tapestry-Crafted”
process. This recently-
introduced technology applies
multi-color designs on the yarns
before they are fabricated into
carpet. Called Amoreau", the
pattern features subtle self-
toned colorations for elegant
highlight effects.
Santa chats with a small member of the audience at
Eden Christmas party. See story and pictures of Eden
and Fieldale parties on pages four and five.
Credit Union Members Receive
Record $164,492 In Dividends
Members of the Fieldcrest
Mills Credit Union received
$164,492 in dividends for the six
months ended December 31,
1974, This makes a total of
$1,564,403 paid in dividends to
members since the Credit Union
was organized in 1958.
The amount of dividends paid
for the most recent period
represents an increase of $34,930
over dividends paid for the same
period a year ago which totaled
$129,562.
Dividends paid for the first six
months of 1974 amounted to
$157,895, making a total of
$322,387 paid for the year.
The December 31, 1974
dividend was at the rate of 7
(Continued on Page Eight) percent per annum. This rate
Company Offering Free
Flu Shots To Employees
marked the sixth increase in
dividend rates since the estab
lishment of the Credit Union.
The Credit Union early in 1968
reduced the interest rate
charged on loans from A percent
to nine-tenths of 1 percent per
month on the unpaid balance.
In commenting on the latest
dividend payment, L. E.
Chewning, president of the
Credit Union, said;
“We are proud of the
continuing success of the Credit
Union. We know from its wide
use that it performs a real
service for employees.
“One of the main purposes of
(Continued on Page Eight)
rhis design in Constitution Classics Collection is called
liverton Grove”. The Pennsylvania Dutch “stencil”
>ral motif creates the effect of a stained glass window
1th a mixture of orange and green on an ebony ground.
The company is offering free
flu vaccination to employees at
all mills during the remainder of
January. This is being done due
(o an unexpected increase of
influenza-like illnesses in all
mills.
The Medical Department
strongly urges all employees to
avail themselves of this
opportunity. Those employees
with chronic health problems
such as diabetes, heart disease,
chronic pulmonary disease are
particularly vulnerable to
complications of influenza. It is
believed they will benefit greatly
from receiving vaccine.
Mill notices will be posted at
each location announcing
(Continued On Page Six)
Winchester Sets
Outstanding Record
h'or the sixth consecutive
year, employees at the Win
chester Spinning Mill had
100 percent “Fair Share”
givers to the United Way,
the only industrial plant in
Buncombe County to
achieve this record.
Winchester employees do
not engage in an active
campaign each year since
employees are signed up for
United Way contributions
on a continuing basis.