Contact Information: Company Contact: Talon International, Inc. Rayna Long Tel (818) 444-4128 Investor Relations Scott Liolios or Scott Kitcher Liolios Group, Inc. Tel (949) 574-3860
Talon Refocuses Sales and Operations Management to Address Growing Opportunities in Global Apparel Market
| Source: Talon International
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - March 27, 2008) - Talon International, Inc. (OTCBB : TALN ), a
leading global supplier of zippers, apparel fasteners, trim and interlining
products, has made a number of senior management appointments in its sales
and operations departments designed to better address the growing
opportunities within the global apparel marketplace.
The appointments were made in line with a management structure designed to
better leverage the various international positions and relationships the
company has established over the last several years. International markets
and division sales were previously organized by interdivisional
responsibilities within regions. The new structure focuses managerial
responsibility along divisional lines and expands responsibilities to
include worldwide business development and international customer service.
Larry Dyne has been appointed to executive vice president of global sales
for Talon International, a new position. He was formerly vice president of
product development and global sourcing, as well as vice president of Trim
sales and domestic production for all Trim development. Dyne was one of the
original founders of the company. Through these prior positions, Dyne
established extensive and long-term relationships with the world's top
apparel brands and clothing retailers.
Chris Roberts will lead Talon's Trim Division as its vice president of
sales, where he will be responsible for strengthening the Trim Division's
global sales base and product structure. Roberts was previously regional
manager of Trim with responsibility for sales and product development for
accounts in New York and Los Angeles. He had also served as manager of
sales and product development for Talon's Columbus office, and has been
instrumental in building Talon's heat transfer business, including
obtaining a US Patent related to heat transfer, with another pending. He is
an active member of SGAI and certified in OSHA compliancy.
Gary Dyne will lead Talon's Fastener Division as its vice president of
sales. The Fasteners Division includes the company's flagship Talon Zipper
brand. Gary will be responsible for growing the Talon worldwide fastener
sales offices and identifying new market opportunities; brand approvals and
nominations; and mass-market retail programs. He joined Talon in March 2002
with more than 25 years experience in sales and marketing management, and
has been a key contributor to Talon's domestic growth.
Manash Barthakur has been appointed to vice president of operations of the
Fasteners Division. He brings to Talon 10 years of experience in Hong Kong
and China in the garment and garment accessories industries. Barthakur has
led a successful career as director of operations in various garment
manufacturing companies, with extensive experience in purchasing and
logistics with outsourcing and subcontracted vendors.
Peter Vaz has been appointed vice president of operations for the Trim
Division. He brings to Talon more than 12 years in the trim industry,
including managing trims and fabric sourcing, sales, product development,
and production planning. For several years prior to joining Talon, Vaz
operated his own successful trim and fabrics business, selling to major
U.S. and international brands with factories in China, India, Indonesia,
Bangladesh, and Cambodia.
David Hunter has been appointed as vice president, corporate controller and
principal accounting officer. Hunter has extensive experience in both
public and private accounting and joined Talon in December 2007 as the
corporate controller. Prior to Talon, he served as the director of
accounting and financial reporting for Walt Disney Studios, and as a
manager of accounting and analysis at WellPoint's Blue Cross of California
division. He is a certified public accountant with experience in the
international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he served as
a manager in the audit and assurance practice.
"We have reorganized our experienced sales and operations teams to take
better advantage our expanding opportunities in the worldwide fastener and
trim markets," said Lonnie Schnell, Talon's chief executive officer. "This
reflects a renewed and focused effort to develop new business, while
ensuring superior operational management of our existing and highly
valuable marquee customer base. I have great confidence in our team and in
our opportunities in the marketplace for continued aggressive growth in
2008 and beyond."
About Talon International
Talon International, Inc. is a global supplier of apparel fasteners, trim
and interlining products to manufacturers of fashion apparel, specialty
retailers, mass merchandisers, brand licensees and major retailers. Talon
manufactures and distributes zippers and other fasteners under its Talon®
brand, known as the original American zipper invented in 1893. Talon also
designs, manufactures, engineers, and distributes apparel trim products and
specialty waist-bands under its trademark names, Talon, Tag-It and TekFit,
to more than 60 apparel brands and manufacturers including Levi Strauss &
Co., Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren, Victoria's Secret, Target Stores,
Wal-Mart, and Express. The company has offices and facilities in the United
States, Hong Kong, China, India and the Dominican Republic and is expanding
into Eastern Europe, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors
which could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon, among other
things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to,
management, including management's own knowledge and assessment of the
company's industry, competition and capital requirements, and the potential
for growth in zipper sales. Factors which could cause actual results to
differ materially from these forward-looking statements include our ability
to manage an international expansion, the level of acceptance of the
company's products by retailers and consumers, pricing pressures and other
competitive factors and the unanticipated loss of major customers. These
and other risks are more fully described in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recently
filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which
should be read in conjunction herewith for a further discussion of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.