Blog:The Good Show Vibe Continues in Vegas


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LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Winter Market opened yesterday with a bang, continuing the good vibes of the January trade shows.
 
Showgoers packed the showrooms and hallways, and educational and socializing events were well attended.
 

Raising the Bar on Standards for Home Furnishings Products


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By Nina Smith

The world has improved since GoodWeave (formerly RugMark) launched in 1994, inspecting rug looms, rescuing child workers and supporting their schooling. Since then the number of child laborers in South Asia’s rug industry has declined from approximately one million to less than 250,000.

Stopping Child Labor


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By Raja Sharma
The rug weaving industry in India has a long and colorful history that can be traced as far back as 500 B.C. It is part of the cultural and social fabric of the country that touches almost every life in India, including those of its children. They grow up watching family members and friends creating beautiful carpets, and they often join the family business and continue the family tradition.

Capel Forms Partnership With Jane Seymour


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TROY, N.C.–Capel Rugs will join forces with Jane Seymour Designs to introduce a co-branded line of rugs in the casual segment.
The new line will debut during the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, which is scheduled for July 12-15. The line will be designed featuring Seymour’s casual orientation, according to a Capel statement.
Capel has scheduled a luncheon and book signing at which Seymour will appear on Monday, July 13, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The Jane Seymour Home Collection also includes furniture, decorative home accessories, bedding and lighting.

Standing Strong:Redefining Your Area Rug Business in Today’s Economy


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by Chas Sydney
With the current environment exerting unprecedented pressure on the area rug industry, the business challenges are apparent, and no one is immune.
Struggling retailers have turned to selling inventory, depleting stock and downsizing—all detrimental to the business, and severe for manufacturers and importers looking to keep supply pipelines flowing. But savvy business owners can turn these challenging times into ways to strengthen business.

Creative, Flexible Strategy Will Win


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By Satya Tiwari
Reflection on last year’s economic status is bleak. Unfortunately, we are all aware that projections for 2009 appear to be more of the same.
Many retailers experienced a sharp decrease in sales last year not seen since the 1980s, and studies show that consumers are being highly selective and narrowing purchases down to mainly necessities. Even those with deep pockets are searching for ways to limit spending.

Déjà Vu All Over Again


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Now, didn't we just see each other?

It's hard to keep track, but I'm pretty sure we've only been back in our respective offices two days or so since returning from the Las Vegas Market. Yet, the moment I finish writing this column, we'll be meeting yet again, this time under the banner of Textiles, and, correct me if I'm wrong but, wasn't there a little something called the International Area Rug Market about 15 minutes before Las Vegas?

Teach Them Well


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Consider this: Two modernized Persian designs with similar colorways hang side-by-side in a rug gallery. The one on the left is labeled something along the lines of "724-b" and is counting on its good looks for a sale. The one on the right is from something called "The Peshawar Collection," and a hang tag affixed to its front tells the history of Peshawar rugs: where they originated, where and how they are made today, what the different motifs woven throughout the design itself represent.