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Recognizing untapped opportunities in what is, at the time, the hottest product category in the window coverings industry—vertical blinds—Bill Harris founds International Trade Associates, Inc. (ITA), as a sales agency for a PVC extruder.
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To assist with rapidly growing sales, a customer service and market support center opens in St. Augustine, Florida, while additional sales personnel are hired throughout the United States.
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The company introduces a hollow vinyl shutter that becomes the industry category leader.
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Leonard Siegel joins ITA with the goal of developing ITA's own products. He focuses on establishing the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution services necessary to fully serve fabricators.
In keeping with this new company direction, Meridian Home® is introduced as the company's flagship brand.
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Capri, a line of textured woven shades, is introduced as the first Meridian Home® branded product.
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The Mikronwood™ faux-wood horizontal blind debuts and quickly becomes the industry style and performance leader in the composite blind category.
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Cellular and Pleated Shades are added to the Meridian Home® line.
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The introduction of Caslan® Designer Shadings, a patented fabric panel system of Roman-style shades with unsurpassed seamless widths, offers fabricators a truly turnkey manufacturing opportunity without skilled labor.
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ITA launches LaPlaya® Shutters, a complete line of 2 1/2- 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 -inch louver shutters, made from an advanced composite that outperforms both wood and vinyl.
The Meridian Home® brand adds another new line—a simplified lift system with a patented cord lock, specifically designed to accommodate ITA's range of cellular and pleated shades.
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ITA opens a new training facility and warehouse in Ormond Beach, Florida. The added location provides space for fabricators to learn production efficiency techniques for LaPlaya® Shutters on the latest equipment. The new facility allows ITA to ship customers larger orders and more quickly than before.
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To maintain superior levels of customer sales and service, ITA breaks ground for a new office building complex in Palm Coast, Florida.
GreenAssured®, ITA’s proprietary testing and certification program for environmentally friendly window fashions, makes its debut in Meritec® fabrics and pleated shades, with additional developments planned for this promising area.
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ITA celebrates its 20th Anniversary with special promotions and events highlighting the company’s status as a full-fledged global leader in leading-edge window treatments, innovative marketing and unsurpassed customer support.
- Significant line extensions for Meridian Home® Pleated and Cellular Shades.
- Mirasol® Shutters gain GreenAssured® certification to join the growing list of ITA's environmentally compatible products.
- NatuRail® patent-pending premium solid bass wood head rail and lift system for Caslan® Designer Shadings, Grand Pleat, woven wood and textile roman shades.
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ITA relocates to its new headquarters building. As owner and developer of the property, ITA was able to incorporate it's flagship brand name into the street address at: 6 Meridian Home Lane, Palm Coast, FL.
In response to strong sales, several new upgraded fabrics are incorporated into the second printing of the Caslan® Designer Shadings sample book.
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