Time to Party


3 Wed, 10/10/2012 - 4:11pm

As the race to the White House heats up, people can show their support with an array of party products for the home. Whether they are person-specific, party-specific or more generally based on the American flag and colors, these items cover both sides of the aisle.—Andrea Lillo

 

Paragon
The Allegiance textured plaque from Paragon allows you to display the stars and stripes indoors or out. It measures 29 by 41 inches. paragonpg.com

Accentuating The Positives


3 Mon, 02/02/2009 - 6:21pm

By Jennifer Alexis
Rainbow-bright color, budget-friendly prices, and fun patterns and design motifs are driving sales of accent rugs, which continue to fill an important niche in the overall rug market.
Small, inexpensive, easy to clean and easy to change out, accent rugs are often the perfect solution for consumers looking to quickly add a little life to a room, entryway or hallway. Manufacturers are meeting that demand by offering vibrantly colored rugs featuring eye-catching patterns and motifs, such as sun and sea and woodland lodge.

Vendors Help Retailers Do More With Less


3 Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:50pm

Several rug vendors have retooled their sample programs recently to give retailers with limited space the tools they need to sell more rugs while making a minimal investment.
Nourison recently introduced its self-service shopping display, The Rug Boutique. In seven linear feet of space, the Boutique can hold up to 94 samples, representing hundreds of SKUs. Retailers who have invested in the system are reporting increased sales, according to Julie Rosenblum, Nourison’s brand manager.

More Wool In Front of Their Eyes


3 Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:49pm

By Jennifer Alexis
Rug manufacturers and designers are finding more ways than ever to work with wool—arguably the most popular and fundamental of fibers used in rug constructions—and the result has been a burgeoning assortment of fresh new designs, interesting textures and eye-catching color.
At the same time, some manufacturers are emphasizing a couple of selling points that are particularly relevant to today’s consumer: It’s eco-friendly, and wool has become more price-competitive with synthetic fibers lately.

Hand-tufted Business Paves Path to Growth


3 Fri, 11/07/2008 - 4:05pm

By Jennifer Alexis
The hand-tufted segment of the handmade rug business has surged by leaps and bounds recently, as growing numbers of vendors expand their assortments or enter the arena for the first time.
Meanwhile, some manufacturers believe an updated marketing strategy that highlights the artistry, value and beauty of hand-knotted rugs would ultimately generate healthy profit for rug retailers and vendors.

Nature Takes Its Course


3 Fri, 10/24/2008 - 3:18pm

By Jennifer Alexis
The influence of nature, from earthy colors to botanical patterns and designs, is everywhere in the market this season.
Rug manufacturers agree that nature is among the most enduring themes in rug design and most concur that these designs are in high demand like never before. They are reporting strong sales of products featuring designs that draw inspiration from the natural world with earth tones and images of leaves, flowers, vines, blades of grass and bamboo shoots.

Points to Ponder


3 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 2:25pm

By Jessica Goldbogen Harlan
Furniture retailers seeking to update their rug assortment will have plenty to choose from with licensed offerings from household names, an earthy color palette and increasing indoor/outdoor options at the High Point Market.

Mattress Sales Off to a Tough Start in 2008


3 Mon, 03/24/2008 - 3:40pm

By David Gill
NEW YORK–Retailers of mattresses and bedding products aren’t resting very easily at the moment.
Retail executives and financial analysts who follow the industry said the weakness at retail experienced during the latter part of 2007 has leaked into 2008. Thanks to an obviously lagging economy and consumer concerns, both store sales and foot traffic are down for January and February.

From the Source: Change Making an Impact


3 Mon, 03/24/2008 - 3:38pm

For an industry so dependent on the import of goods from a relatively short list of countries, the business of importing rugs to the United States is faced with changes—some already taking place, some still in their infancy.
Some importers have seen oil costs affect their freight costs and/or raw material costs. Emerging desire among exporting countries for labor unions to protect and boost their income, and other establishments seeking to avoid the importing middleman and bring buyers overseas and directly to their doors have created challenges as well.

Plastic Taking Off As an Alternative Material


3 Mon, 03/24/2008 - 3:37pm

Additional sectors of the floor coverings business are seeing changes reflective of the environment as well. While insiders have pointed to hard surfaces actually doing well, that depends, of course, on which portion of that business is being discussed.

Housing Starts, Floor Area On the Declining Side


3 Mon, 03/24/2008 - 3:36pm

While it’s no surprise to anyone in the home industry, housing starts are not what they used to be. What should be a cause of concern, however, is the 25 percent drop in housing starts in 2007. This percentage is even more severe when coupled with the 13 percent drop in 2006.

Covering All the Angles


3 Mon, 03/24/2008 - 3:36pm

By Jennifer Quail
It’s a jungle out there, no doubt about it. Executives in the business of buying and selling floor coverings are talking about working harder than ever to both bring in new business and keep that which they already have.
At the winter markets this year, vendors said they had no choice but to be optimistic, noting the only surefire way to fail in such economic times is to decide your business is doomed.

Pulling the Wool Over Shoppers’ Eyes


3 Wed, 03/05/2008 - 5:31pm

By Jennifer Quail
NEW YORK–Importers and manufacturers are capitalizing on the possibilities of the wool market, noting a clear connection between the rising synthetic prices and an increased interest in wool products.
The proximity in pricing for those categories has carried on for long enough now to be considered the wave of the future, and not simply a passing trend.

Simply Elegant


3 Wed, 02/20/2008 - 4:55pm

By Jennifer Quail
The area rug market is experienc-ing a curious thing: It is faced with a consumer who has become more interested in incorporating elements of elegance into her home, but one who also wants to be able to live very easily and comfortably in those surroundings. It’s a turn that has prompted the phrase “casual elegance” to become a bit of an unofficial logo for the industry.

Flooring America Takes Green Step with Bamboo Flooring


3 Fri, 01/04/2008 - 4:54pm

HOUSTON–Flooring America and Flooring Canada members this week will see their company take another step in the green direction as the buying cooperative debuts strand-woven bamboo flooring at its biannual convention here.

Fashioned for Fall


3 Thu, 12/20/2007 - 4:53pm

By Jennifer Quail

NEW YORK-Pale. Peaceful. Elegant. Whimsical. Sound like trends for several different seasons? Well, every one of those adjectives is actually drawing attention in designer showrooms at present, oftentimes combined into one design.