Homepage Blackboard | Manku Select secures new financing; Gome suspends salary payments; Benlang New Materials IPOs on the Beijing Stock Exchange

On November 3, Dongpeng Holdings and ORVIBO announced a strategic partnership. The two parties will jointly develop IoT-enabled smart new materials, intelligent ceramic and bathroom products, and an AIoT platform enabling interconnection among their respective ecosystem products—collaborating to build an integrated “whole-home living” ecosystem for the era of whole-home intelligence. Italian decorative paint brand HANMARK Enters Strategic Partnership with Junjiang Shijia On November 2, the renowned Italian art paint brand announced a strategic partnership with domestic paint brand Junjiang Shijia, appointing Junjiang Shijia as its General Agent for Greater China and establishing the HANMARK Asia-Pacific Operations Center in Shunde—officially entering the Chinese market. Funding Corner Manku Select Completes New Round of Financing On November 3, Manku Select (MANKU), a new retail brand specializing in whole-home furnishing solutions, announced completion of a new round of strategic financing. Investors include Zhejiang University Future Innovation Fund and Zijinggang Capital. The funding amount remains undisclosed. Proceeds will primarily support nationwide promotion and expansion of Manku Select’s whole-home soft-furnishing business model. Industry News 2022 China Quality Living Concept Exhibition Opens in Shenzhen On November 3, the three-day 2022 China Quality Living Concept Exhibition (IPD HOME) opened at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Multiple Exhibitions Urgently Cancelled or Postponed On November 1, the 2022 China International Kitchen & Bath Expo (KIB 2022) was cancelled; the 2022 China International Hardware Show (CIHS 2022), Global Surface Conference, 24th China International Floor Coverings & Installation Technology Exhibition, and 28th China • Gudian International Lighting Fair were all postponed. Exports of Building Ceramics and Sanitary Ware Up 9.33% in First Three Quarters On November 1, the China Building Ceramics Association released its analysis report on building ceramics and sanitary ware exports for January–September 2022: total export value reached USD 18.695 billion, up 9.33% year-on-year. Specifically, exports of architectural and sanitary ceramics totaled USD 10.416 billion (+3.07% YoY); exports of hardware and plastic bathroom products totaled USD 8.279 billion (+8.07% YoY). Global Perspective U.S. Furniture Manufacturer Flexsteel to Pay $700M to Clean Production Pollution On November 1, U.S. furniture manufacturer Flexsteel announced it had agreed to pay approximately RMB 710 million to the U.S. federal Superfund environmental cleanup program to remediate underground wastewater contamination in Indiana—a site polluted by the company’s prior manufacturing operations. Sherwin-Williams to Invest $300M to Upgrade Manufacturing and Distribution Facilities On November 1, Sherwin-Williams announced expansion of its 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Statesville, North Carolina—adding 36,000 square feet—and construction of an 800,000-square-foot distribution and fleet transportation center. Four new rail spurs will be added to the existing production site, and an additional 200,000 square feet of space will be reserved at the distribution center for future expansion. The project is scheduled for completion by end-2024. Häfele Appoints New CEO On November 1, global furniture hardware and fittings giant Häfele announced that CEO Sibylle Thierer will hand over management responsibilities to current Managing Director Gregor Riekena, aged 45, effective January 1, 2023.

Afraid of AI’s high valuation? It’s time to look at Sherwin-Williams—the ‘Apple’ of the paint industry in U.S. equities (Ticker: SHW)

Among Nasdaq-100 constituents, Sherwin-Williams (ticker: SHW), one of the world’s largest paint manufacturers, boasts exceptional market dominance. A global leader in paint R&D, manufacturing, and sales—long ranked alongside PPG Industries as one of the two giants of the global coatings industry—Sherwin-Williams derives over 90% of its total revenue from architectural and industrial coatings. Its industrial coatings are used, for instance, to achieve the fine matte or metallic finishes on smartphone casings, and its Valspar automotive refinish paints are widely applied across the auto repair sector. Sherwin-Williams employs a business model combining company-owned retail stores with full vertical integration across the supply chain. In the U.S. alone, it operates over 4,900 proprietary stores—creating formidable industry barriers. This model resembles Apple’s flagship retail stores: it enables direct access to real-time market demand while locking in high margins through strong brand premium. The company’s gross margin consistently ranges between 45% and 49%, significantly exceeding the industry average of 30%–40%. Its competitive moat stems primarily from decades of accumulated brand equity and a comprehensive, highly responsive proprietary logistics network—capable of delivering to job sites within two hours. Founded 150 years ago, this enduring enterprise went public in 1964 and is a well-known Dividend Aristocrat in U.S. equities.

Sherwin-Williams opens expanded North Carolina plant, its largest in N. America

Sep 30, 2026

Sherwin-Williams has opened its expanded architectural paint and coatings manufacturing facility in Statesville, North Carolina, marking its largest plant in North America. The expansion adds nearly 50,000 square feet and new rail infrastructure to improve manufacturing efficiency.

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