Lissa Wyman
\nATLANTA \u00e2\u20ac\u201d The summer rug market here held few surprises for exhibitors: light attendance, generally moderate amounts of
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\nnew product and plenty of time to meet with major customers.<\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no secret that retail sales have been hurting in recent months, which didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help the July event. However, most vendors weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t downbeat. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Things will pick up in the fall\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was the often-heard refrain.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This time of year, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always a downturn at retail,which makes summer markets less upbeat compared to the January events,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said David Moyer, product manager for Mohawk Home\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Mohawk Select line.<\/p>\n
Still, the outlook is good for this relatively new segment of Mohawk\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rug business, he said. Mohawk Select bridges the Karastan division\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s medium to high price points and Mohawk Home\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s value-oriented mass-market line. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We had a big growth spurt last year, and business continues on the upswing this year,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Moyer.<\/p>\n
Couristan CEO Ron Couri said the company set a sales record last year. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This year, we are running 30% ahead of 2012 figures,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, adding much of that has come from the booming hospitality broadloom business.<\/p>\n
Despite the current softness, Couri is optimistic. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We introduced new collections and new items in existing collection,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We had a lot of appointments and we saw our major customers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
At Nourison, Advertising Director Matthew Blitz is \u00e2\u20ac\u009dpretty optimistic\u00e2\u20ac\u009d about the season ahead. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We showed a lot of new products, and that helps keep things fresh and interesting,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our customers \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 (were) looking for new things to help get them out of the doldrums.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Arash Yaraghi, a principal of Safavieh, voiced a similar sentiment: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The feeling is that business is slow at retail. But (that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s} an even better reason to come to market. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to get new products and shop new sources to get business moving again.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Satya Tiwari, president of Surya Rugs, said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Summer market never attracts the same attendance as January, but Atlanta is still the Mecca of the U.S. rug business, so rug professionals were here. We introduced a lot of products, opened a lot of new accounts and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re advertising a lot, so I definitely see substantial growth ahead.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Tiwari said the softness at retail can be traced to high gasoline prices and lower consumer confidence, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153but we see some signs that confidence is returning. We see a good fall selling season.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Lee Harounian, a principal of Harounian Rugs International, noted that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153traffic is never heavy at summer markets, but we rely on high-ticket, serious rug buyers to attend and to buy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
At Hellenic Rug Imports, President Steve Mazarakis said the market \u00e2\u20ac\u0153was decent because we had a decent number of appointments set up before hand.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Kami Navid, president of Jaunty Rug, which also set up appointments ahead of time, said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Retail is slower than last year, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not awful. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re looking forward to a strong fall.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
According to Jim Thompson, vice president of sales and marketing for the Central Oriental division of Natco Home, keeping new products flowing helps combat seasonal dips. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We had a bunch of new stuff, and the retailers who have fresh products on the shelves this fall will be the ones who come out ahead,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n
Bob Kirby, president of newly formed Vinings Imports, said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect to see a lot of customers at market, but we did see the good ones.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Some rug exhibitors, meanwhile, have been strengthening ties with key customers through private-label programs of exclusive merchandise.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Markets in general have become less important to us because we are now working year-round with key customers to give them the products they want when they want them,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Eric Birnbach, president of Capel Inc. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our efforts will be directed to developing exclusive designs for every major customer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
United Weavers also is expanding its private-label programs, said Diane Carleo, director of marketing for the machine-made rug importer.<\/p>\n
Private-label lines are being\u00c2\u00a0 developed largely because of the growth of catalog and Internet business, she said, adding, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t sell the same things to Internet retailers that we sell to brick-and-mortar stores. By developing individual lines, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a win-win situation for everyone.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Harounian is developing private-label programs for both retailers and furniture manufacturers, said Christy Arnault, vice president of marketing. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The packages include not only designs, but point-of-purchase materials and sales training,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We want to give retailers salable products and we also want to help them sell it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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