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Industry Leaders
Lew Feinberg of Frontier Distributors/Phillocraft Passes
Lewis "Lew" Richard Feinberg
SPESA member Lewis “Lew” Richard Feinberg, president and general manager of Frontier Distributors/Phillocraft, passed away on December 14 at age 87.
Starting as an engineering trainee in 1960, Feinberg worked in positions of increasing responsibility at Levi Strauss until he became Director of Engineering for the Youthware Division. He designed and started 14 new production plants and coordinated eight major plant expansions, resulting in a doubling of production capacity and realizing an annual cost savings of over US$2,400,000.
At Big "D" Sewing Machine Company, Feinberg served as president and general manager until 1981, where he slashed receivables by $50,000, cut aged receivables over 60 days from 51% to 15% and raised sales from $7,000 per month to over $120,000 per month.
As the vice president of engineering services at Hathaway Shirts/Division of Warnaco, Inc. from 1982-1984, Feinberg developed and improved the effectiveness of the Industrial Engineering Group, implementing profit improvement projects that resulted in yields of over $400,000 annually. He also implemented a re-engineering program at the New York Neckware facility, yielding in excess of $350,000 annually.
Feinberg acquired SPESA member Frontier Distributors in 1984, where he served as president and general manager. Under his leadership, sales increased substantially. He transformed the company from a pure distribution operation to a manufacturing/distribution operation. Frontier Distributors (Dallas, Texas) acquired Phillocraft (Portland, Tennessee) in 2004.
Feinberg’s legacy lives on with his son Bert. Bert Feinberg continues his father’s extraordinary work in maintaining the Frontier Distributors/Phillocraft established reputations for quality products and services.
A few years ago, SPESA interviewed Lew and Bert for its Behind the Seams "Legacy Series". Click here to read Lew's own words on why the sewn products industry lends itself well to family-run businesses and his advice for the next generation.
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